2
S. Diop et al.
1 Introduction
The IPCC has recognized that Africa is among the continent’s most vulnerable to
climate change impacts, partly because of projected climatic change itself, and partly
because of the complicating poverty levels and the paucity of institutional capacity
across the continent (Christensen et al. 2007). According to the ND-Gain index for
climate change vulnerability, eight of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world
are African, with the top five all in Africa (Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
2019).
The challenges of properly addressing climate change impacts in Africa is not only
because of the compounding pressures of development on limited water resources,
but also because climate change pressures are intensified by growing populations
and economies, both placing yet-greater stresses on existing water resources. Thus,
the requirements of managing water resources in Africa over the coming decades are
both a climate change and a development challenge (UNEP 2009). As the alreadyvulnerable rural areas are populated by the people most at risk from climate change,
any action that increases the resilience of these communities will help them respond
more effectively to the impacts of climate change, enabling them to integrate climate
change adaptation into development planning and decision-making frameworks.
Within this context, this book, provides an overview of the current challenges related
to water resource management in the context of climate change faced by some of the
most vulnerable areas in Africa, and approaches to help alleviate them.
This introductory chapter provides cross-cutting insights, observations and findings of the individual contributions presented in this book. The book, in turn, provides
a rich compilation of observations, views, case studies and recommendations from
scientists across the African continent and beyond, including an overview of current
knowledge of climate change/water resource interaction, illustrated by a variety of
regional, national and local level case studies, discussion of tools and methodologies,
governance and institutional settings, and specific management approaches. Based
on these analyses and findings, this book also presents options and recommended
actions for improved management of water resources within the context of climate
change in Africa.
2 The Challenges of Water Resource Management
in the Context of Climate Change in Africa
Climate change in Africa is projected to result in significant changes in the demand
for, and availability of, water. The case studies presented in this book show that large
parts of Africa are already subject to seasonally variable hydrology, and geographically uneven distribution of water resources. While pressures on Africa’s unique
ecosystems, population and economy continue to grow, this situation is further
compounded by climate change, to which Africa is particularly vulnerable (Chap. 2).
Indeed, Africa carries a particular burden of climate change: while the continent is
the least polluting and smallest emitter of greenhouse gases (less than 5% of total
S. Diop et al.
1 Introduction
The IPCC has recognized that Africa is among the continent’s most vulnerable to
climate change impacts, partly because of projected climatic change itself, and partly
because of the complicating poverty levels and the paucity of institutional capacity
across the continent (Christensen et al. 2007). According to the ND-Gain index for
climate change vulnerability, eight of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world
are African, with the top five all in Africa (Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative
2019).
The challenges of properly addressing climate change impacts in Africa is not only
because of the compounding pressures of development on limited water resources,
but also because climate change pressures are intensified by growing populations
and economies, both placing yet-greater stresses on existing water resources. Thus,
the requirements of managing water resources in Africa over the coming decades are
both a climate change and a development challenge (UNEP 2009). As the alreadyvulnerable rural areas are populated by the people most at risk from climate change,
any action that increases the resilience of these communities will help them respond
more effectively to the impacts of climate change, enabling them to integrate climate
change adaptation into development planning and decision-making frameworks.
Within this context, this book, provides an overview of the current challenges related
to water resource management in the context of climate change faced by some of the
most vulnerable areas in Africa, and approaches to help alleviate them.
This introductory chapter provides cross-cutting insights, observations and findings of the individual contributions presented in this book. The book, in turn, provides
a rich compilation of observations, views, case studies and recommendations from
scientists across the African continent and beyond, including an overview of current
knowledge of climate change/water resource interaction, illustrated by a variety of
regional, national and local level case studies, discussion of tools and methodologies,
governance and institutional settings, and specific management approaches. Based
on these analyses and findings, this book also presents options and recommended
actions for improved management of water resources within the context of climate
change in Africa.
2 The Challenges of Water Resource Management
in the Context of Climate Change in Africa
Climate change in Africa is projected to result in significant changes in the demand
for, and availability of, water. The case studies presented in this book show that large
parts of Africa are already subject to seasonally variable hydrology, and geographically uneven distribution of water resources. While pressures on Africa’s unique
ecosystems, population and economy continue to grow, this situation is further
compounded by climate change, to which Africa is particularly vulnerable (Chap. 2).
Indeed, Africa carries a particular burden of climate change: while the continent is
the least polluting and smallest emitter of greenhouse gases (less than 5% of total