6
S. Diop et al.
3.3 Invest in Climate-Smart Infrastructure and Technologies
A key feature of the case studies presented is to invest in water management
infrastructure and technology. In many areas, climate change is likely to bring
increased flooding and/or drought. Considered decisions must guide flood management, including development of early warning systems and rehabilitation of degraded
catchments (Chaps. 4 and 5). Also, under flood conditions, water services infrastructures (for water and sanitation) may be damaged, leaving communities vulnerable
to poor quality or lack of drinking water, and compromised or eliminated sanitation facilities. Flood-proofing of the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in
vulnerable areas must therefore be part of any management plan.
At the same time, some areas will experience decreased rainfall and increased
drought. In many parts of Africa, the storage of rainfall is insufficient to grow the local
economy. Even without accounting for climate change, Africa requires more water
storage capacity—both large dams and small storage facilities—in order to overcome
the impacts of frequent droughts (Chaps. 12 and 15). With the possibility of climate
change extending the duration and increasing the intensity of droughts, water storage
needs become even more acute. For these reasons, procurement of financial resources
to develop infrastructure remains a critical challenge, with important roles to play
by African governments, the private sector and international financing agencies. At
the farm level, increased investment and access to information about appropriate
irrigation technology, including drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, is required
to improve water use and productivity in the face of climate change. In many areas, a
shift from rainfed to irrigated agriculture may be necessary to protect rural livelihoods
and food security (Chaps. 3 and 5). In the case of groundwater, targeted policies and
cooperation in research and development are required to overcome obstacles such
as the high costs of well construction and limited understanding of groundwater
resources that currently restrict development of groundwater irrigation in many parts
of Africa (Chaps. 6, 10 and 18).
Artificial recharge of groundwater is an important tool for the sustainable management of resources in danger of over-exploitation and degradation. This is one of the
many potential methods for using groundwater as a buffer to ensure the broader
function of retaining and intercepting rainfall and runoff, conserving it in the soil
or storing it underground as a means of supplementing aquifers during dry periods
(Chaps. 3, 6 and 21). But the increasing impacts of climate change on water resources
complicates groundwater recharge in many parts of Africa
1
Finally, with more frequent and more intense water-related disasters likely, water
systems in many parts of Africa that are already prone to floods and droughts
attributable to climate change must redouble their efforts to improve disaster
preparedness, including well-developed early warning systems and post-disaster
intervention plans, to ensure the resilience of society in the face of climate change
(Chap. 18).
1 Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC 2008.
S. Diop et al.
3.3 Invest in Climate-Smart Infrastructure and Technologies
A key feature of the case studies presented is to invest in water management
infrastructure and technology. In many areas, climate change is likely to bring
increased flooding and/or drought. Considered decisions must guide flood management, including development of early warning systems and rehabilitation of degraded
catchments (Chaps. 4 and 5). Also, under flood conditions, water services infrastructures (for water and sanitation) may be damaged, leaving communities vulnerable
to poor quality or lack of drinking water, and compromised or eliminated sanitation facilities. Flood-proofing of the water supply and sanitation infrastructure in
vulnerable areas must therefore be part of any management plan.
At the same time, some areas will experience decreased rainfall and increased
drought. In many parts of Africa, the storage of rainfall is insufficient to grow the local
economy. Even without accounting for climate change, Africa requires more water
storage capacity—both large dams and small storage facilities—in order to overcome
the impacts of frequent droughts (Chaps. 12 and 15). With the possibility of climate
change extending the duration and increasing the intensity of droughts, water storage
needs become even more acute. For these reasons, procurement of financial resources
to develop infrastructure remains a critical challenge, with important roles to play
by African governments, the private sector and international financing agencies. At
the farm level, increased investment and access to information about appropriate
irrigation technology, including drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, is required
to improve water use and productivity in the face of climate change. In many areas, a
shift from rainfed to irrigated agriculture may be necessary to protect rural livelihoods
and food security (Chaps. 3 and 5). In the case of groundwater, targeted policies and
cooperation in research and development are required to overcome obstacles such
as the high costs of well construction and limited understanding of groundwater
resources that currently restrict development of groundwater irrigation in many parts
of Africa (Chaps. 6, 10 and 18).
Artificial recharge of groundwater is an important tool for the sustainable management of resources in danger of over-exploitation and degradation. This is one of the
many potential methods for using groundwater as a buffer to ensure the broader
function of retaining and intercepting rainfall and runoff, conserving it in the soil
or storing it underground as a means of supplementing aquifers during dry periods
(Chaps. 3, 6 and 21). But the increasing impacts of climate change on water resources
complicates groundwater recharge in many parts of Africa
1
Finally, with more frequent and more intense water-related disasters likely, water
systems in many parts of Africa that are already prone to floods and droughts
attributable to climate change must redouble their efforts to improve disaster
preparedness, including well-developed early warning systems and post-disaster
intervention plans, to ensure the resilience of society in the face of climate change
(Chap. 18).
1 Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC 2008.