10
S. Diop et al.
With focus on adaptation on the local level, attention to local institutions is critically important in designing adaptation projects and policies. Households and social
groups rely on such institutions to deploy specific adaptation practices. Also, a
systematic scaling-up of locally appropriate solutions is key to ensuring area- and
region-wide impacts on poverty alleviation, climate change adaptation and economic
development (Chap. 20).
3.7 Consider the Water/Energy/Food/Health Nexus
A number of African countries depend on hydropower, even though the hydropower
potential of Africa is still hugely underdeveloped (Chap. 18). As indicated in the
chapters that discuss regional issues, however, hydropower is under threat in some
areas from diminishing stream flows and/or increased flow variability. As a result, the
“climate change-proofing” of current infrastructure is an important measure to protect
the energy supply of many countries and, therefore, to protect economic and social
development. Such measures might include, for example, amended operating rules
to consider changing rainfall patterns, adding height to dam walls, and/or changes to
environmental flow releases. At the same time, new hydropower development must
be implemented with a clear understanding of the potential impacts of climate change
accounting for these impacts.
For these reasons, it is important to integrate water and energy security plans that
take into account the likely impacts of climate change. It is particularly critical to
coordinate effectively at the basin and national level in the large number of transboundary basins in Africa across the water-energy-food nexus. Furthermore, and
at the core of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals/SDG’s and 2063 African
Agenda “The Africa We Want”, the water/energy/food/health and ecosystems nexus
is increasingly recognized as core to addressing the issue of climate change and
securing the wellbeing of the many millions of people in Africa without access to
basic services such as water and sanitation, energy, food and health (Chaps. 18 and
20).
4 Conclusions
A number of general conclusions may be drawn. First, it is evident that vulnerability to climate change risks and impacts, as well as opportunities for adaptation
and mitigation in Africa, are shaped by complex land and water resource characteristics, economic conditions and the often highly diverse livelihoods of different
regions and corresponding strategies of individual households. Thus, effective adaptation planning for and implementation of land and water management systems is
highly context-specific and therefore demands an appropriate level of knowledge and
understanding of local conditions.
S. Diop et al.
With focus on adaptation on the local level, attention to local institutions is critically important in designing adaptation projects and policies. Households and social
groups rely on such institutions to deploy specific adaptation practices. Also, a
systematic scaling-up of locally appropriate solutions is key to ensuring area- and
region-wide impacts on poverty alleviation, climate change adaptation and economic
development (Chap. 20).
3.7 Consider the Water/Energy/Food/Health Nexus
A number of African countries depend on hydropower, even though the hydropower
potential of Africa is still hugely underdeveloped (Chap. 18). As indicated in the
chapters that discuss regional issues, however, hydropower is under threat in some
areas from diminishing stream flows and/or increased flow variability. As a result, the
“climate change-proofing” of current infrastructure is an important measure to protect
the energy supply of many countries and, therefore, to protect economic and social
development. Such measures might include, for example, amended operating rules
to consider changing rainfall patterns, adding height to dam walls, and/or changes to
environmental flow releases. At the same time, new hydropower development must
be implemented with a clear understanding of the potential impacts of climate change
accounting for these impacts.
For these reasons, it is important to integrate water and energy security plans that
take into account the likely impacts of climate change. It is particularly critical to
coordinate effectively at the basin and national level in the large number of transboundary basins in Africa across the water-energy-food nexus. Furthermore, and
at the core of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals/SDG’s and 2063 African
Agenda “The Africa We Want”, the water/energy/food/health and ecosystems nexus
is increasingly recognized as core to addressing the issue of climate change and
securing the wellbeing of the many millions of people in Africa without access to
basic services such as water and sanitation, energy, food and health (Chaps. 18 and
20).
4 Conclusions
A number of general conclusions may be drawn. First, it is evident that vulnerability to climate change risks and impacts, as well as opportunities for adaptation
and mitigation in Africa, are shaped by complex land and water resource characteristics, economic conditions and the often highly diverse livelihoods of different
regions and corresponding strategies of individual households. Thus, effective adaptation planning for and implementation of land and water management systems is
highly context-specific and therefore demands an appropriate level of knowledge and
understanding of local conditions.