Impact of Climate Change

Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to climate change. This vulnerability and the limitations of poor countries to adapt to climate change challenges were highlighted in Climate Change 2001, the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report established how human activity (burning fossil fuels and changes in land-use) is modifying the global climate, with temperature rises projected for the next 100 years that could affect human welfare and the environment.

The historical climate record for Africa shows warming of approximately 0.7°C over most of the continent during the twentieth century; a decrease in rainfall over large portions of the Sahel (the semi-arid region south of the Sahara); and an increase in rainfall in east central Africa. Over the next century, this warming trend, and changes in precipitation patterns, are expected to continue and be accompanied by a rise in sea level and increased frequency of extreme weather events.