Sub Saharan Africa has the largest number of water stressed countries in the world, with one third of its population living in water scarce areas and the impact of climate change will most likely increase these numbers, also beyond Africa: By 2030, water stress is likely to reach to almost half of the world’s population, displacing up to 700 million people (UNDESA 2014).
Sub Saharan Africa will face increasing frequency of droughts and floods
in the future and because such a large proportion of Africa’s population relies
on the environment, people are particularly vulnerable to environmental
changes. Water is the primary entity through which climate change impacts
ecosystems, livelihoods and development (Troell&Oloo
2010, 260).
‘changing rainfall patterns affecting agriculture and reducing food security; worsening water security; decreasing fish resources in large lakes due to rising temperature; shifting vector-borne diseases; rising sea level affecting low-lying coastal areas with large populations; and rising water stress’ (Alabi 2011, 28).
The effects of climate change on water are having (and will have) devastating impacts on people’s livelihoods, since their dependence on rain fed agriculture means that droughts and failed crops directly threat their survival. Due to high poverty levels, most people do not have the capacity to deal with environmental shocks, and will end up even poorer and less secure.
References:
Alabi, R. (2011). Africa and the Global Financial Crisis.
Troell, J. and Oloo, O. (2010). Climate Change Adaption & Water in
Kenya: Governing for Resilience. In: R. Fujikura and M. Kawanishi, ed., Climate
Change Adaption and International Development, 1st ed. London: earthscan,
pp.259 - 286.
UNDESA (2014). Water scarcity | International Decade for Action 'Water
for Life' 2005-2015. [online] Available at:
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml [Accessed 6 Nov. 2016].
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