Climate Commons^™

Climate Adaptation And Risk Preparedness In Florida’S East Coast Cities: Views Of Municipal Leaders, Sheila A. Young, Kenyon C. Lindeman, Samantha R. Fowler

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Cities along Florida’s Atlantic coastline are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, posing significant challenges for city planners. How cities see themselves in terms of developing or implementing their climate change adaptation action plans depends, in part, on the extent to which they perceive climate-related events as risks, and their city size. Data were obtained from city leaders (i.e. mayors, city/town managers, or their designees) from 86 cities along Florida’s Atlantic Coast from January to May 2021 to quantitatively assess factors influencing city adaptation planning. Validity and reliability were obtained for the survey. Multiple regression analyses showed significant …

Drought Severity In Somalia, Food And Agricultural Organization Of The United Nations, Somalia Water And Land Information Management

East Africa

The poor rains during the last three consecutive seasons (October 2020 to December 2021) have caused widespread and worsening drought condi-tions across most parts of Somalia. This has result-ed in failed crop harvests, widespread water short-age, triggering abnormal livestock migration, de-cline in livestock production and increased live-stock deaths. Water and food prices have contin-ued to rise sharply.

Addressing Risks To Biodiversity Arising From A Changing Climate: The Need For Ecosystem Restoration In The Tana River Basin, Kenya, Rhosanna L. M. Jenkins, Rachel F. Warren, Jeff T. Price

East Africa

Climate change is projected to have significant effects on the distribution of species globally, but research into the implications in parts of Africa has been limited. Using species distribu- tion modelling, this study models climate change-related risks to the terrestrial biodiversity (birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants) of Kenya’s economically-important and ecologically diverse Tana River Basin. Large reductions in species richness are projected with just 2˚C warming (relative to preindustrial levels) with birds and plants seeing the great- est impact. Potential climate refugia for biodiversity are identified within the basin, but often overlap with areas already converted to agriculture or …

Building On Foundations For Climate Services For Sustainable Development: A Case Of Coastal Smallholder Farmers In Kilifi County, Kenya, Obed M. Ogega, Benjamin A. Gyampoh, Christopher Oludhe, James Koske, James B. Kung'u

East Africa

The study contributes to the development and use of effective climate services for sustainability in agriculture. Specifically, we assessed farming practices of a coastal smallholder farming community in Kilifi County (hereinafter Kilifi), Kenya, to identify barriers to climate services’ effective use. The smallholder farmers in Kilifi represent many smallholder farming communities in East Africa whose primary livelihood is rainfed agriculture. First, we carried out an analysis of historical and future rainfall patterns over Kilifi to determine the area’s climate patterns. We used a set of five descriptors of rainfall in Kilifi representing seasonal mean daily precipitation and annual …

Assessment Of Coastal Governance For Climate Change Adaptation In Kenya, Lenice Ojwang, Sergio Rosendo, Louis Celliers, David Obura, Anastasia Muiti, James Kamula, Maina Mwangi

East Africa

The coastline of Kenya already experiences effects of climate change, adding to existing pressures such as urbanization. Integrated coastal management (ICM) is increasingly recognized as a key policy response to deal with the multiple challenges facing coastal zones, including climate change. It can create an enabling governance environment for effective local action on climate change by facilitating a structured approach to dealing with coastal issues. It encompasses the actions of a wide range of actors, including local governments close to people and their activities affected by climate change. Functioning ICM also offers opportunities for reducing risks and building resilience. This …

Kenya National Adaptation Plan 2015-2030, Government Of Kenya

East Africa

No abstract provided.

Kenya Second National Communication To The United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change, Government Of Kenya

East Africa

Climate Change is the most serious global challenge of our time. Kenya signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 12 June 1992, and ratified it on 30 August 1994. It also ratified Kyoto Protocol on 25 February 2005 which entered into force on 26 May 2005. As a Party to the Convention, Kenya has implemented initiatives to meet its obligations and commitments, including the development of its First National Communication (FNC) that was prepared in 2002 with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The FNC included preparation of …

Challenges To Scenario-Guided Adaptive Action On Food Security Under Climate Change, Joost M. Vervoort, Philip K. Thornton, Patti Kristjanson, Wiebke Forch, Polly J. Ericksen, Kasper Kok, John S. I. Ingram, Mario Herrero, Amanda Palazzo, Ariella E. S. Helfgott, Angela Wilkinson, Petr Havlik, Daniel Mason-D'Croz, Chris Jost

East Africa

This paper examines the development and use of scenarios as an approach to guide action in multi-level, multi-actor adaptation contexts such as food security under climate change. Three challenges are highlighted: (1) ensuring the appropriate scope for action; (2) moving beyond intervention-based decision guidance; and (3) developing long-term shared capacity for strategic planning. To overcome these challenges we have applied explorative scenarios and normative back-casting with stakeholders from different sectors at the regional level in East Africa. We then applied lessons about appropriate scope, enabling adaptation pathways, and developing strategic planning capacity to scenarios processes in multiple global regions. Scenarios …

Mangroves Facing Climate Change: Landward Migration Potential In Response To Projected Scenarios Of Sea Level Rise, D. Di Nitto, G. Neukermans, N. Koedam, H. Defever, F. Pattyn, J. G. Kairo, F. Dahdouh-Guebas

East Africa

Mangrove forests prominently occupy an intertidal boundary position where the effects of sea level rise will be fast and well visible. This study in East Africa (Gazi Bay, Kenya) addresses the question of whether mangroves can be resilient to a rise in sea level by focusing on their potential to migrate towards landward areas. The combinatory analysis between remote sensing, DGPS-based ground truth and digital terrain models (DTM) unveils how real vegetation assemblages can shift under different projected (minimum (+9 cm), relative (+20 cm), average (+48 cm) and maximum (+88 cm)) scenarios of sea level rise (SLR). Under SLR scenarios …

National Climate Change Action Plan 2013 - 2017, Government Of Kenya

East Africa

In recognition of the serious threats posed by climate change my Government has taken and continues to take bold measures to secure the country’s development against the risks and impacts of climate change. The Constitution of Kenya provides for maintenance of at least ten per cent tree cover of the land area. The Kenya Vision 2030 targets the planting of at least seven billion trees to address food, water and energy security. During the last ten (10) years, Kenya has been able to restore 6% of forest cover. There are clear indications we will be able to attain the 10% …

A Perspective On Sea Level Rise And Coastal Storm Surge From Southern And Eastern Africa: A Case Study Near Durban, South Africa, Andrew A. Mather, Derek D. Stretch

East Africa

Recent coastal storms in southern Africa have highlighted the need for more proactive management of the coastline. Within the southern and eastern African region the availability of coastal information is poor. The greatest gap in information is the likely effects of a combination of severe sea storms and future sea level rise (SLR) on the shoreline. This lack of information creates a barrier to informed decision making. This research outlines a practical localized approach to this problem, which can be applied as a first order assessment within the region. In so doing it provides a cost effective and simple decision …

Climate Change Adaptation In Mauritius: Considering The Role Of Institutions, Matthew Gray, Bhanooduth Lalljee

East Africa

Adaptation to climate change is critical in countries like Mauritius which, despite contributing a minute percentage to the world’s emissions, is disproportionately vulnerable to their impacts. Rising temperatures are exacerbating the problems of coral reef bleaching, soil and beach erosion, a greater risk of drought and flash floods, intensifying tropical storms, sea level rise and biodiversity impacts. Projections of accelerated warming only increase the urgency for a coordinated framework of adaptive governance in Mauritius. The nature of adaptation needed will require a complex, long-term, and interdisciplinary process of widespread engagement, necessitating effective institutions with shared responsibilities. This paper describes how …

Vice-Présidence En Charge Du Ministère De La Production, De L’Environnement, De L’Energie, De L’Industrie Et De L’Artisanat, Union Des Comores

East Africa

L’Union des Comores s’étend sur une superficie d’environ 2232 km² répartie inégalement sur quatre îles volcaniques qui sont d’Est à l’Ouest : Mayotte (370 km²), Ndzouani (424 km²), Mwali (290 km²) et Ngazidja (1148 km²). L’archipel est situé à l’entrée Nord du Canal de Mozambique, entre 11°20’ et 13°14’ de latitude Sud et 43°11’ et 45°19’ de longitude Est, entre Madagascar et la côte orientale de l’Afrique. Les îles sont situées à égale distance de l’Afrique Orientale et de Madagascar (300km) et sont distantes entre elles d’environ 30 à 40km. Elles occupent ainsi une position stratégique, au coeur de la …

Climate Change Adaptation In East Africa, Usaid

East Africa

The East Africa region is comprised of the countries of Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The countries of the region are already subject to climate variability and extremes including droughts and floods, which in some cases have had severe economic and social implications. Climate models predict that the region is likely to experience both near-term alterations in climate such as warmer temperatures, changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme events, and decreased precipitation, as well as long-term shifts such as sea level rise. Projected climate change impacts are likely to add to …

Adaptation Of Sea Level Rise In Nile Delta Due To Climate Change, Ayman F. Batisha

Egypt & Libya

Nile Delta is vulnerable due to the impact of climate change and related sea level rise. Due to low elevation in the Nile delta region, Egypt is considered one of the top five countries expected to be mostly impacted with a 1 m sea level rise resulting from global warming. Egypt is ranked as the fifth in the world concerning the impact on the total urban areas, Egypt’s GDP would be significantly impacted, and Egypt’s natural resources such as coastal zone, water resources, water quality, agricultural land, livestock and fisheries maybe subjected to vulnerability. Also, Egypt may face environmental crises …

The State Of Eritrea Ministry Of Land, Water And Environment, Department Of Environment, Eritrea

East Africa

Increased climate variability has already been evidenced in Eritrea. Mean annual temperature has increased by 1.7 0C since 1960, an average rate of 0.370C per decade. The increase is most rapid in July, August and September at a rate of 0.550C per decade which is the most important season in Eritrea for agricultural production. Increases in the frequency of hot nights are larger and statistically significant in June, July and August as well as October, November and December and in the annual data. The average number of ‗cold‘ nights per year has decreased by 34 (9.3% of days). The 1912-2005 …

Weathering The Storm: Adolescent Girls And Climate Change, Anita Swarup, Irene Dankelman, Kanwal Ahluwalia, Kelly Hawrylyshyn

East Africa

The impacts of climate change, whether they are gradual changes in agriculture and living conditions or the more cataclysmic effects of a cyclone or flood, are different for different populations. But inevitably children everywhere are badly affected, and girls in particular bear the greater burden. Their lives, prospects and human rights must be better protected. We will never achieve climate justice without addressing the gender dimensions of climate change, and girls themselves, their skills, knowledge and energy, must be part of the search for solutions. During UNFCCC’s COP-16 in Cancún, Mexico, in December 2010 the girls who attended demonstrated their …

Second National Communication Of Seychelles, Government Of Seychelles

East Africa

The Initial National Communication of Seychelles which was submitted to UNFCCC in October 2000 was important in bringing attention to climate change issues in Seychelles; it had nonetheless some limitations. It focused primarily on reporting under the Convention and that strategic opportunities for feeding into national development were not fully exploited and there was limited participation of stakeholders from public and private sectors. The Investigations were essentially academic in nature; hence of limited relevance to policy decision making, for instance the climate risk management issue.

Climate Change In The Mena Region: Effects On Water And Agriculturedr, Shawki Barghouti

Egypt & Libya

Climate Change (CC) -any long-term significant change in the expected patterns of average weather over time.  CC results from many factors including: dynamic processes of the earth itself, human activities. Mechanisms attributed to the recent CC are: increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, changes to land surface, such as deforestation, increasing atmospheric concentrations of aerosols. GHGs emissions now stand at 385 ppm, shot past the safe level of 350 ppm

Pastoralism And Climate Change: Enabling Adaptive Capacity, Magda Nassef, Simon Anderson, Ced Hesse

East Africa

The effects of climate change on the drylands of the Horn of Africa pose particular and difficult policy challenges. The arid nature of the climate together with the poverty levels faced by those people living in the drylands mean that the increasing temperatures, the intensifying rains and the increased frequency of extreme weather events that climate science projects for the region can only exacerbate the problems of development. However, as discussed here, the drylands have under-exploited development potential and the dominant land use system – pastoralism – has unique adaptive characteristics that, together with the right enabling policies, mean that …

Adaptation To Climate Change: A Vulnerability Assessment For Sudan, Sumaya Ahmed Zakieldeen

East Africa

Sudan is typical of other least developed countries in Africa in being highly vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. The interaction of multiple stresses—endemic poverty, ecosystem degradation, complex disasters and conflicts, and limited access to capital, markets, infrastructure and technology—have all weakened people’s ability to adapt to changes in climate. This study assesses Sudan’s vulnerability to climate change. By overlaying maps of population distribution, poverty, rainfall distribution and variability, and incidence of environmental hazards, it has been possible to identify the states which are most vulnerable to climate change. It also outlines some of the actions being taken to …

Kenya, C. Mcsweeney, M. New, G. Lizcano

East Africa

Kenya is located in east Africa, at latitudes of 6°S to 6°N. Its climate is tropical, but moderated by diverse topography in the west. Kenya’s topography rises from the coastal plains to the eastern edge of the East African Plateau, and the Great Rift Valley. The central highland regions are substantially cooler than the coast, with the coolest (highest altitude) regions at 15°C compared with 29°C at the coast. Temperatures vary little throughout the year, but drop by around 2 degree in the coolest season, JJAS.

Mozambique, C. Mcsweeney, M. New, G. Lizcano

East Africa

Mozambique is located on the eastern coast of southern Africa at 11‐26° south of the equator, and has a tropical to sub‐tropical climate which is moderated by the influence of mountainous topography in the north‐west of the country. Seasonal variations in temperature are around 5° between the coolest months (June, July and August) and the warmest months (December, January and February). Geographically, temperatures are warmer near to the coast, and in the southern, lowland regions compared with the inland regions of higher elevation. Average temperatures in these lowland parts of the country are around 25‐27°C in the summer and 20‐25°C …

Ethiopia, C. Mcsweeney, M. New, G. Lizcano

East Africa

Ethiopia makes up the greater part of the East African ‘Horn of Africa’. At latitudes of 4 to 15°N, Ethiopia’s climate is typically tropical in the south‐eastern and north‐eastern lowland regions, but much cooler in the large central highland regions of the country. Mean annual temperatures are around 15‐20°C in these high altitude regions, whilst 25‐30°C in the lowlands.

Adapting To Climate Change In East Africa: A Strategic Approach, Victor A. Orindi, Laurel A. Murray

East Africa

This paper provides an overview of the likely impacts of climate change in three least developed countries in East Africa: Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. In the coming decades, climate change is likely to alter temperatures and distribution of rainfall, contribute to sea-level rise and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in East Africa. In fact, many widespread climatic changes have already been observed in the region. Climate change will have both a direct impact on development of climate-dependent activities (such as infrastructure and agriculture) and indirect consequences for social systems (such as issues of poverty, conflict, health …

Development And Climate Change In Egypt: Focus On Coastal Resources And The Nile, Shardul Agrawala, Annett Moehner, Mohamed El Raey, Declan Conway, Maarten Van Aalst, Marca Hagenstad, Joel Smith

Egypt & Libya

This report presents the integrated case study for Egypt carried out under an OECD project on Development and Climate Change. The report is structured around a three-tiered framework. First, recent climate trends and climate change scenarios for Egypt are assessed and key sectoral impacts are identified and ranked along multiple indicators to establish priorities for adaptation. Second, donor portfolios are analyzed to examine the proportion of development assistance activities affected by climate risks. A desk analysis of donor strategies and project documents as well as national plans is conducted to assess the degree of attention to climate change concerns in …

Communication Nationale Initiale, Union Des Comores

East Africa

The natio_nal ~xperts ~ssociated with the preparation of the Comoros Initial Co~~un1c~t1on o~ Chmate Change initially tried to identify the changes to be ant1c1pated 1n the f 1eld of precipitation, temperature and sea level.

However, the national data available and useable 1 on precipitation proved to be fragmentary, because they were limited to aeronautical meteorology. Since the collection stations (airports) are exclusively located in the coastal area of the country, the data on the high altitude areas and the many micro climates that characterise the islands in general could not be taken into consideration. The lack of complete data covering …

The State Of Eritrea Ministry Of Land, Water And Environment, Department Of Environment, Eritrea

East Africa

It is widely agreed today that anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere is creating imbalances in the natural cycle of the earth’s climate, best known as climate change. Scientific evidence has shown that the earth has been increasingly getting warmer and warmer. Nine of the ten warmest years, for example, have occurred since 1990. The resultant global change of climate has been of major concern to the international community and the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was a big step …

Communication Nationale Initiale De La Republique De Djibouti A La Convention Cadre Des Nations Unies Sur Les Changements Climatiques, République De Djibouti

East Africa

Entre le tropique de Cancer et l’équateur, la République de Djibouti est située dans la région de la Corne de l’Afrique au croisement du Golfe d’Aden et de la Mer Rouge. Le pays couvre une superficie de 23 200 km² et possède une côte de 370 km. Le relief est escarpé et marqué par des plateaux et des plaines, ainsi que des massifs dont le plus élevé atteint 2000 mètres d’altitude. Etant localisé dans une région de séparation …

Seychelles Initial National Communication, Government Of Seychelles

East Africa

The Initial National Communication of the Seychelles was prepared based on the guidelines provided by Decision 10/CP.2 of the Second Conference of the Parties (COP 2). It is composed of five chapters: (1) National circumstances; (2) Greenhouse gas inventory: Sources and sinks; (3) Technologies and measures for mitigation; (4) Vulnerability, impact and adaptation options; and (5) Capacity building needs and priorities.