Africa - Case Study

Africa - Case Study

1. Evidence for global warming (GW)

   • The continent is a whole 0.5 degreesC warmer than in 1900.
   • In Kenya, temperatures have increased by 3.5 degreesC since 1985.

2. Vulnerable population

   • Most economies are heavily dependent on agriculture.
     • Farming is rain-fed and vulnerable to rainfall shortages - water is already scarce.
   • Areas that are already dry are getting drier.
   • Wetter areas are getting wetter.
   • Poor people have a reduced capacity to cope.
   • Poor countries are less able to prepare for and respond to climate change.
   • Political turmoil can mean the appropriate responses aren't made and the impacts are made worse.

3. GW is causing desertification. This can cause unemployment, poverty, malnouishment and starvation.

   • Desertification - the process by which fertile land becomes unsuitable for farming.

4. Warmer temperatures can make conditions better for mosquitoes. This leads to an increase of malaria cases; putting more strain on health care and the economy, not allowing it to grow.

5. GW has caused a reduced growing period over much of Africa - decrease agricultural production.

6. GW is causing more of an erratic climate. Home and infrastructure are destroyed in areas where people aren't able to rebuild/recover.

7. Some tropical areas are benefiting from GW as growing periods are becoming longer and may be able to benefit more finically for agricultural conditions.