Managing climate risks in Africa: insights from South Africa and Ethiopia

Abstract

Climate change undermines the development progress and prospects of developing countries, and this is particularly true for many African countries whose long-term objective has been achieving economic growth and development. Climate change poses many risks to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of these countries and will worsen poverty and inequality, reduce agricultural productivity, exacerbate water stress in water scarce countries on the continent which will in turn threaten hydropower generation. The double challenge facing many African countries is adapting to climate change impacts while growing their economies. Adaptation has been described as “development in a hostile climate”, and development labelled as a form of adaptation. Many African countries recognising the far-reaching consequences that climate change will have on development agendas have begun to merge development and climate change considerations in responding and planning for adaptation. This thesis provides insights into climate change adaptation in some of these countries- South Africa and Ethiopia by exploring three crosscutting issues- adaptation planning, institutions and governance of climate change, and climate (adaptation) finance.