Abstract
During the last decades, the importance and seriousness of climate change and it’s impacts have
become more and more understood. The climate is already changing and therefor adaptation to
these changes need to be made. Central Africa needs to adapt to climate change just as much as the
rest of the world. This report is focused on the COMIFAC countries, or the Congo River Basin
countries: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. Based on the impact analyses
of the previous chapter, this chapter discusses the most appropriate adaptation measures for the
region. This chapter explains the basic principles of climate change vulnerability and adaptation such
as adaptive capacity, forms of adaptation, the adaptation cycle, maladaptation, adaptation deficit
and no-, low- and high regret adaptation options.
The second part of the report focusses on the different climate change adaptation options for
central Africa within four sectors: Agriculture, Forestry, Water and Energy. Even though these four
sectors are discussed there is also a strong overlap. In total 52 climate change adaptation measures
are listed in the annex and discussed in the report. Most of the adaptation measures fit under a few
basic climate change adaptation principles:
- Spreading of risk by diversification
- Buffer building by reforestation / agroforestry
- Preparedness for extreme weather events, droughts and floods.
- Food and water security
- Sustainable energy supply
- Education and awareness raising
- Effective management
Most of the COMIFAC member countries still have very big development challenges. The general
income tends to be low and there are still high poverty rates. These immediate development needs
are overall more important than climate change adaptation. However future development also
creates opportunities for adaptation. To avoid wrong investments and to reduce future cost of
adaptation, climate change adaptation should be integrated in future development plans.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Climate change scenarios for the Congo Basin |
Editors | A. Heansler, F. Ludwig, D. jacob |
Place of Publication | Hamburg, Germany |
Pages | 167-209 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Publication series
Name | Climate Service Centre Report No |
---|---|
Publisher | Climate Service Centre |
Number | 11 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Climate Change Adaptation Options for the Congo Basin Countries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
-
ESS-CC
Project: Other