Blog 3 - Climate Change mitigation to protect water supply - part 2
In the previous blog, climate change and its impacts were discussed with particular emphasis on groundwater levels. To that effect, the last blog looked at the potential impact of reduced groundwater levels on food security and water access. In this blog, we shall identify and assess some strategies that may help mitigate against the risks of climate change by looking at some case studies from Malawi, Zambia, Niger and Ethiopia to see how both government and local initiatives work in practice. The strategies vary in nature from inclusivity driven economic initiatives, government led socio-economic initiatives and initiatives designed to address the physical geographical causes of risk.
As mentioned in the previous blog, Africa is particularly vulnerable and sensitive to Climate Change (Niang, 2014). Indeed, it is projected by the end of the current century that there will an increase, on average, of 3-4 Celsius (Carter and Parker, 2009) which will likely increase the intermittency of rainfall and the extremity of weather events such as droughts and floods (Carter and Parker, 2009). Thus, it is imperative that governments and populations adapt accordingly to mitigate the risks of the impact of climate change namely: food insecurity and water poverty.
One strategy that could be employed is one that seeks to be inclusive of all members of society. Policies to that effect have had some degree of success is an insurance policy based on weather indices. That is to say, an index is created which measures the lack of rainfall and produces an estimate of material loss to stakeholders on account of said lack of rainfall. Such policies have been tried and tested in Malawi and Ethiopia. Malawi's initiative saw insurance sold to 892 farmers in a bundle with groundnut production inputs (Hellmuth et. al, 2009). This scheme added maize in the next year as well as increasing the number involved to 1710 while stimulating interest from all sectors of society such as banks, financiers and supply chain participants. This strategy is desirable as it combines an incentive to insure against force majeure and keep food yields up whilst simultaneously involving much of society. As a result, such strategies aim to mitigate against the risk of (further) food insecurity as a result of the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, another strategy that could be invoked is one whereby stakeholders are provided incentives to actively manage the risks of their community. An example of this can be seen in Ethiopia; the Ethiopian Government initiated an insurance for work program which allows cash-poor farmers to work for insurance premiums by engaging in community identified disaster risk management like soil management and improved irrigation (Niang, 2014). Schemes such as these are desirable because they combine a government initiative with a strategy to change societal behaviour - specifically amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised in society (Niang, 2014). Not only does such a strategy help protect and insure for the future, it also helps to protect this involved at the current moment in time thus meeting the requirements of sustainability.
Moreover, some policies may seek to address the physical conditions rather than the socio-economic symptoms. An example of such an initiative can be seen in Zambia and in Niger. Niger like many African countries is particularly prone to the effects of climate change and most notably the impact climate change may have on water scarcity and subsequent food insecurity due to being located in the Sahel. To that effect, farmers in both Zambia and the Sahel have taken steps to address this by attempting to replenish soil fertility on degraded land (Niang, 2014). This strategy involves the planting of Faidherbia trees and small mineral fertilisers which has consistently doubled maize yields in Zambia and in the process increased food security and general income for farmers (Garrity et.al, 2010). In addition, Southern Niger has also employed the same strategy; Sendzimir et.al (2011) note that farmer managed natural regeneration has been occurring since the late 1980s and has increased coverage over 4.8 million hectares which has seen Southern Niger become much less drought sensitive compared with the rest of the country. Strategies such as this help replenish soil moisture now, and in the future, which in turn helps mitigate against water scarcity and drought sensitivity thus mitigating against food insecurity as a result.
To conclude, the past two blogs have outlined the extent and the potential impacts of climate change in Africa whilst also providing solutions to the issues that may arise from it. The effects of climate change on water resources is a key political issue, not just in Africa, but globally. However, the impacts of climate change are likely to have much greater a political impact in Africa than in other places due to its particular vulnerability to water and thus food shortages. In spite of that, this blog provides solutions to the issue of climate change impact. There are many strategies that can potentially mitigate against the impacts of climate change but I contend that the most effective strategy is in fact a multi-faceted one that involves populations and government and that seeks to not only insure against any losses (e.g Malawi and Ethiopia) but also to appreciate and adapt accordingly with physical conditions of a given area (e.g Zambia and Niger. In the final analysis, there is no sole solution to the potential impacts of climate change but rather a necessity for clear and coherent, multi-faceted one.
As mentioned in the previous blog, Africa is particularly vulnerable and sensitive to Climate Change (Niang, 2014). Indeed, it is projected by the end of the current century that there will an increase, on average, of 3-4 Celsius (Carter and Parker, 2009) which will likely increase the intermittency of rainfall and the extremity of weather events such as droughts and floods (Carter and Parker, 2009). Thus, it is imperative that governments and populations adapt accordingly to mitigate the risks of the impact of climate change namely: food insecurity and water poverty.
One strategy that could be employed is one that seeks to be inclusive of all members of society. Policies to that effect have had some degree of success is an insurance policy based on weather indices. That is to say, an index is created which measures the lack of rainfall and produces an estimate of material loss to stakeholders on account of said lack of rainfall. Such policies have been tried and tested in Malawi and Ethiopia. Malawi's initiative saw insurance sold to 892 farmers in a bundle with groundnut production inputs (Hellmuth et. al, 2009). This scheme added maize in the next year as well as increasing the number involved to 1710 while stimulating interest from all sectors of society such as banks, financiers and supply chain participants. This strategy is desirable as it combines an incentive to insure against force majeure and keep food yields up whilst simultaneously involving much of society. As a result, such strategies aim to mitigate against the risk of (further) food insecurity as a result of the impacts of climate change.
Furthermore, another strategy that could be invoked is one whereby stakeholders are provided incentives to actively manage the risks of their community. An example of this can be seen in Ethiopia; the Ethiopian Government initiated an insurance for work program which allows cash-poor farmers to work for insurance premiums by engaging in community identified disaster risk management like soil management and improved irrigation (Niang, 2014). Schemes such as these are desirable because they combine a government initiative with a strategy to change societal behaviour - specifically amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised in society (Niang, 2014). Not only does such a strategy help protect and insure for the future, it also helps to protect this involved at the current moment in time thus meeting the requirements of sustainability.
Moreover, some policies may seek to address the physical conditions rather than the socio-economic symptoms. An example of such an initiative can be seen in Zambia and in Niger. Niger like many African countries is particularly prone to the effects of climate change and most notably the impact climate change may have on water scarcity and subsequent food insecurity due to being located in the Sahel. To that effect, farmers in both Zambia and the Sahel have taken steps to address this by attempting to replenish soil fertility on degraded land (Niang, 2014). This strategy involves the planting of Faidherbia trees and small mineral fertilisers which has consistently doubled maize yields in Zambia and in the process increased food security and general income for farmers (Garrity et.al, 2010). In addition, Southern Niger has also employed the same strategy; Sendzimir et.al (2011) note that farmer managed natural regeneration has been occurring since the late 1980s and has increased coverage over 4.8 million hectares which has seen Southern Niger become much less drought sensitive compared with the rest of the country. Strategies such as this help replenish soil moisture now, and in the future, which in turn helps mitigate against water scarcity and drought sensitivity thus mitigating against food insecurity as a result.
To conclude, the past two blogs have outlined the extent and the potential impacts of climate change in Africa whilst also providing solutions to the issues that may arise from it. The effects of climate change on water resources is a key political issue, not just in Africa, but globally. However, the impacts of climate change are likely to have much greater a political impact in Africa than in other places due to its particular vulnerability to water and thus food shortages. In spite of that, this blog provides solutions to the issue of climate change impact. There are many strategies that can potentially mitigate against the impacts of climate change but I contend that the most effective strategy is in fact a multi-faceted one that involves populations and government and that seeks to not only insure against any losses (e.g Malawi and Ethiopia) but also to appreciate and adapt accordingly with physical conditions of a given area (e.g Zambia and Niger. In the final analysis, there is no sole solution to the potential impacts of climate change but rather a necessity for clear and coherent, multi-faceted one.
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