African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change is a major global challenge. However, some geographical regions are more severly affected than others. One of these regions is the African continent. Due to a combination of unfavourable socio-economic and meteorological conditions, African countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its impacts.

The recently released IPCC special report "Global Warming of 1.5º C" outlines the fact that keeping global warming by the level of 1.5º C is possible, but also suggested that an increase by 2º C could lead to crises with crops (agriculture fed by rain could drop by 50% in some African countries by 2020) and livestock production, could damage water supplies and pose an additonal threat to coastal areas. The 5th Assessment Report produced by IPCC predicts that wheat may disappear from Africa by 2080, and that maize― a staple―will fall significantly in southern Africa. Also, arid and semi-arid lands are likely to increase by up to 8%, with severe ramifications for livelihoods, poverty eradication and meeting the SDGs. Pursuing appropriate adaptation strategies is thus vital, in order to address the current and future challenges posed by a changing climate.

It is against this background that the "African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation" is being published. It contains papers prepared by scholars, representatives from social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects in Africa, and working with communities across the African continent. Encompassing over 100 contribtions from across Africa, it is the most comprehensive publication on climate change adaptation in Africa ever produced.     

Walter Leal Filho holds the chairs of climate change management at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and environment and technology at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). He directs the Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainability Development and Climate Change Management.” His main research interests are in the fields of sustainable development and climate change, also including aspects of climate change and health. He has over 30 years’ experience on climate change projects in Africa, having worked in many countries across the continent.

Nicholas Oguge is a professor of environmental policy at the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP), University of Nairobi, where he was a director for 6 years. He is a peer reviewer with NERC (UK) and a past member of the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) at the SocioEnvironmental Synthesis Centre (SESYNC), University of Maryland, USA. ProfessorOguge is also the founding president of the Ecological Society for Eastern Africa (ESEA) and editorial board member of the African Journal of Ecology. He is published widely and has expertise on a wide range of environmental issues. Professor Oguge was a coordinating lead author for the African region during the recent Global Assessments of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by IPBES. He has over 27 years of postdoctoral experience spanning academia, research, resource management, project management, and community outreach.

Desalegn Ayal is an associate professor of disaster risk management and sustainable development at the Center for Food Security Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University. Desalegn holds a Ph. D. degree in geography. Desalegn serves as the deputy editor of the International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management. He has published more than 40 publications including books, book chapters, and refereed journal articles. He is East Africa vice president for Interconnections for Making Africa Great, Empowered, and Sustainable Initiative. He is a founder and director of Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) Ethiopian Chapter. Desalegn has also presented papers on climate adaptation and related issues at xxv many international and national conferences. His principal areas of research include climate change adaptation, climate resilience, climate change mitigation and related issues, indigenous weather forecasting, integrated natural resources rehabilitation and management, and livelihoods and food security nexus, among others. He thoroughly understands the link between natural and human-induced hazards with sustainable development, and works hard to familiarize with current tools of climate change impact assessment on livelihood and the wider environment. He has been actively involved in climate resilience and integrated natural resources rehabilitation and management research as well as development interventions to improve food security.

Lydia Adeleke is a senior lecturer and researcher with a Ph.D. in agricultural/resource economics (fisheries economist) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria. As part of her doctoral studies, Adeleke was awarded a visiting scholar fellowship to the Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. She is a fellow of the African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) and a fellow of the African Women in Agriculture Research and Development (AWARD). Her research focus is on global adaptation of the artisanal/small-scale fisherfolks to climate change in coastal areas. As an AWARD fellow, she ensures greener world for smallholders’ farmers, especially women, through sustainable food production to increase income and living and health standards. As a social economist, she has been doing research on climate change adaptation since 2013, especially in the coastal zones, in order to promote their restoration, conservation, and sustainable use. She successfully convened the hosting of the 3rd World Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation in Nigeria between 11 and 13 September 2019. The first of its kind in Africa, and The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), was the first University in Nigeria to host this world event.

Izael da Silva has a Ph.D. in power systems engineering from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). He is a professor at Strathmore University and the deputy vice chancellor – Research and Innovation. He started the Strathmore Energy Research Centre, SERC. The center does training, research, testing, and consultancy in energy. His topics of interest are: renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, and sustainable environment. He was also instrumental in the setting up of a project sponsored by DFID and DANIDA and managed by the World Bank to set upthe first Climate Innovation Centre (CIC) in the world. It is housed in Strathmore and serves SMEs financially and technically to solve challenges posed by the adverse impact of climate change either by mitigation or adaptation. In 2013, he was honored by the Brazilian Government with the title of “Comendador da Ordem do Rio Branco” for his services towards education and poverty alleviation in Africa. Professor Da Silva is the first elected president and founding member of the Association of Energy Professionals (EA) and the current chairman of the KCIC board of directors.