Transcript Climate Change and Uganda

Climate Change
and Uganda
Presentation
by
Jenty Kirsch-Wood
OCHA’s Policy Development and Studies Branch
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 1
Climate Change and Uganda
Setting the stage
 Climate change is happening and we are locked into further global
warming up to at least 2050 (at least 1 degree)
 Uganda is already feeling the consequences of climate change and is at
high risk in the future
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 2
Climate Change and Uganda
Climate Change – Impacts of humanitarian concern
 Increase frequency and intensity of weather-related hazard events
(floods, storms, etc)
 Increase likelihood of drought and desertification
 Significant changes in the morbidity patterns of some diseases
 Nine of out every ten disasters are now climate related. These trends
are consistent with IPCC projections of climate change impacts
 The poor will be disproportionably affected and are more likely to fall
back on emergency humanitarian assistance in the face of climaterelated disasters.
 Between 2000 and 2004, 1/19 people living in the developing world was
affected by a climate disaster. The comparable figure for OECD
countries was 1 / 1,500 people: a risk differential of 79
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 3
Climate Change and Uganda
Potential for humanitarian disasters
 Where risk from climate-related
hazards coincide with areas of
high human vulnerability there is
potential for more humanitarian
disasters driven by climate
change
Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability
Capacity
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 4
Climate Change and Uganda
Hazard events and impacts
 Main concerns for Uganda in terms of weather related hazard
events – historically and projected:
– Flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains
– Rise in temperature
– Dry spells / droughts
Potentially resulting in increased:
– Number of people affected by waterborne, respiratory as well as vector-borne
diseases
– Damage and destruction of infrastructure
– Water stress / loss of livelihoods / food insecurity (malnutrition)
 Recent years’ erratic onset and cessation of rainfall season
coupled with increasing frequency of droughts has made Uganda
more vulnerable to climate change.
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 5
Climate Change and Uganda
Hazard events and impacts - Rains
 Uganda is a humanitarian risk
hotspot for flooding (blue area)
– Projected increase in extreme
precipitation: East / North East and
in the South West along the lake.
 Landslides (highlands) / Flooding
(lowlands)
– Loss of lives
– Destruction and damage of houses,
infrastructure and crops
– Pollution of sources of drinking
water, with potential danger of
outbreaks of water-borne diseases
such as cholera and dysentery
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 6
Climate Change and Uganda
Hazard events and impacts - Drought
 Western, northern and north-eastern districts are already experiencing
long droughts – these areas will likely be
increasingly exposed to periods of drought.
 Double threat in many areas of both drought
and floods – significant concern for
humanitarian actors
 The majority of Uganda's agriculture is
subsistence and rain-fed and, therefore, vulnerable to climate change
 Heavy rains in periods will not off-set water requirements in dry
periods because of higher evaporation and lack of irrigation.
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 7
Climate Change and Uganda
Hazard events and impacts - Health
 The highlands, which were malaria free, are now invaded by the disease.
People living in highlands have not developed immunity for malaria and
are therefore more susceptible to it.
 In semi-arid areas, tick-borne diseases have become rampant because of
higher temperatures and the tsetse fly belt has expanded.
 Prolonged dry spells have resulted in outbreak of respiratory diseases
 Increased food insecurity will to lead increased rates of malnutrition
 Drying out of water resources will cause pollution of water supplies,
creating problems especially in urban centres, where there will also be
less water for sewerage.
 Floods will cause an increase in waterborne diseases, such as cholera
 High population and growth rates placing additional stress on health
infrastructure
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 8
Climate Change and Uganda
Humanitarian risks – Migration / Conflict
 The scarcity of water in parts of Uganda has in the past resulted in
movements into neighbouring districts in search for pasture and water.
 These movements have led to conflict and disruptions in agricultural
production.
 Climate change induced
water scarcity in
dry land areas
could further
exacerbate
tensions.
 Regional issues /
cross border
tensions
March 2008
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Slide 9
Climate Change & Preparedness
Next Steps
 In the immediate term, climate change will require a redoubling of existing
preparedness and risk reduction efforts. (Build on existing structures)
– Implementation of the NAPA
– Implementation of the HFA
 Strengthen data collection and analysis
 Factor in the unexpected, make sure that systems are can adapt to
changes
 Start now!
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 10
Climate Change and Uganda
Thank you!
March 2008
OCHA
Slide 11