Africa: Kenya, South Africa, Botswana

Abstract

Africa is the continent most challenged by climate change and the poorest region in the world. The burdens of climate change, as noted by the IPCC, fall hardest on the developing world. Due to high rates of poverty, development challenges and limited governmental budgets in many cases, the challenges for Africa are immense. The landlocked nation of Botswana along with Kenya and South Africa are profiled in this chapter with riveting up to date information and cases studies. The high poverty rate in Botswana will be a challenge in addressing corrective and preventative action to forestall the worst effects of climate change. The high population engaged in rural farming (70%) exposes hundreds of thousands of citizens to income and crop instability due to extreme heat, water scarcity and drought. Conversely, Kenya and South Africa are primarily challenged by serious coastal flooding that will accelerate in the twenty-first century. These countries, with large pockets of poverty and regional drought challenges, will also face serious socio-economic and health complications. The growing climate refugee crisis will be evident in several African countries, thus propelling massive migration.

“Treat the earth well; it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children.”

Kenyan Proverb