Climate Change and Natural Resources Conflicts in Africa

Abstract

Africa is among the most likely vulnerable regions of the world that are to be negatively impacted by climate change. Th e continent’s vulnerability to climate change arises from a combination of many factors, including extreme poverty, high rate of population increase, frequent natural disasters such as droughts and fl oods, and agricultural systems that are heavily dependent on rainfall. Under-development in some African states has also been a function of existing protracted natural resource confl icts and climate change worsens the situation. Climate change is a major threat to livelihood security in Africa. Th is monograph encompasses papers from diff erent disciplines and draws case studies from across Africa. It covers a range of issues relating to vulnerabilities, adaptation and mitigation of climate change and confl ict management. Information provided in this monograph is expected to form the basis for decision makers across Africa to formulate and implement appropriate policies to curb the impacts of climate change.