Vulnerabilities of Developing Countries to Climate Change

Developing countries more vulnerable –Fewer resources to adapt Socially, technologically, financially –Climate change impacts depend on: Climate, geographical, social, cultural, economic and political situations –Common sectors impacted Agriculture, water resources, coastal zone, biodiversity, terrestrial ecosystems.

Adaptation Process by which societies make themselves better able to cope with uncertain future

Adaptation Options Technological –e.g. sea walls, houses on stilts Behavioral – less water use in droughts Mosquito netting Warning systems for extreme events Better water management Improved risk management Insurance Biodiversity conservation

Regional Impacts of Climate Change--Africa Feeling pressure from climate stresses Some areas = most variable climate –Go from drought to floods in months to decades –Lead to famine, etc –1/3 African people live in drought prone areas –220 million exposed to drought each year

Factors Compounding Impacts of Climate Variability in Africa Poverty Illiteracy Lack of skills Weak institutions Limited infrastructure Lack of technology and information Poor education Poor health care Lack of access to resources Armed conflicts

Other issues in Africa Desertification Overexploitation of land resources e.g. forests Population increases

With climate change, African climate more variable Extreme weather more frequent & severe Increased coastal flooding due to sea level rise

Increased water scarcity lead to conflicts –River basins transnational Agriculture relies on rainfall Climate change = agricultural land lost –Shorter growing seasons

Diseases, climate change and Africa Africa vulnerable to malaria, tuberculosis, diarrhea Climate change = increased temperatures = migration of diseases to new areas and higher latitudes –E.g. Malaria mosquito migration to higher areas exposes more people in densely populated highlands Increased diseases interact with existing diseases such as HIV/AIDS shortens life expectancy Interaction of diseases with wars also decreases life spans—also leads to malnutrition

Climate Change and African Ecosystems Species migration and habitat reduction Habitat reduction –Agriculture expansion & habitat destruction –Pollution –Poaching –Civil war –Population growth Western lowland Gorilla is endangered and will decline

Climate Change and Sea Level Rise -- Africa 30% of coastal countries vulnerable Impact urban center and ports e.g. Cape Town, Maputo, Dar Es-Salaam

Climate Change Impacts and Asia Asia is largest continent –Many different climate zones –Many environmental issues Land/ecosystems degraded = decreased food security Water and air quality degraded –Consumption and waste generated Subject to many natural hazards –E.g Indian Ocean tsunami, 2005 Pakistan Earthquake, 2006 landslides in Philippines Increase extreme weather –E.g. heat waves, cyclones, intense rainfall, dust storms –Lead to hunger & disease

Climate Change, Rainfall, & Asia Rainfall will increase over most of Asia –Increased flooding –Decreased food production; up to 30% decrease in crop yield.

Climate Change, Glaciers & Asia Increase melting in Himalayas –Lead to flooding, erosion, mudslides in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, north India –Melting corresponds with monsoon season Increase in flood disasters –Melting = loss of glaciers, change in snowline Less water for rivers = less water for people 1 billion people could face water shortage

Climate Change, Health, & Asia Epidemics of malaria, dengue & other vector diseases SE Asia = greatest climate change related diarrhea & malnutrition –Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan = more diarrhea diseases = more illness and death –Cholera will increase illness and death Increase heat waves and humidity compound issues –Old people and poor urban population susceptible –Heat and poor air quality = smog caused illnesses

Climate Change, Ecosystems, & Asia Coastal areas most impacted –Sea level rise, increased ocean temperatures, changes in salinity change fish breeding areas and fish supply –Coastal communities impacted

Sea Level Rise & Asia Rising sea level may flood millions of residences –SE and E Asia vulnerable Viet Nam, Bangladesh, India, China 30 coral reefs lost in next 10 years, maybe up to 88% in 30 years

Climate Change and Latin America Includes most of world’s biodiversity Many different ecosystems, climate zones, topography, Water, agriculture, health sectors, Andean glaciers, the Amazon Area experiences El Ninos & flooding & disease; also hurricanes egg. Honduras & Nicaragua, economic losses NE Brazil subject to drought

Climate Change, Glaciers & Latin America Glaciers will melt –Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru in Andes depend on seasonal melt water For water supply and hydroenergy –E.g. Chacaltaya Glacier, Bolivia Will disappear in 15 years

Climate Change, Rainfall, & Latin America Not sure how climate change will impact rainfall –But dry areas will receive less rain Less food security, degraded agricultural land –Generally, agricultural yields expected to decrease

Climate Change, Health, & Latin America Major climate change risks are on health –Heat stress due to urban heat islands in megacities –Transmittable diseases Malaria, dengue, cholera Rodent-borne diseases could also increase after floods droughts e.g. hantavirus Increased droughts due to warmer, drier climates = more fires= more pulmonary diseases

Climate Change, Ecosystems & Latin America Amazon basin = 40% of remaining tropical forest –Earth’s richest biodiversity 1000’s of plant species 700 fish species 1000 bird species Over 300 mammalian species –Increased loss of forests lead to loss of species –Loss of forests leads change in climate

Climate Change, Sea level, & Latin America Low-lying coastal areas in Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Uruguay, Venezuela will be impacted Will impact buildings and tourism, shape of coasts, drinking water supply (e.g. Costa Rica), coral reefs (Mexico, Belize, Panama), and fish stocks

Climate Change and Small Islands Include 51 states and territories in Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Caribbean Sea Very vulnerable to climate change –Large settlements near coast –Water resources, land use, & biodiversity are important issues related to sea level rise –Increase population and poor use of resources also issues –Cyclones and storm surges, tropical storms, coastal erosion impact infrastructure

Climate Change, Water Supply, And SIDS Increased salt water encroachment due to sea level rise –Leads to loss of fresh water Less rainfall due to climate change –Leads to loss of fresh water

Climate Change, Agriculture and SIDS May have increased droughts Shorter growing seasons Poor soils Lead to economic losses, less food security, Agricultural land also threatened by sea level rise Low-lying islands impacted the most

Climate Change, Health, & SIDS Higher temperatures & decreased water supply lead to increased diarrheal and infectious diseases Droughts and flooding increase disease susceptibility

Climate Change, Sea Level, & SIDS Rise in sea level leads to –Increased coastal erosion –1 meter rise will lead to disappearance of Maldives Sea level rise, extreme events will lead to loss of tourism and economies will suffer. –Barbados – 70% of hotels located within 250 meters of water or in the inundation zone