Resource information
Largely due to the potential threats to
development, and human lives of well known climate changes,
the World Bank is getting involved in a range of activities
under the subject. The note focuses on climate changes in
Africa, and, although it is argued that greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from development projects in Africa should be paid
minor attention, - because GHG emissions from Africa are
negligible on a global scale; industrial countries should be
the ones to bear major costs of reducing GHG emissions; and,
due to the complex, tentative nature of potential impacts
resulting from climate change - these factors do not mean
that emissions are irrelevant in the African context. It is
anticipated that changes in climate will result in adverse
socioeconomic impacts in Africa, related to factors
associated with the vulnerability of society, and the
sensitivity of the environment. There is high dependency on
bio-fuels, and agriculture and forestry, aggravated by
restricted population mobility, poor health facilities, high
population growth, and low material standards. Whereas
concerns of climate change in development projects are
prevalent, other factors need further attention: the
trans-boundary, and global effects of climate change;
cumulative effects of GHG emissions; the complexity in
assessing climate change impacts at regional levels;
international responsiveness to climate changes, due to the
challenging nature of national sector policies, and
institutional frameworks; and, the significance of climate
change impacts on the socioeconomic environment.
