Question

Climate Change will have a disproportionate impact on developing countries.

a) Discuss what the particular impacts will be. (Hint: there are multiple

impacts.) Which region(s) will be impacted most and why?

b) What adaptation strategies do you recommend?

Answer 1

Climate change will have a disproportionate impact on developing countries which may include sea-level rises, stronger cyclones, warmer days and nights, more unpredictable rains. It is enough to devastate crops leading to lost the source of income and will effect world hunger. Monsoon withdrawal rates are likely to delay. There will be increase in green house emissions. Thus loge will become unbearable

Most affected countries include:

• East Africa - increased short rains
• West Africa - heavier monsoons.
• Burma, Bangladesh and India- stronger cyclones
• southern Asia- heavier summer rains
• Indonesia- less rainfall
• coastal regions around the south China Sea and Gulf of Thailand- increased rainfall in case of cyclone

The adaptive strategy should first focus on increasing water productivity which may include increasing yield using less water in agricultural sector, reducing wastage and reusing waste water. The next strategy is providing measures to ensure public safety in extreme rainfall events and to increase the amounts and ways in which we store water which may include building more large dams and small reservoirs. Thus there must be a combination of science and engineering in policy making.