Climate change implications for food security and natural resources management in Africa

A report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization indicates that variability and the risk of extreme events and abrupt changes in climate patterns may increase throughout the 21st century.

A report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations following a regional conference in Angola in May, warns of the potential of climate change to threaten food security in Africa and urges countries to take action to develop agriculture and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The report indicates that variability and the risk of extreme events and abrupt changes in climate patterns may increase throughout the 21st century. It is likely that Africa will face some degree of climate change impacts over the next 50 to 80 years.

As the economies of most African countries are rooted in agriculture and the bulk of the peoples of Africa are engaged in the agricultural sector, there are serious implications on food security for the continent. The presence of major non-climatic stressors that influence sensitivity to changes in climatic conditions, and the endemic poverty often associated with food production exacerbates the situation in Africa.

Read the report