Climate Change: Policy Support for National Adaptation Plans in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The global climate has experienced tremendous change, notably since the industrial revolution. Beginning from 1880 all through to 2012, the average global temperature increased by 0.85°C. This subtle increase primarily from anthropogenic contribution has had devastating effects on crop (grains) yields. Specifically, between 1981 and 2002, major crops like wheat, and maize, among others, have suffered substantial yield declines of about forty megatons annually, due to a hotter atmosphere. With the oceans equally warming faster and snow and ice sheets on a dramatic decrease, global average sea levels climbed by 19 cm from 1901 to 2010. While climate change is a global phenomenon with varying degrees of consequential implications for different world regions, Africa South of the Sahara with a negligible contribution to global warming has seen a few of the worst impacts of climate change in recent years. Temperatures in Africa have risen by at least 0.5°C in the last 50 to 100 years. As IPPC 5th Assessment concluded, Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change (Lisa 2020). Of about 2.1 billion people in the world that require access to drinking and safe water services that are well-managed, more than eleven million of this population live in Madagascar (World Health Organisation (WHO) 2017/Liberty supports WaterAid 2015). However, the precarious state of the global climate calls for serious and well-coordinated action from state and multilateral actors with the capacity to help the world’s poorest, specifically in Africa, to either mitigate or develop credible adaptation measures. This paper, therefore, provides a comprehensive literature review on UNDP Climate Change Adaptation policies for “Supporting Developing Countries to Advance National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)”, using Sub-Saharan Africa as a case study. The findings of the review suggest the adoption of an evidence-based policymaking approach as a way of influencing the adoption of NAPs by developing countries.