Climate Change and Natural Resources

The world faces a multitude of environmental threats, including global warming, extensive deforestation, biodiversity loss, desertification, and water pollution. These issues primarily stem from unsustainable human activities such as energy production, deforestation, and overpopulation. The resulting extreme climate changes, including floods, droughts, and desertification, lead to mass migrations. These migrations, in turn, trigger tensions and conflicts among various communities, further damaging the environment due to competing resource use, including land, water, and vegetation.

Climate change affects all countries, but Africa is particularly vulnerable, with limited adaptation and mitigation capacity. AfDA's Climate Change and Natural Resources research area conducts cutting-edge research to understand and provide evidence-based solutions regarding the impact of climate change on economic development, livelihoods, and peace, and how these factors interplay in Africa. Key research sub-topics under this theme include analyzing the economic impact of climate change at both macro and sectoral levels and exploring pathways toward sustainable (green) economic growth. Additionally, the research theme covers financing and capacity building for climate change adaptation and mitigation, understanding and addressing climate and environment-induced migration and conflicts, and studying the impacts of climate change-induced shocks on livelihood vulnerability and resilience. It also delves into the intricate interactions among energy development, ecosystems, and people.