US Climate and Health Alliance

African lessons on climate change risks for agriculture

Abstract

Climate change impact assessments on agriculture are subject to large uncertainties, as demonstrated in the present review of recent studies for Africa. There are multiple reasons for differences in projections, including uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions and patterns of climate change; assumptions on future management, aggregation, and spatial extent; and methodological differences. Still, all projections agree that climate change poses a significant risk to African agriculture. Most projections also see the possibility of increasing agricultural production under climate change, especially if suitable adaptation measures are assumed. Climate change is not the only projected pressure on African agriculture, which struggles to meet demand today and may need to feed an additional one billion individuals by 2050. Development strategies are urgently needed, but they will need to consider future climate change and its inherent uncertainties. Science needs to show how existing synergies between climate change adaptation and development can be exploited.

Resource Type
Peer-reviewed article
Author
Christoph Müller
Resource URL
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-nutr-071812-161121
Publication
Annual Review of Nutrition
Journal Abbr.
Annu. Rev. Nutr.
Volume
33
Pages
395-411
Date
2013
DOI
10.1146/annurev-nutr-071812-161121
ISSN
1545-4312
Health and Human Impact
Food security
Climate and Environmental Impact
Food/crops
Region
International

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