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21

a result, it is expected that the region will experience

less severe droughts. These scenarios indicate that

there is high certainty of an increased intensity in

rainfall, which in turn, increases the risk of flooding

in the region (Shongwe et al., 2010; IPCC, 2013).

Impacts of climate change on

vulnerable sectors

Africa is recognized as one of the most vulnerable

continents to climate change and climate variability,

due to ‘multiple stresses’ such as endemic poverty, weak

governance and institutional arrangements, ecosystem

degradation, complex disasters and conflicts, and

limited access to capital, infrastructure and technology

(IPCC, 2007). As a result of these factors, Brooks et al.

(2005), rated Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia and Rwanda as

some of the most vulnerable countries in the world to

climate change, and Kenya and Uganda as moderately

to highly vulnerable. The sectors presented below are

particularly vulnerable in the mountainous areas of

East Africa due to a combination of factors such as

high exposure to climate-related hazards or trends,

low adaptive capacity and the importance of the

sector to the region.

Water availability

The mountains in East Africa receive more rain than

lowland areas and play a key role in capturing, storing

and purifying water. As such, these mountains are

Climate Change effects

Changes in annual temperature

projected for 2080-2099 compare to 1980-1999

Changes in annual precipitation

projected for 2080-2099 compare to 1980-1999

Source: IPCC,2007, “ClimateChange2007:ThePhysicalScienceBasis.Contributionof

WorkingGroup I to theFourthAssessmentReportof the InterngovernmentalPanelon

ClimateChange”,CambridgeUniversityPress.

Copyright©2015GRID-Arendal ·Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo

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People drawing water from the Mago River in Omo Valley, Ethiopia