Africa transformation-ready

Scientific evidence has demonstrated strongly and increasingly clearly that human-induced climate change has already begun1 and analysis of the implications of this process suggests that ecological, economic and social impacts will be largely adverse2—particularly for the least developed countries of the world, the majority of which are in Africa. [...] This report is the outcome of research commissioned by the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group, with the support of the African Union, to explore the transformative potential of ICTs in addressing the major economic, environmental and social challenges facing the African continent due to the impacts of climate change. [...] The methodology for the study is described in Appendix 1. The report is structured as follows: Chapter 1 presents a global overview of climate change and current trends, of impacts on the African continent; and of climate change adaptation which is taking place today in Africa. [...] Measured temperatures have risen since the end of the 19th century, with this process accelerating during the latter half of the 20th century.7 The change has not occurred uniformly throughout the world: the Arctic, for example, has warmed at a rate that is twice that of the rest of the world over the past few decades.8 Along with changing temperatures, there has been an increase in the frequency [...] The process involves an initial El Niño phase in which the easterly trade winds of the southern hemisphere weaken, reducing the movement of warm water away from the coast of Peru and towards Indonesia, and therefore leading to less upwelling of cold water along the coast of South America.