Unpredictable Rain

Of all the negative consequences of climate change for Africa, by far the most serious is the change in rainfall patterns. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has estimated that by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people in Africa will experience increasing problems accessing water because of climate change. 

Across the continent, both the cycle of rainy and dry seasons and the total amount of rain differs greatly from one area to another. Almost all areas have a dry season, and so periods of shorter or longer droughts are not a new phenomenon. However, a growing number of communities are now experiencing unpredictable rainfall.

The following accounts show how these changing rainfall patterns are affecting communities, and how these communities have responded by adapting the way in which they live and farm.