BaCCC/Module 2/Lesson 1/Part 3

National and local impacts and consequences of climate change

Let us look at a case study of local impacts and consequences in Eswatini.

Eswatini Map Location

Eswatini case study

Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) is a small, landlocked country in southeastern Africa, sandwiched between South Africa and Mozambique. It is already experiencing a range of impacts from climate change. Here are some of the key impacts: Droughts: Eswatini is prone to droughts, and climate change is exacerbating this problem by increasing the frequency and severity of dry spells. This has a significant impact on agriculture, which employs over two thirds of the country’s population. Heatwaves: Eswatini is also experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves, which can have negative impacts on human health, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those who work outside. Water scarcity: Climate change is also affecting water availability in Eswatini, with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation leading to decreased water levels in rivers and reservoirs. This has implications for drinking water supplies, agriculture and hydropower generation. Increased frequency and severity of floods: While droughts are the most common climate-related hazard in Eswatini, the country is also vulnerable to flooding, which can cause dangerous mudslides and damage infrastructure, homes and crops. Rain bombs (which are “rain that should come over a period of months, yet ends up falling in a few days or even a few hours”), technically called wet microbursts, are becoming more common. Reading See ECCos (2022) blog on this issue. Eswatini-youth-are-addressing-climate-change . Reduced crop yields: Climate change is expected to reduce crop yields in Eswatini due to increased temperatures and water stress, which could exacerbate food insecurity and poverty in the country. Overall, these impacts of climate change highlight the urgent need for adaptation measures in Eswatini, including improved water management, better infrastructure to protect against floods, and efforts to support climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.

Activity

In your learning journal, write down all the impacts of climate change that you see in the first slide below (Slide A). These are all the results of disasters that hit Eswatini at the end of 2022. For example, you can read the following news story:

"Hailstorm Wreaks Havoc in Eswatini"

Climate Change Eswatini 1

Climate Change Eswatini 2

Lastly, to give you a sense of what information is available for each country, check out the Climate Change Knowledge Portal for Eswatini:

"Eswatini"

and the World Bank’s climate risk country profile for Eswatini:

"Climate Risk Country Profile: Eswatini"

Let’s make this more personal now.

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Let’s make this more personal now.

Activity

Find your own country or a neighbouring country in the World Bank’s Climate Knowledge Portal. Read through the country profile, and in your learning journal, write down all the climate change impacts and consequences that you find in the report.

• "Country Profiles"

• "Archived Files'

Finally, make a mind map of the different impacts hitting your community, and the consequences of each one. (If possible – and safe – use your phone to take pictures of disasters in your area and post them on social media. Or use them to illustrate your mind map for a poster to use in Lesson 3 of this module.)

Mind Map

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, you

• explained the difference between impacts and consequences of climate change;
• did research on the global impacts and consequences of climate change; and
• described the national and local impacts and consequences of climate change that you have already experienced