Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa: Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies

This landmark book encompasses a comprehensive assessment of the potential economic impacts of future climate change, and the value of adaptation measures in Africa for different zones, regions, countries and farm types. Researchers developed and applied multiple analytical procedures to assess quantitatively how climate affects current agricultural systems in Africa, enabling them to predict how these systems may be affected in the future by climate change under various global warming scenarios, and suggesting what role adaptation could play.

The study is the first to combine spatially referenced household survey data with climatic data at both national and international levels. This book provides vital knowledge about the impacts of climate change on Africa, serving as a guide to policy intervention strategies and investment in adaptation measures. It makes a major contribution to the analysis of climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies, especially in the highly vulnerable farming communities in the developing world.

Published with CEEPA and supported by the World Bank.

Ariel Dinar is a lead economist at the Development Research Group of the World Bank, Washington DC, USA. Rashid Hassan is a professor and the director of the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Robert Mendelsohn is a professor of economics in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, USA. James Benhin is technical coordinator at CEEPA, University of Pretoria, South Africa.