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Unintended consequences of climate change mitigation for African river basins

Author

Listed:
  • Matteo Giuliani

    (Politecnico di Milano)

  • Jonathan R. Lamontagne

    (Tufts University)

  • Mohamad I. Hejazi

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
    King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC))

  • Patrick M. Reed

    (Cornell University)

  • Andrea Castelletti

    (Politecnico di Milano)

Abstract

Emerging climate change mitigation policies focus on the implementation of global measures relying on carbon prices to attain rapid emissions reductions, with limited consideration for the impacts of global policies at local scales. Here, we use the Zambezi Watercourse in southern Africa to demonstrate how local dynamics across interconnected water–energy–food systems are impacted by mitigation policies. Our results indicate that climate change mitigation policies related to land-use change emissions can have negative side effects on local water demands, generating increased risks for failures across all the components of the water–energy–food systems in the Zambezi Watercourse. Analogous vulnerabilities could impact many river basins in southern and western Africa. It is critical to connect global climate change mitigation policies to local dynamics for a better exploration of the full range of possible future scenarios while supporting policy makers in prioritizing sustainable mitigation and adaptation solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Matteo Giuliani & Jonathan R. Lamontagne & Mohamad I. Hejazi & Patrick M. Reed & Andrea Castelletti, 2022. "Unintended consequences of climate change mitigation for African river basins," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(2), pages 187-192, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:12:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1038_s41558-021-01262-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-021-01262-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Domenico Dentoni & Carlo Cucchi & Marija Roglić & Rob Lubberink & Rahmin Bender & Timothy Manyise, 2023. "Systems Thinking, Mapping and Change in Food and Agriculture," Post-Print hal-04002011, HAL.
    2. Danyang Gao & Albert S. Chen & Fayyaz Ali Memon, 2024. "A Systematic Review of Methods for Investigating Climate Change Impacts on Water-Energy-Food Nexus," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 38(1), pages 1-43, January.

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