In recent decades, extreme rains and drought have struck urban regions in Africa like never before. Nevertheless, limited information is available on which to base development of early warning systems, identification of high-risk zones and formulation of local action plans. This book is about how to build the knowledge necessary for planning adaptation to climate change in Sub-Saharan cities. It brings together lessons learned from international development actions conducted by a number of scholars in disciplines ranging from meteorology and hydrogeology to urban planning and environmental management. Selected methods to assess the impacts of extreme weather and ecological stress are presented along with possible approaches to improve the adaptive capacity of Sub-Saharan cities through institutional measures at the local government level. The book is addressed to graduate students, researchers and practitioners interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in order to integrate climate change into applied research and development projects in urban Africa.
From the book reviews:
"The book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of climate-related hazards and the impact they have on areas prone to them, of the capacity of local populations to adapt and of local authorities' ability to respond. It further provides a good overview of methods used to estimate levels of risk and vulnerability, tools that are useful when planning adaptation to climate change in large cities." (Lorena Pasquini, Urban Africa, July, 2014)
"The book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of climate-related hazards and the impact they have on areas prone to them, of the capacity of local populations to adapt and of local authorities' ability to respond. It further provides a good overview of methods used to estimate levels of risk and vulnerability, tools that are useful when planning adaptation to climate change in large cities." (Lorena Pasquini, Urban Africa, July, 2014)