Climate change impacts on Africa’s infrastructure ‘costly’

The impact of climate change on Africa’s water and energy infrastructure will be costly, according to a new World Bank report. It shows the impact of climate change on hydropower […]

The impact of climate change on Africa’s water and energy infrastructure will be costly, according to a new World Bank report.

It shows the impact of climate change on hydropower and irrigation infrastructure and identifies adaptation options to increase climate resilience.

In the driest weather scenario, failure to integrate climate change in the planning and design of hydropower infrastructure could result in losses of revenues between 5% and 60%. Consumer cost for energy could also increase by three times as much as it is now.

World Bank Vice President of the Africa Region Makhtar Diop said: “Understanding the causes, addressing the effects of climate change and building climate-resilient infrastructure are central to our efforts to end poverty in Africa.

“The reason is simple. If left unchecked, climate change could potentially overwhelm existing development efforts.”

Investment in infrastructure is fundamental to sustaining growth in Africa, the report ‘Enhancing the Climate Resilience of Africa’s Infrastructure’ states.

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