Climate change could lead to low crop yields and increased malaria cases #tanzania

EXPERTS say Tanzania is currently suffering high economic
costs due to extreme events due to climate change. The
costs include low crop yields due to drought and floods, as
well as increased cases of malaria and other diseases.
Tanzania's economy is dependent on the climate, since a
large proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP) is
associated with climate sensitive activities, particularly
agriculture. Therefore climate variability, such as extreme
events like droughts and floods, has led to major economic
costs.
In a recent publication by Development Partners Group and
the UK Department International Development, the experts
said some individual annual events have economic costs in
excess of one per cent of GDP, and occur regularly, reducing
long-term growth and affecting millions of people and
livelihoods.
The experts concluded in their report that Tanzania is not
adequately adapted to the vagaries of climate. The country,
therefore, has a large existing adaptation deficit which
requires urgent action.
The combined effects of current climate vulnerability and
future climate change are large enough to prevent the
country from achieving key economic growth, development
and poverty reduction targets, including the planned
timetable for achieving middle income status by the year
2025 (National Development Vision).
It is said; however, that adaptation can reduce these
impacts, but requires significant levels of funding.
Significant funding is required to address the existing
adaptation deficit, as well as to prepare for future climate
change.
An initial estimate of immediate needs for building adaptive
capacity and enhancing resilience against future climate
change is US$100 - 150 million per year, according to the
report. Mr Richard Muyungi, Assistant Director in the Vice-
President's Office (Climate Change) told the 'Daily News'
recently that the need for adaptation funding in Tanzania is
at least US$600 million per annum. Other experts say the
cost of adaptation increases rapidly in future years.
By 2030, financing needs of up to US$1 billion per year are
reasonable, and potentially more if further accelerated
development is included.
In another recent study that focussed on malaria, a
mosquito- borne disease that infects around 220 million
people a year, researchers from Britain and the United
States found what they describe as the first hard evidence
that malaria creeps to higher elevations during warmer
years and back down to lower altitudes when temperatures
cool.