This policy brief highlights key findings from the FCFA Zambia pilot case study regarding how current and future climate science can enable development and humanitarian policy, planning and implementation that is climate smart and robust to projected changes in the medium to long term. The findings are based on activities undertaken by the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre between February and October 2014, in close collaboration with the Met Office Hadley Centre and the Zambia Red Cross Society. These activities included a literature review, scientific research, two multi-sector, multi-stakeholder workshops and a high-level meeting with key representatives from government, civil society, the Met Office and the private sector.
African decision-makers need reliable, accessible, and trustworthy information about the continent’s climate, and how this climate might change in future, if they are to plan appropriately to meet the region’s development challenges.
Long-lived infrastructure is inherently exposed to climate risks through its longevity, irreversibility and high initial capital cost.
The cities of Accra in Ghana and Maputo in Mozambique currently face many development challenges, such as poor transport and drainage infrastructure, as a result of inadequate planning regulation and law enforcement.