| Abstract: | This paper attempts to identify climate change and variability indicators and consequences
in Ethiopia and to pin-point current climate risk adaptation measures and to suggest further
areas of intervention. Climate influences natural systems (ecosystem) resources, industries,
communities, productivity and reliability of supplies, regions and nations. Climate generally
affects our everyday life, and hence its slight deviation from 'normal' has various
consequences. The incidence and magnitude of climatic disasters today is widely recognized
as posing a serious threat to the survival, dignity and livelihood of countless individuals,
particularly the poor. It is now understood that climate or environmental crises have a
compelling influence over social structures and political stability in vulnerable traditional
societies such as Ethiopia. Ethiopia's climate is influenced by general atmospheric and
oceanic factors that affect the weather system and the time of inception and intensity of the
rains which are received during the Ethiopian spring, autumn and summer seasons either in a
uni- or bi-modal pattern. The summer rainfall (June-September-"Belg") contributes about
74% of the annual rainfall in the country as compared to the spring (February-May-
"Meher") and autumn (September-November) rainfalls. A weakness or failure of the rainfall
in one or more of the rainy seasons has disastrous consequences in the country. Although
Ethiopia receives rainfall during the spring and autumn seasons depending on location, the
summer rainfall contributes about 74% of the annual rainfall in the country. A weakness or
failure of the rainfall in one or more of the rainy seasons has disastrous consequences in the
country. During the last century, Ethiopia's climate variability and the consequent
agricultural as well as socio-economic crises attracted continuous global attention. It was
reported that shortage of precipitation and its variability in space and time had led to
recurrent and substantial shortfalls in agricultural production, which claimed tens of
thousands of human and animal lives. During these years, the country suffered significant
production deficit of about 20% in the agricultural sector resulting in a decrease of total
annual production by about one million tons. Several simulation studies indicated the likely
impacts of climate change on Ethiopia. An increase of temperature by 10 °C and decrease of
rainfall by up to 2% are projected for the year 2030. The climate in Ethiopia is expected to
be more variable with climate change; increasing the chance of extreme events such as
drought and floods. Several reports have indicated the likely negative effects of climate
change on Ethiopia on water resources (drying or a decrease in water level of lakes),
ecosystems (ecosystem transformation and biodiversity loss), health (epidemics of malaria.
Rift Valley Fever, cholera), food security, and on efforts being made in achieving the
Millennium Development Goals. It is concluded that the effective reduction of
vulnerabilities to current climate variability and change requires coordination across
different levels of governance and the involvement of various stakeholders. |
