24 - Requirements for integrated assessment modelling at the regional and national levels in Africa to address climate change

Summary

Keywords

African policy maker needs; end-to-end model; IMAGE 2; integrated assessment model; impact assessment; national integrated model; SADC

Abstarct

Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are important tools for assessing impacts and adaptation options for climate change at the global level. This chapter discusses some requirements for integrated models at the national and regional level in Africa. It is based on two meetings in southern Africa in April 1999, and subsequent discussions. The first meeting was held in Harare, Zimbabwe, and included representatives from different agencies and institutions doing work in the southern African region; the second was held in Lilongwe, Malawi, and involved representatives from different government departments and university scientists within Malawi. There is great potential for application of IAMs in African countries to help understand problems of water and food insecurity in the face of climate change. Alternative development futures will need to take into account how climate variability and extremes interact with health, social and economic factors such as HIV/AIDS and poverty in impacting upon development. In this chapter we outline important elements of an integrated model suitable for application at the national to regional level, and discuss important next steps for Africa.