Climate change, population pressure and conflict in Africa

Africa will potentially suffer severe adaptive problems in dealing with the twin effects of climate change and population growth in future years.

Africa is characterised by widespread and deeply entrenched poverty, armed conflict, slow economic development until recently, and agricultural systems proven to failure during frequent and persistent drought. With its tremendous natural resources and remarkable social and ecological diversity, the continent reflects a close dependency of people on natural resources. This paper illustrates that it is this dependency that will present Africa with potentially severe adaptive problems in dealing with the twin effects of climate change and population growth in future years. More than ever, Africa and its partners need to work together to turn deforestation around, to save its green lungs, to manage its cities and to grow food for its hungry millions.

About the author

Dr Jakkie Cilliers is the Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies. He holds a DLitt et Phil degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa) and co-founded the ISS in 1990. At present most of Dr Cilliers’ interests relate to the emerging security architecture in Africa as reflected in the developments under the banner of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Awards and decorations include the Bronze Medal from the South African Society for the Advancement of Science and the H Bradlow Research Bursary. Dr Cilliers has presented numerous papers at conferences and seminars and published a number of books on various matters relating to peace and security in Africa. He is a regular commentator on local and international radio and television and has published widely. He is an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Political Sciences, Faculty Humanities, at the University of Pretoria and serves on the International Advisory Board of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and as independent non-executive director of the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC).