Unjust waters: climate change, flooding and the urban poor in Africa
Top Cited Papers
- 1 April 2008
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Environment and Urbanization
- Vol. 20 (1), 187-205
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247808089156
Abstract
Many of the urban poor in Africa face growing problems of severe flooding. Increased storm frequency and intensity related to climate change are exacerbated by such local factors as the growing occupation of floodplains, increased runoff from hard surfaces, inadequate waste management and silted-up drainage. One can distinguish four types of flooding in urban areas: localized flooding due to inadequate drainage; flooding from small streams within the built-up area; flooding from major rivers; and coastal flooding. ActionAid undertook participatory vulnerability analysis in five African cities, to explore local people's perceptions of why floods occur, how they adjust to them, who is responsible for reducing the flood risk and what action the community itself can take. While local people adapt to floods, recognition of local, national and international governments' and organizations' responsibility to act to alleviate flooding and its causes, especially the consequences of climate change, is urgently needed.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- From headwater tributaries to international river: Observing and adapting to climate variability and change in the Nile basinGlobal Environmental Change, 2005
- Adaptation to climate change in the developing worldProgress in Development Studies, 2003
- Megacities and small towns: different perspectives on hazard vulnerabilityEnvironmental Hazards, 2001
- Climate Change Impacts and Human Settlements in Africa: Prospects for AdaptationEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2000
- Geomorphology and the urban tropics: building an interface between research and usageGeomorphology, 1999
- Changes in Extreme Rainfall Events in South AfricaClimatic Change, 1999
- Reframing disaster policy: the global evolution of vulnerable communitiesEnvironmental Hazards, 1999
- Adaptation to the Impacts of Sea Level Rise in EgyptMitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 1999
- SIMULATED CHANGES IN EXTREME RAINFALL OVER SOUTHERN AFRICAInternational Journal of Climatology, 1997
- Public perception of flood hazard in two Nigerian citiesEnvironment International, 1980