April 2024 has been the hottest record month. Yet the transition from the scorching heatwaves to the heavy rains has been seamless as ‘hot’ April hands the baton to May’s ‘rainstorm and floods’.
The
hours between April and May have recorded the loss of hundreds of lives swept
away by floods in Kenya, Tanzania and Brazil. In the UAE, up to 50,000 cars
have been damaged by record rainfall and subsequent flooding, with preliminary
insured loss excessing $150 million.
And
in Ghana, parts of Accra have already experienced flooding after heavy rains
and strong winds uprooted trees, damaged vehicles, blocked roads and disrupted
commuting.
The
International Organization for Migration (IOM) says the “unprecedented and
devastating” flooding in East Africa has triggered widespread displacement of
thousands from their homes in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and
Tanzania.
Roads,
bridges, dams, homes and other infrastructure are damaged in such rainstorms.
Businesses and other economic activities are adversely impacted and the health
risks could also be profound, especially waterborne diseases like cholera and
diarrhea.
When
the Brazilian President said “we still don’t know the exact dimension of the
floods”, and the people also say “we’ve never experienced anything like this”
they are echoing the obvious critical reality of climate change.
These
extreme weather events tell climate mitigation cannot wait.
The
climate change factor
According
to the forecast of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET), regions of the
north, Accra and other parts of the country will experience heavy rains and
wind storms in the coming weeks till the end of July.
The
GMet observed “it is likely that the winds will be stronger than what we have
experienced lately” and cautioned the public to take safety precautions from
the intense downpour and windstorms.
The
exceptionally heavy rainfall hitting countries is an ever-increasing threat due
to a warming climate.
A
study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that global warming “most
likely” exacerbated the intense rains in UAE.
The
recent heat waves, floods and storms are exacerbated by climate change, which
recent analysis shows could cost global GDP by 17 percent by 2050.
Building
resilience to mitigate and adapt
The
economies of African countries remain fragile and vulnerable to the impacts of
extreme weather events, like floods.
It
takes a combination of resilience and adaptation techniques to properly handle
the problems that extreme weather occurrences bring. While mitigation measures
work to lessen the severity and impact of flooding occurrences, adaptation
strategies concentrate on building resilience and decreasing susceptibility to
floods and rainstorms.
Investing in resilient infrastructure designs that can withstand extreme
weather events is crucial.
People
would have to develop their own personal adaptation plans, such as avoiding
low-lying regions that are prone to flooding as well as planting trees in their
houses and other public spaces to act as windbreaks.
But
at the national level, it is important to identify our vulnerabilities and
prioritize adaptation measures, by integrating climate risk assessments into
infrastructure planning and development processes.
In
order to increase our resilience and provide extra co-benefits for ecosystems
and communities, we also need to adopt nature-based solutions, such as green
infrastructure and coastal restoration initiatives.
The
construction of rainwater harvesting systems, retention ponds and permeable
surfaces can also help reduce runoff and increase water infiltration.
We
should also plan and develop our building transportation infrastructure to
endure harsh weather conditions like flooding and heavy rain. During periods of
heavy rainfall, the installation of suitable and efficient drainage systems can
also aid in preventing water collection and lowering the chance of flooding.
In
order to absorb surplus rainfall and lower the danger of floods, we should
encourage sustainable urban development, which includes incorporating green
spaces, water retention zones, and permeable surfaces into urban areas.
Extreme
weather occurrences may be detected and predicted with the use of modern
monitoring and early warning systems, giving time to prepare for emergencies
and evacuation.
It
is also important to ensure strict conduct of environmental impact assessments
for all major projects, to incorporate flood risk analysis.
However,
achieving sustainability will require good investment in research on climate
change impacts and the deliberate quest to implement national policy on climate
change.
Kofi
Adu Domfeh is a journalist and a Climate Reality Leader. Email: adomfeh@gmail.com
