2019 Gerald Lacey Lecture: Climate change and water security in Africa, London

Online registration for this event is now closed. If you wish to join the event, contact [email protected]. 

High levels of rainfall variability are magnified in the response of river discharges and lake levels creating major challenges for ongoing activities to achieve water security in sub-Saharan Africa.

In many cases climate change is likely to exacerbate these challenges particularly in the context of rapid socio-economic development that is driving greater use of water resources.

Join this free-to-attend evening lecture when speaker Prof Declan Conway from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment will:

• Explore key aspects of water resources distribution and variability across sub-Saharan Africa and introduce two examples of climate-induced pressures on water resources management
• Examine the linkages between spatial patterns of rainfall variability and the river basin areas that provide runoff used to generate hydropower
• Trace the hydrological impact pathways associated with drought during the 2015/16 El Niño that contributed to disruption of public water supply in Gaborone and widespread electricity outages in Lusaka
• Explore the effects of service disruption on businesses and show critical linkages between climate events and economic activities in urban areas
• Highlight what continued climate change might mean for achieving water security

This lecture, part of the ICE’s Water Knowledge Programme, links to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 13. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session, giving delegates the opportunity to pose questions and continue the discussion.