Le rapport spécial du GIEC sur le changement climatique et les terres émergées

This guide, prepared by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and SouthSouthNorth (SSN), translates the findings of the 2019 IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land specifically for African policymakers. It examines the bidirectional relationship between land and climate, the risks of desertification in arid zones, and the resulting impacts on food security and poverty. The document outlines sustainable land management techniques, the importance of gender-inclusive policies, and the need for integrated governance to enhance resilience across the continent.

• Climate and land have a reciprocal relationship where land can act as both a source of greenhouse gas emissions and a carbon sink. Changes in land use, such as deforestation or reforestation, affect regional climates, including the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts.
• Desertification is a critical issue in Africa, affecting 46 out of 57 countries. The Sahara Desert expanded by 10% during the 20th century, and significant degradation has been recorded in major river basins, including the Nile (42%), Niger (50%), and Senegal (51%).
• Climate change is actively reducing agricultural productivity across Africa, leading to increased food insecurity. Global warming is predicted to cause specific yield decreases for every degree of warming: wheat by 6%, rice by 3.2%, and maize by 7.4%.
• Land degradation has direct economic consequences and increases poverty risks. In Ghana, soil degradation caused a loss of $4.2 billion in agricultural income between 2006 and 2015, contributing to a 5.4% increase in the national poverty rate by 2015.
• Proven technical responses to combat desertification include integrated management of crops, soils, and water; rainwater harvesting; and the planting of salt-tolerant crops. Indigenous knowledge combined with scientific innovation is highlighted as a key strategy for adaptation.
• The Great Green Wall initiative aims to restore degraded arid landscapes across a 7,775 km stretch from Senegal to Eritrea. Experts estimate that 166 million hectares can be restored in the Sahel, targeting soil degradation neutrality by 2030.
• Gender inequality significantly hinders sustainable land management. Women often have precarious property rights and limited access to credit and agricultural extension services, despite their central role in managing natural resources and food security.
• Certain climate mitigation efforts can inadvertently increase pressure on land and threaten food security. For example, large-scale bioenergy production can lead to land competition, while reforestation is only sustainable if it uses indigenous species and involves local populations.
• Effective climate resilience requires integrated governance across sectors and scales, particularly at the watershed and ecosystem levels. This includes combining crop insurance, sustainable soil management, and community-led water planning.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in sectors other than land use is essential because land has finite limits in its ability to mitigate climate change without compromising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2019). Le rapport spécial du GIEC sur le changement climatique et les terres émergées. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/IPCC-Land_Africa_French_WEB_7Apr2020.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Le rapport spécial du GIEC sur le changement climatique et les terres émergées. 2019. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/IPCC-Land_Africa_French_WEB_7Apr2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Le rapport spécial du GIEC sur le changement climatique et les terres émergées |date=2019 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/IPCC-Land_Africa_French_WEB_7Apr2020.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2019rapport, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Le rapport spécial du GIEC sur le changement climatique et les terres émergées}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2019}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/IPCC-Land_Africa_French_WEB_7Apr2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }