Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future?

The document examines the vulnerability of Mombasa to climate change, specifically flooding and sea-level rise, and argues for the integration of nature-based solutions into urban planning. It highlights the role of mangroves, constructed wetlands, and urban green zones in enhancing ecological and social resilience. The brief notes that current major planning documents, such as the Gate City Master Plan, lack systematic climate resilience strategies, and advocates for a 'joined-up' approach using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to coordinate stakeholder action and build social capital.

• Mombasa faces significant vulnerability to climate hazards, with 17% of the city identified as being at risk of submergence if sea levels rise by 0.3m, and approximately 10% of the population affected by flooding in 2006.
• The economic cost of climate impacts in Mombasa is projected to increase dramatically due to socio-economic factors and increased exposure, with costs estimated to rise from $470 million in 2005 to $15 billion by 2080.
• Nature-based solutions, such as restoring 10–20% of every 1km2 of land to natural ecosystems, are recommended to provide critical benefits to urban residents, particularly in low-income and informal settlements.
• Mangroves provide essential services including coastal protection, sediment capture, and carbon sequestration; the Mikoko Pamoja project demonstrates the potential for 'blue carbon' finance, generating over $10,000 annually for community welfare.
• Constructed wetlands are being implemented in Mombasa, such as in the Kiembeni neighbourhood and at Shimo la Tewa prison, to treat and recycle grey water at a local scale.
• Current primary planning documents for the city, including the County Integrated Development Plan (2018–2022) and the Gate City Master Plan, do not sufficiently incorporate natural infrastructure or systematic climate resilience strategies.

APA

OBURA, D. (2020). Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Policy-Insights-89-obura.pdf

Chicago

OBURA, DAVID. Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future? South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Policy-Insights-89-obura.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=OBURA |first1=DAVID |title=Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=July 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Policy-Insights-89-obura.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{obura2020mombasa, author = {OBURA, DAVID}, title = {{Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Policy-Insights-89-obura.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }