Assessing climate change and climate variability impacts in the coastal savannah agroecological zone of Ghana | Ankrah Johnson
Agora investigo Eu!
Assessing climate change and climate variability impacts in the coastal savannah agroecological zone of Ghana | Ankrah Johnson (PhD in Geography – Specialization in Physical Geography, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto)
Climate change and variability adversely impact various sectors of the global economy, threatening their sustainability and the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in developing countries with limited adaptation measures that necessitate regular assessment. Therefore, this study aims to assess climate change and climate variability impacts in the coastal savannah agroecological zone of Ghana (henceforth: CSAZ), where there is currently a dearth of knowledge on these impacts from a socio-ecological perspective. The study employs an interdisciplinary and multimethod approach on five interconnected objectives: 1) Evaluate climate change and climate variability in the CSAZ; 2) project possible future climate change scenarios for the CSAZ; 3) analyse the influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation on rainfall variability in the CSAZ; 4) analyse the impacts of climate change and climate variability on marine and freshwater fish harvest and their effects on the socio-economic livelihoods of the communities in the CSAZ; and 5) analyse the influence of climate change on shoreline change and the impacts of erosion on the ecosystems and their implications on the communities in the CSAZ. Not only does this study aim to contribute to the scientific literature, but it also highlights key adaptation initiatives for improved policy decisions.