Climate Adaptation in Africa from Coursera

This course explores why climate change adaptation is important globally and in the African context. Africa is considered to be one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. Historically, climate-related hazards such as drought, flooding, pest and disease outbreaks, coastal storms, and heat waves have had devastating impacts on people and the environment in which they live. Often the damage knocks back progress that has been made in social and economic development, slowing down the achievement of development goals. Climate models suggest that many of these climatic hazards will intensify as the global climate warms. Building resilience to climate risks, through adaptation, is critically important for future development in Africa.

The course examines adaptation in theory and in practice, through a focus on four sectors that are critically important for climate resilient development in (1) water security; (2) agriculture and food security; (3) ecosystems and ecosystem services; and (4) resilient cities.

What's inside

Syllabus

Climate, Vulnerability and Development in Africa

We start by exploring the linkages between social and economic development in Africa and climate change. We look at the anticipated changes in the future climate of the region and how this could impact on the development trajectory. I cover both contemporary climate risks and future climate change and how those interact with development. I also introduce the key concepts around climate adaptation that this course in based on.

Water Security

We'll start by examining the nature of risks to water security and the approaches to adaptation to changes in water supply - whether it is dealing with greater scarcity or more extreme weather events such as flooding. Water security is a key factor in social and economic development. Responding involves investigating climate adaptation strategies, especially at a regional level, not just at a global scale. The cases this week, presented by experts working on water security issues, are from Lesotho and South Africa.

Agriculture and Food Security

We’ll start off looking at the nature of agriculture across regions in Africa and the current situation of food security. Eradicating poverty through creating food security is a key sustainable development goal. We will analyse food security in terms of availability, access and utilisation - and how each of these aspects can be affected by climate change. I’ll be providing some information about the projected impacts of climate change on agriculture before moving onto look at adaptative strategies. The cases this week offer a rich variety of contextual examples from smart agriculture in Mauritius to changes being made by Namibian livestock farmers.

Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services

This week we’ll examine the mechanisms which make ecosystems vulnerable to climate change and other human-driven impacts. Ecosystems and the services they provide play a significant role for the livelihoods of people living across Africa. We will also look at the observed and projected impacts of the changing climate. We look at adaptation strategies from Tanzania as cases that illustrate some of the important issues.

Cities and the Urban Environment

With the higher concentrations of population in cities, comes a higher exposure to risk from climate change impacts. In African cities, many people live in informal settlements, which make them particularly at risk. Cities have many assets - such as transport, telecommunications, building and critical infrastructure - that are vulnerable to damage from extreme weather events. As cities serve as economic and political hubs, damage or disruption in cities can often have a larger impact on the region or even entire country. Adaptation measures for cities is a complex as there are intersecting issues. Our cases this week look at three cities - Maputo, Cape Town and Durban - which illustrate the adaptations being adopted.

Planning for Climate Change

In this final week, we move from assessing risk to making adaptation plans. There are adaptation planning tools which are especially helpful for identifying the key steps in making an adaptation plan. An early stage of such processes is to assess the current vulnerabilities which for African contexts means we look at the deficits and begin implementing adaptation right away. This can have both an immediate valuable outcome as well as an anticipated positive impact in the future. Later adaptation planning stages involve identifying key stakeholders and building partnerships, as well as mobilising resources to make it happen. Having the resources and organisational capacity is key as seen in our cases from across a variety of socio-political contexts, resources and levels of governance.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on climate change adaptation issues in the African context, catering to learners keen on issues surrounding Africa's socio-economic development

Taught by Mark New, a seasoned expert on climate change adaptation

Suitable for individuals in policy, development and humanitarian sectors, as well as those interested in environmental sustainability

Covers diverse sectors vital for climate resilient development, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Africa

Introduces tools and strategies for planning and implementing adaptation measures, empowering learners with practical knowledge

Reviews summary

Highly praised climate adaptation course

Learners say that Climate Adaptation in Africa is an excellent course that is well-received by students. The course is well-structured and engaging with informative lectures and readings. Learners may find the practical assignments and real-world examples especially valuable. One learner noted that they applied their takeaways from the course to their current job. Many learners mentioned that the course boosted their knowledge about climate change and adaptation, especially in the context of Africa. The course is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about this topic.

Practical and informative examples and case studies.

"The examples used were very practical and very informative."

"This course was good for me as well as learn a lot of thing are described in all the videos lecture."

"The course content is informative and well structured."

Clear and layered explanations of climate change.

"Mark's clear and well layered explanation of the present climate situation in Africa, the predicted climate and ways to adapt to it are excellent."

"The material he provides is easy to understand even if the ideas are complex."

"This was a very excellent course and highly recommended for even African leaders."

Course provides valuable knowledge on Climate Change Adaptation.

"I have learnt so much on this course!"

"I am fully satisfied , as some of the tasks can be challenging."

"I have learned so much from this course, even though there were things that I didn't fully grasp."

Career center

Learners who complete Climate Adaptation in Africa will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Climate Change Adaptation Specialist

A Climate Change Adaptation Specialist develops and implements strategies for adapting to the impacts of climate change. This course can provide foundational knowledge and strategies that would be valuable in this role.

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Climate Change Educator

A Climate Change Educator develops and delivers educational programs on climate change. The course provides a comprehensive overview of climate change impacts and adaptation in Africa, which can be valuable for developing educational materials and programs.

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Climate Change Researcher

A Climate Change Researcher studies the causes, effects, and potential solutions to climate change. The course will be helpful in building a strong foundation in climate change research, including adaptation strategies, particularly in the African context.

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Agriculture and Food Security Specialist

An Agriculture and Food Security Specialist develops and implements programs to improve food security and agricultural productivity. The course topics include agriculture and food security in the context of climate change and adaptation, providing valuable knowledge for this role.

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Water Resources Manager

A Water Resources Manager plans, develops, and manages water resources, including water supply, water quality, and flood control. The course can provide knowledge about climate change impacts on water security and adaptation strategies in the water sector.

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Conservation Scientist

A Conservation Scientist researches ways to protect and sustain natural resources. Projects and research are commonly conducted for preservation, conservation, and awareness of climate and ecological systems. The course will help build a foundation for scientific research as well as an understanding of some of the climate risks that natural resources face and the strategies to help prevent or reduce those risks.

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Ecosystem Restoration Specialist

An Ecosystem Restoration Specialist plans and implements projects to restore damaged or degraded ecosystems. The course can provide understanding of climate change impacts on ecosystems and adaptation strategies to support restoration efforts.

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Urban Planner

An Urban Planner devises plans and programs for the development of urban areas, including land use, transportation, and infrastructure. The course can provide knowledge of the impacts of climate change on urban environments, as well as adaptation strategies to consider for developing resilient and sustainable cities.

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Disaster Risk Manager

A Disaster Risk Manager develops and implements strategies for reducing the risks and impacts of disasters. The course can provide an understanding of climate change risks and adaptation strategies to inform disaster risk management efforts.

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Environmental Economist

An Environmental Economist analyzes the economic impacts of environmental policies and regulations. The course can provide an understanding of climate change impacts on different sectors and the economic implications of adaptation strategies.

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Climate Policy Analyst

A Climate Policy Analyst researches, analyzes, and develops climate change policies. The course covers key concepts around climate adaptation, including vulnerability, development, and adaptation strategies, which could be valuable for this role.

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Environmental Consultant

An Environmental Consultant analyzes the environmental impact of a project or activity, then makes recommendations on how to mitigate negative impacts and protect the environment. The course can provide foundational knowledge for understanding climate change and strategies for adaptation for work in this field.

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Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager develops and implements strategies for an organization to reduce its environmental impact and become more sustainable. This course may be helpful in understanding climate change impacts and adaptation strategies as they relate to business and industry.

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Soil Scientist

A Soil Scientist studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. The course may be helpful in understanding the impacts of climate change on soil health and the adaptation strategies in agriculture.

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Geographer

A Geographer studies the physical and human geography of the Earth. The course may be useful in understanding the geographical distribution of climate change impacts and the adaptation strategies in different regions.

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