June 2012

By R.A. Chapman, S.J.E. Midgley, R.A.G. Davies, T.C. Wroblewski, E. Hope

SUBMITTED TO: Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). This project is supported by the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWP-SAP).

The impacts of climate change on development are likely to be varied. Climate change is primarily a socio-economic development challenge within a changing climate (Pegram et al., 2011). The key focus will be on managing for energy , food, health and ecosy stems around climate and water, particularlythe allocation of water, development planning and infrastructure operation. Regional integration and the leveraging of comparative advantage around these important concerns provides a central reason for the development of ZAMCOM, and that improved cooperation between the riparian states will provide an important adaptive response to climate change and disaster challenges. Developing disaster preparedness and managing responses to droughts and floods will be one of the core
challenges. Extensive droughts can reduce GDP by several percent. Better access to improved watersources and sanitation will reduce the risks of epidemic diseases linked to drou ghts or floods.