Urban authorities from the region’s cities are rethinking strategies to combat climate change as it becomes apparent that cities will be the most affected owing to lack of proper planning, degradation of ecosystems and a growing urban population.

Well planned cities must plot for multiple rescue options in the event of disasters.

A World Bank report on climate change shows that urban dwellers are responsible for close to 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The bank estimates that $80 billion to $100 billion spent each year on climate change costs is expected to be incurred in urban areas.

In Tanzania, for example, flooding is common every rainy season according to Colman Titus Msoka, from the institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam.

“A large part of Dar es Salaam city is not planned and natural drainage systems are blocked. The city’s resilience to disasters is very low,” said Mr Msoka during a climate change conference in Kampala. 

East African countries have always had master plans drawn as far back as colonial days. However, countries have not implemented the plans, which has resulted in disorganised cities.

Tanzania is grappling with developing new master plans as a strategy to improve resilience. Master plans make provisions for proper settlement and investment areas; and ecosystem conservation.

READ: As floods threaten, Tanzania aims to build a megacity that works

Disaster

For some residents in Bwaise, Kampala, an hour of moderate downpour can turn into a life-threatening disaster. The affected residents are often those living in shacks constructed on wetlands.

Kampala is surrounded by numerous wetlands that act as filters for water flowing into Lake Victoria. A number of them however have been reclaimed either for settlement or industrial development. This disrupts the natural water ways leading to flooding. 

“We plan to demolish buildings constructed on wetlands and to stop any more constructions in those areas. In the next five years, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) will redesign and reconstruct four out of seven major drainage channels to ease water flow and also channel water to reservoirs in low lying areas for use in cleaning the city,” said Jennifer Musisi CEO KCCA.

READ: National disaster centre for Kampala

The region’s cities are searching for ecofriendly innovations that will help mitigate the impact of climate change. KCCA, for example, plans to introduce cable cars and reduce the number of commuter taxis. It is also piloting several energy-saving initiatives such as solar panels to light the streets.

Scientists say that if the world warms up by two degrees more, it will result in widespread food shortages, unprecedented heat waves, floods and storms.

READ: Angry skies: Is the earth getting too warm for us?

Incidentally, no country — rich or poor — is immune to these climate-related disasters. The difference however, is each country’s preparedness, with rich countries often having better coping mechanisms.

“Cities have to plan better, control urban sprawl and design strategies to better respond and adapt to the economic, social and physical stresses linked with the challenges of increasing energy scarcity, climate change and population growth,” said Makame Sophie French ambassador to Uganda, who was a host in climate change conferences held in Kampala.

In attendance were: researchers, scientist, academia, civil society representatives, private sector, local government officials and development partners. The objective was to share ideas and best practices from each country and to identify points of concern and design mitigation strategies.

Rwanda has a national strategy through which it is resettling vulnerable groups from disaster-prone areas to minimise human and social costs incurred from flooding.

READ: Disaster management Act in the offing as parliament sworn in

In Kenya, the Karura Forest Reserve is a main carbon sink for the city of Nairobi. The forest land was under threat from land grabbers and encroachers but civil society pressure groups helped to end degradation and gradually the forest is getting back to its original state.

According to Sam Owuor, a don at the department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi, the Karura Forest Strategic Management Plan has expanded to include creating recreational and eco-tourism options in addition to providing sources of livelihood for communities.