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The economic impacts of climate change in Burundi

Multiple Authors

Welcome … This is the website for the Burundi National Advisory Committee for the DFID funded study on the Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Burundi.

Project summary:

Increased vulnerability under climate change… and rising costs of climate risks

Economic impacts of weather related extremes – and the costs of these to the growth and development in East Africa and Burundi – are already significant.

  • Extreme flood and drought events are estimated to reduce long-term growth in the region by about 2.4% of GDP per annum.
  • Future climate change may lead to a change in the frequency or severity of such extreme weather events, potentially worsening impacts.
  • Increased average temperatures and changes in annual and seasonal rainfall will be felt across key economic sectors, possibly affecting agricultural production, health status, water availability, energy use, infrastructure, biodiversity and ecosystem services (including forestry and tourism).
  • Impacts are likely to have disproportionately strong effects on the poor as such vulnerable groups have fewer resources to adapt to climatic change.

What are donors in Burundi doing?

To better understand the economic impacts of present and future climate change in Burundi, the UK (DFID) Government donors are funding a study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) to analyze the economic impacts of climate change in Burundi and two other East African countries over the next year (ready for August 2009). The key aims of this study will be:

  • Assess climate change impacts and their economic costs for Burundi.
  • Analyse the costs and benefits of adapting to these effects over different timescales.
  • Assess the potential for low carbon growth, including development benefits and carbon finance opportunities.
  • Build national capacity and take advantage of local knowledge.
  • Use results to inform decision-making at domestic, regional and international policy (COP 15 Copenhagen in 2009) recommendations on adaptation for Burundi, and the region as a whole.

Study Overview

The study will use a multi-level approach that builds-up several lines of evidence on impacts and adaptation. It combines top-down sectoral economic assessment with bottom-up case studies on vulnerability and adaptation. These local studies allow consideration of livelihoods, development and poverty alleviation, which would otherwise be missed by a high level economic assessment. By doing so, local ‘stories’ are combined with more aggregated economic estimates, building a coherent message for policy makers.

Download table here

National Oversight

The methodology emphasises national ownership and long-term sustainability through the inclusion of national and regional bodies, and a collaborative partnership approach with local teams. The national co-ordination of the study is being led through a National Advisory Committee. A series of events will ensure that stakeholders are identified, consulted and informed, with the duel objectives of building national capacity and taking advantage of local knowledge. Communications products and events will be used to disseminate findings.

Next Steps

  • Identify local stakeholders and institutions as study collaborators.
  • Support the Government of the Republic of Burundi in preparations for the Conference of the Parties (COP) 15 of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark (December). Particularly negotiations on climate Adaptation Funds.

Study Team Contact Details

Paul Watkiss: [email protected]

Jane Olwoch: [email protected]

Tom Downing: [email protected]

Jillian Dyszynski: [email protected]

French / Français

Source: Prof. Jean Marie Sabushimike

Key project documents:

Source: Prof. Jean Marie Sabushimike

Source: Prof. Jean Marie Sabushimike

Link to…

AdaptCost: Analysis of the Economic Costs of Climate Change Adaptation in Africa

Adaptation “landscapes” or “signatures

The economics of climate change in East Africa:

  • The economic impacts of climate change in Burundi
  • The economic impacts of climate change in Rwanda
  • The economic impacts of climate change in Kenya

ClimateCost: The Full Costs of Climate Change

Source: Prof. Jean Marie Sabushimike

Related resources

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