Climate Change

How will Climate Change endanger those that rely heavily on Earth’s natural resources? How is Climate Change taking shape in Africa, and in Rwanda most specifically?

 

    For this case study, I examined Rwanda, a small, landlocked country in East Central Africa, with the goal of understanding and sharing how Climate Change is affecting agricultural workers in Rwanda. Rwanda is often called the country of 1,000 hills: a beautiful and vast country with varying geography throughout its five provinces. In all provinces, farming is the most common job and necessity. Over 70% of Rwanda’s population works in agriculture, and even more than that participate by growing subsistence crops.

    Already, the country is feeling the effects of Climate Change. Temperatures are rising, droughts are worsening, rain is fleeting, and crops are suffering. It is possible to read about these changes- in articles and journals online. But how are the people in these countries really doing? How do they expect to be doing in 5, 10 years? To better understand this question, the question that really matters, we spoke with farmers in Rwanda from every province. What I heard was more concerning than I ever could have imagine- wilting crops, reduced harvest yields, seasons passing with no rain, and threat of starvation.

To read my research about Rwanda’s history and recovery from Genocide, and its current battle against Climate Change, go to the ‘Research’ tab. To hear from farmers in Rwanda about what they’re experiencing and what they believe the future holds, go to the ‘Videos' tab.