Africa under a warming climate: The role of trade towards building resilient adaptation in agriculture

The paper reports on evidence on how trade can help Africa adapt to Climate Change (CC) along three dimensions: (i) fast-onset events from short-lived extreme occurrences (floods, extreme temperatures); (ii) slow-onset events (rise in average temperatures and sea-level rise); (iii) trade facilitation policies. • Fast onset events: Trade reduces the amplitude of extreme events like a drought. But policy reactions to large shocks can increase the amplitude of the shock. During the South African drought of 2015-6, policies had spillovers in neighboring countries. Following the 2008-09 financial crisis, export restrictions by major crop exporters and reduction in tariffs by importers amplified the shock. Policy coordination is needed to control spillover effects.
Citer

Casella H., de Melo J. (2022) "Africa under a warming climate: The role of trade towards building resilient adaptation in agriculture", Ferdi Document de travail P312, décembre.