“As climate change kicks in during the second half of the century, irrigation and hydropower development may no longer be able to meet the demands of Ethiopians.” Matthew McCartney addresses the likely impacts of climate change on water infrastructure development in the Upper Blue Nile. He says that, up to now, climate change has not been taken into consideration as a part of Ethiopia’s development planning. However, current climate change predictions urge Ethiopia to adapt its water resources development. As one option, McCartney introduces ‘no regrets’ interventions.
About the interviewee:
Dr. Matthew McCartney is Principal Researcher – Hydrologist and Head of the Southeast Asia Office of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
McCartney presented the findings of a recent study on Implications of climate change on existing and planned water resource development in the Upper Blue Nile at the conference, AFRICA 2013: Water Storage and Hydropower Development for Africa, which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in April, 2013.