ACCESS4ALL Group

Similar to the Philippines, Togo is increasingly exposed to climate-related natural hazards, although the nature of the risks differs. While the Philippines frequently experiences powerful typhoons and storm surges, Togo is mainly affected by coastal erosion, flooding, droughts, and irregular rainfall patterns. Climate change has intensified these events, increasing the frequency of floods in urban and low-lying areas and prolonging dry spells in the northern regions, which directly affects agricultural production and water availability.

The regions most affected in Togo include the coastal zone, particularly around Lomé and the Maritime Region, where coastal erosion and sea-level rise threaten settlements, infrastructure, and livelihoods. In addition, the northern regions, such as the Savannah and Kara regions, face recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall that undermine rain-fed agriculture. As in the Philippines, these impacts are spatially uneven and closely linked to environmental degradation and land-use practices.

The communities most affected are coastal fishing communities,…

The case study Restoring Hope Through Mangroves – A Story from the Philippines highlights how environmental restoration can strengthen community resilience, reduce poverty, and empower vulnerable groups. While Malawi is a landlocked country and does not have mangroves, there are important similarities and differences in climate challenges, affected communities, and adaptation strategies.

1. Common Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts

In Malawi, the most common natural hazards include flooding, droughts, cyclones, and prolonged dry spells. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, particularly in recent years. Cyclones such as Idai (2019), Ana (2022), and Freddy (2023) caused widespread flooding, loss of life, and destruction of livelihoods.

This is similar to the Philippines, where stronger typhoons have become more destructive due to climate change. However, unlike the Philippines’ coastal storm surges, Malawi’s disasters are mainly riverine floods and rainfall-related events.

2. Areas Facing the Greatest Impacts

The most affected…

Comparison with Pakistan: Similarities and Differences

Comparing the mangrove restoration case from the Philippines with Pakistan shows strong similarities in climate vulnerability, while the solutions differ in scale and consistency.

Natural hazards and climate change impacts:

Pakistan commonly faces floods, cyclones (along the Sindh–Baluchistan coast), heatwaves, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of floods, unpredictable monsoon rainfall, rising temperatures, and sea-level rise—similar to how typhoons are intensifying in the Philippines.

Areas facing the greatest impacts:

The most affected areas include coastal Sindh (Thatta, Badin, Indus Delta) due to sea intrusion and cyclones, riverine areas along the Indus due to flooding, and northern regions affected by melting glaciers. Like Leyte and Samar in the Philippines, these areas depend heavily on natural ecosystems for protection and livelihoods.

Like the Philippines, Bangladesh faces cyclones, floods, and heavy rainfall. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of these hazards.

The most affected areas are coastal zones and the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. Refugee communities are highly vulnerable due to fragile shelters, deforested hills, and poor drainage.

Similar to mangrove restoration in the Philippines, Bangladesh uses tree planting, slope protection, and drainage improvement to reduce disaster risks. However, large-scale mangrove restoration is limited in camps.

The Government, UN agencies, and NGOs support communities through disaster preparedness, reforestation, early warning systems, and emergency assistance.

The case study “Restoring Hope Through Mangroves” from the Philippines is very similar to the climate change situation in Bangladesh. Both countries frequently face cyclones, storm surges, flooding, and coastal erosion, which have become more intense due to climate change. In Bangladesh, coastal areas such as Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, and Cox’s Bazar are most affected, especially poor fishing and farming communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Like in the Philippines, local communities in Bangladesh use mangrove plantation, cyclone shelters, early warning systems, and community-based adaptation to reduce disaster risks. The government, NGOs, and international organizations support these efforts through afforestation, disaster management, and livelihood programs. Overall, the comparison shows that mangrove restoration and community participation are effective nature-based solutions for building climate resilience in both countries.

The case study "Restoring Hope Through Mangroves" from the Philippines offers a powerful template for understanding how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can address climate vulnerability while simultaneously driving socio-economic development. Comparing this to the situation in Uganda, particularly the challenge of landslides in the Mount Elgon region, reveals striking similarities in the approach to resilience, despite the vast geographical differences.

Comparison of Challenges and Solutions: Uganda vs. Philippines

1. Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are most directly connected to this story?

The mangrove restoration case in the Philippines is closely connected to several SDGs:

• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Mangroves act as natural defenses against storm surges and extreme weather, helping communities adapt to climate change impacts.

• SDG 14 – Life Below Water: Restored mangroves improve coastal and marine ecosystems, supporting fish breeding grounds and biodiversity.

• SDG 15 – Life on Land: Mangrove forests enhance coastal land ecosystems and prevent erosion.

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: By stabilizing fisheries and creating alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism and mangrove honey production, restoration efforts reduce economic vulnerability.

Basically in Uganda the areas around mountain Elgon ,Bududa and Kasese have on several occasions flooded and also experienced landslides that leave severe loss and damage since many people loose lives and property. The most unfortunate fact is that the local vulnerable communities remain affected the most since their resilience to climate shocks is very limited . But also communities say in Kasese have started restoring the buffer zones and setting up infrastructure that is shock resistant. the government and NGOs have partnered to ensure re settlement.

1. Natural Hazards & Climate Change Impact

• Philippines (Mangrove Case): The primary hazards are typhoons (cyclones), storm surges, coastal flooding, and erosion. Climate change is increasing sea surface temperatures, which can intensify typhoons, and sea-level rise, which exacerbates storm surges and salinization.

• Egypt: The dominant climate-related hazards are very different: sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and heatwaves. Egypt is not prone to cyclones (very rare in the Mediterranean). The Nile Delta, one of the world's most vulnerable deltas, is experiencing sinking (subsidence) combined with sea-level rise, leading to permanent land loss and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and agricultural land. Climate change directly intensifies these slow-onset disasters.

2. Areas of Greatest Impact

• Philippines: Vulnerable coastal communities across the archipelago, especially low-lying islands and exposed shorelines with degraded natural defenses.

• Egypt: The Nile Delta, which houses over 40% of Egypt's population, over 60% of its agricultural land, and key economic infrastructure. Cities…

1. Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts

Like the Philippines, my country also faces recurring natural hazards, although the type and intensity may differ. Common hazards include:

• floods, droughts, cyclones, wildfires, heatwaves, landslides

• Climate change has increased their frequency, unpredictability, and severity. For example:

• rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, stronger storms, longer drought periods.

The case study “Restoring Hope Through Mangroves – A Story from the Philippines” highlights how coastal communities use mangrove restoration to protect themselves from storm surges, rising sea levels, and livelihood loss. While Rwanda is a landlocked country and does not face coastal hazards, there are several similarities and differences in the climate-related challenges and the solutions communities are implementing.

1. Natural Hazards and Climate Change in Rwanda

Unlike the Philippines, where typhoons, coastal flooding, and storm surges are major hazards, Rwanda’s most frequent climate-related hazards include:

• Heavy rainfall and flooding

• Landslides

• Droughts in some regions

While the Philippines case study focuses on coastal vulnerability, typhoons, and mangrove restoration, Botswana especially Gaborone, faces very different climate threats. However, both contexts reveal important similarities: climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities, and local action combined with institutional support is essential for resilience.

1.     Natural Hazards in Botswana and Their Climate Change Impacts

Botswana’s Major Climate Hazards

Unlike the Philippines, Botswana is landlocked and does not face tropical storms or storm surges. Instead, the major hazards include:

·       Droughts (the most frequent and severe climate hazard)

·       Heatwaves and rising temperatures

The case study "Restoring Hope Through Mangroves" from the Philippines offers a powerful template for understanding how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can address climate vulnerability while simultaneously driving socio-economic development. Comparing this to the situation in Uganda, particularly the challenge of landslides in the Mount Elgon region, reveals striking similarities in the approach to resilience, despite the vast geographical differences.

1. Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts

• Philippines: Coastal communities face storm surges, typhoons, and sea-level rise, which are intensified by climate change.

• Dhaka: The city experiences urban flooding and waterlogging due to heavier monsoon rains, river overflow, and inadequate drainage systems.

• Similarity: Both are vulnerable to water-related hazards that are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change.

• Difference: The Philippines focuses on coastal storms, whereas Dhaka deals primarily with inland, urban floods.

2. Areas and Communities Most Affected

The story of mangrove restoration in Leyte and Samar, Philippines, shows how community-led efforts—especially women’s groups, youth, and fisherfolk—can rebuild natural buffers, protect livelihoods, and strengthen resilience against climate hazards. It highlights the importance of ecosystem-based adaptation and the role of local initiatives in reducing disaster impacts.

In Bangladesh, I see both similarities and differences. Coastal regions like Khulna, Satkhira, and Chittagong face cyclones, storm surges, flooding, and salinity intrusion, which have become more frequent and severe due to climate change. Vulnerable communities—particularly low-income fishing families, women, children, and the elderly—experience the greatest impacts. Similarly to the Philippines, the loss of natural buffers (mangroves) and poorly planned infrastructure makes these hazards worse. In Chattogram city, for example, unplanned urbanization, waterlogging, and poor waste management intensify flooding and health risks, just as destroyed mangroves worsened storm impacts in the Philippines.

Local adaptation strategies in Bangladesh include mangrove restoration, community embankments, and ecosystem-based management, often…

The case of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe, provides a powerful and tragic illustration of how climate change amplifies disaster risks, particularly in vulnerable communities. The following discussion uses this case to address the key questions regarding natural hazards, impact, community vulnerability, and the response mechanisms.

2. Areas Facing the Greatest Impacts

The greatest impacts of extreme weather events, particularly tropical cyclones, are consistently felt in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe.

• Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts (Manicaland Province) were the hardest-hit by Cyclone Idai.

  
  

• Specific Settlements: The towns and villages of Ngangu (Ward 15) and Kopa (Ward 21) in Chimanimani were devastated by floods and landslides.

  
  

Why these areas?