Dar es Salaam, the seat of government and the most populous city in Tanzania, is an eloquent example of how a city in the global south is courageously meeting the challenges of climate change to protect its residents. With a population of almost five million, unbridled urban expansion and a booming economy, this Tanzanian city is facing major environmental, economic and social challenges, but at the same time is becoming an example of climate resilience in the region.
One of the main problems threatening its residents is their growing vulnerability to coastal flooding. Due to rising sea levels and increasing weather extremes, lower-lying parts of the city are increasingly suffering from this serious phenomenon. According to the World Bank, 80% of Dar es Salaam's residents live in precarious settlements, including in the lower Msimbazi Basin, where 27% of the population lives. It should be noted that floods not only cause economic losses due to damage to homes and infrastructure, but also spread diseases, destroy crops and force the displacement of people. To address this challenge, local authorities have implemented bold adaptation measures in collaboration with UNOPS and UN-Environment. With international funding, more than 2,400 meters of protective dikes were built in seven high-risk areas. Drainage canals were also expanded and the construction of resilient, flood-proof houses was actively promoted.
These measures will be complemented by other sustainable initiatives to make Dar es Salaam a low-carbon city. Using renewable energy and promoting efficient public transport are some of the measures aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The city has established a public bus rapid transit (BRT) system that operates on dedicated lanes, improving mobility and reducing traffic congestion. In addition, the modernization of the bus fleet with more environmentally friendly vehicles underlines the commitment to a sustainable future. However, implementing climate protection measures in a crowded metropolis with peripheral settlements and where 65% of the population still does not have access to the electricity grid is extremely complex. The rapid flow of rural-to-urban migration is increasing pressure on poor basic services and public spaces in Dar es Salaam.
And the crisis does not end in the city, as climate change is also destroying the rural agricultural and pastoral livelihoods that support Tanzania's economy. Harvests are becoming increasingly irregular and droughts are hitting ranchers hard, forcing them to abandon their land. Many migrate to the capital in search of opportunities, but do not have sufficient training to enter the urban labor market. Given this stressful situation, the authorities have launched educational campaigns to raise citizens' awareness of the importance of reducing their carbon footprint through individual measures. The European Union's 2021 “Resilience!” campaign aimed to encourage a change in habits at home.
Implementing climate protection measures is extremely complex in a crowded metropolis with peripheral settlements and where 65% of the population still does not have access to the electricity grid
But in a country like Tanzania, the biggest challenge lies in financing costly climate measures. More international cooperation through technology transfer and global climate funds is urgently needed. Especially when you consider that Africa contributes minimally to global warming but has a disproportionately large impact.
The contrast with other cities in the Global South shows that each city faces specific obstacles depending on its economic and social reality. Take Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh and home to more than 22 million people in the metropolitan region, as an example.
This megapolis faces the dual challenge of coping with rapid urban growth while tropical storms and cyclones intensify every year due to climate change. Hurricanes regularly hit infrastructure, already congested public roads and thousands of homes on the banks of the Buriganga River. Added to this is the intrusion of salt into freshwater supplies and river overflows. Unlike Tanzania, Bangladesh is a densely populated country with a much smaller territory. Therefore, it faces a humanitarian crisis and massive displacement every time extreme weather events occur. Experts warn that if global greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced, a fifth of Dhaka would be under water within 25 years.
The examples of these two cities illustrate the diversity of the local impacts of climate change. Each community needs specific strategies that correspond to their physical vulnerabilities, institutional capacities and social emergencies. Building a more resilient future for all requires sharing technical knowledge, political will and significant financial resources so that cities in the Global South can withstand the onslaught of this planetary phenomenon.
Teresa García is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Urban Planning, Territory and Landscape at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.
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