Climate risk profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo

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This profile provides an overview of climate risk issues in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including how climate change will potentially impact four key sectors in the country: water resources and energy, ecosystems, agriculture, and health. The brief also includes an overview of historical and future climate trends in DRC, the policy context outlining existing climate risk strategies and plans developed by DRC, and a list of ongoing projects that focus on climate adaptation.

Climate variability and change are likely to exacerbate ongoing concerns in DRC such as social vulnerability, political instability, food security, and high poverty rates. Increased temperatures and variable rainfall will also impact DRC’s forests (important for livelihoods and ecosystem services), which are already under threat from land use change and growing demand for charcoal and tropical forest products. More extreme weather events like intense rainfall after prolonged dry spells lead to erosion and flash flooding, damage roads and infrastructure, wipe out crops and put additional lives at risk.