Climate change profile: Democratic Republic of the Congo (East)

The Netherlands designed climate change profiles to help integrate climate actions into development cooperation policies and activities. The profiles aim to give insight in climate change effects and impacts; the policies, priorities and commitments of the countries concerned; and key climate-relevant activities that are financed with international assistance.

This profile indicates that climate change is expected to increase current vulnerabilities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While there will be significant biophysical impact, particularly in the northeast, with increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, due to its widespread poverty, high population density, and the country’s conflict situation, DRC’s high vulnerability is primarily related to socioeconomic factors. Food security will be affected due to crop losses and failures, increased livestock mortality, negative impacts on fisheries, and damage to infrastructure.