Climate risk country profile: Timor-Leste

This document outlines the climate risks faced by the country of Timor-Leste. Located near the equator, Timor-Leste’s climate is heavily influenced by the West Pacific Monsoon and its mountainous climate. It is strongly impacted by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which can vary the inter-annual quantity of rainfall by up to 50% and affect the timing of peak annual rainfall. Under all emissions pathways Timor-Leste is projected to experience an increase in the frequency of extreme high temperatures. These represent a major threat to human health as well as agriculture, upon which 70% of East Timorese families rely on. While Timor-Leste has made considerable progress in development, it still suffers from high levels of poverty. Climate change threatens to exacerbate vulnerability and inequality, particularly in food security.

This profile is part of a series of Climate Risk Country Profiles developed by the World Bank Group (WBG). The country profile synthesizes most relevant data and information on climate change, disaster risk reduction, and adaptation actions and policies at the country level. The country profile series are designed as a quick reference source for development practitioners to better integrate climate resilience in development planning and policy making. Climate and climate-related information is largely drawn from the Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP), a WBG online platform with available global climate data and analysis based on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and datasets.