ROADS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
FLOODS IN SOMALIA
The impact relationship between road infrastructure and climate change is complex. On the one hand, internal combustion engines used by cars and trucks are a signif- icant contributor to climate change. Moreover, new or improved roads can contribute to deforestation, both as a result of road construction itself as well as by induced settle- ments, logging or other economic activity. As improved roads induce an increase in vehicle use as traffic and roads reach new areas, emissions often rise over time. On the other hand, the inadequate road stock and/or quality in many developing countries prevents vehicles from oper- ating at emissions-minimizing, consistent speed levels. 16 Road improvements can therefore also reduce emissions. On the other hand, road infrastructure is also acutely impacted by the worsening effects of climate change, in particular the significantly increased frequency and inten- sity of extreme weather events such as flooding, erosion, wildfires, extreme temperatures and landslides (see country cases overleaf). These geohazards pose a growing threat to transport infrastructure in many developing countries and significantly increase the need for investments in repairs, maintenance and climate-resilient designs and materials.
In Somalia, severe riverine flooding and flash floods occurred as a result of above-average rainfall during the October to December 2023 “Deyr” rainy season. This rainfall was intensified by the combined effects of a strong El Niño and positive Indian Ocean “Dipole” weather patterns. The floods caused widespread devastation across nearly half of the country’s 36 districts. An estimated 2.48 million people were affected, over 1.2 million were displaced from their homes and 188 lives were lost. The 2023 floods caused significant damage to essen- tial transport infrastructure, including roads and bridges. Many of these were either destroyed, swept away or left impassable by the floodwaters, which isolated communities and disrupted the delivery of humanitarian aid. A rapid post-disaster needs assessment 17 conducted by the United Nations, the World Bank Group and co-funded by the European Union estimated the damage to the transport sector across 16 districts at approximately US$29.7 million. The assessment considered transport infrastructure that was fully, severely and moderately damaged. It was reported that the floods caused damage to 15 bridges and over 48 km of roads. To recover and reconstruct the damaged or lost trans- port infrastructure in a more resilient way, the total cost was estimated at US$37.4 million. This includes efforts to reconstruct the bridges that were washed away, repair and rehabilitate roads and drainage systems, as well as to strengthen capacity to proactively address flooding at both the national and federal state levels.
12 Road traffic injuries Overview – World Health Organization
13 https://www.who.int/health-topics/road-safety#tab=tab_1
14 Members of the Road Safety Working Group: African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Banco de Desarrollo de America Latina (CAF), European Bank, European Investment Bank, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), New Development Bank (NDB) and World Bank Group (WBG). 15 Multilateral Development Banks Road Safety Financing in Low and Middle-In- come Countries 2018–2022 16 Literature finds that emissions-optimizing speeds typically range from 60-80 km/h (Fondzenyuy, S. K., Turner, B. M., Burlacu, A. F., Jurewicz, C., Usami, D. S., Feudjio, S. L. T., & Persia, L. (2024). The Impact of Speed Limit Change on Emissions: A Systematic Review of Literature. Sustainability, 16(17), 7712. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177712). Driving speeds in many developing countries are suboptimal due to severe congestion, particularly in urban areas, as well as due to inadequate road surface conditions that force vehicles to operate at lower than optimal speeds, to frequently stop, or to alternate between slowing down and accelerating. 17 Deyer Floods Somalia: Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment. United Nations Somalia, World Bank Group, European Union 2023
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