Climate change in Lesotho

Lesotho is a landlocked country that is particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate variability and changes in water and food security, as well as adverse conditions to health, human settlements, and the energy sector.

[1][2] The high aridity in Lesotho, coupled with periods of severe drought, exacerbates the loss of biological diversity, degradation of rangelands, and decreased crop and animal productivity due to desertification.

To meet the domestic food demand, Lesotho relies on imports of maize from its neighboring country South Africa.

[9][10] This scenario has occurred in the past, such as in 2007 when the most severe drought ever recorded by satellites affected both Lesotho and South Africa simultaneously.

The impacts associated with dry periods include scarcity of food, famine, disease outbreaks, invasion by non-native plants and destructive insects, dust storms, and the initiation of erosion by rivers.

The intensity and frequency of extreme events like floods and droughts are expected to increase, especially in the western and northern lowlands.

Water resources will be negatively affected by reduced precipitation and increased temperature, resulting in higher evaporation rates, decreased runoff, and diminished groundwater replenishment.

The existing indigenous forests might transition into semi-arid types, while agricultural production will decline, leading to food shortages.

[2] The impacts related to periods of insufficient rainfall encompass scarcity of food, widespread famine, outbreaks of diseases, invasion by foreign plants and destructive insects, the formation of arid areas known as dust bowls, and the initiation of erosive processes by rivers.