Climate change presents a very real challenge to Botswana’s continued development and
relative prosperity. An increasing population and growing demand for water — from
residential, commercial, and industrial sources, including mining — will interact with
declining rainfall, rising temperatures, and increased rates of evapotranspiration across much
of the country to exacerbate water scarcity and other existing vulnerabilities. Botswana is less
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than its neighbours due to its higher development
status and associated readiness to address the impacts of climate change, rather than because
of its level of exposure to climate change or its policy environment. Nevertheless, the
country’s climate vulnerability is closely tied to its existing high level of water scarcity. The
government of Botswana has identified five key sectors as particularly vulnerable: water,
health, crops, grasslands and livestock, and forestry. However, the government does not
consider climate change a national priority, and the subsequent lack of guiding policy,
legislation, and strategy on responding to the impacts of climate change, as well as a dearth of
adaptation programs and projects within the country, will only exacerbate existing and
expected climate-related threats. This report explores these issues in greater depth. It is one
in a series of country reviews prepared to provide the Collaborative Adaptation Research
Initiative in Africa and Asia with a snapshot of adaptation action in its countries of
engagement.