Climate change and its implication in the process of assessing the specific vulnerability of water resources in the intertropical zone

Economic activities in the humid intertropical zone are highly dependent on climate. The aim of this study is to identify the new sowing calendar period, then assess and map climate vulnerability, while tracing the potential impact of people’s ability to adapt on the quality of water resources. Climate vulnerability is assessed by means of an exposure analysis based on 45 years of climate data (1976 to 2020) for the calculation of climate trends and standard anomalies, sensitivity, potential impact assessed following field surveys, and adaptive capacity. A multi-criterion analysis was used to map the level of vulnerability. The results show that climate change is gradual and has created a shift in the agricultural calendar, with the sowing period due to the return of the rains moving from early March to the second third of the same month. Agropastoral activities, water resources and people’s health are all affected. Adaptation measures result in the production of waste that causes pollution. Pollutants may be physical, chemical, or microbiological in nature. Socio-economic development necessarily requires adaptations specific to the African context.