Climate overview 

Temperature range between 27°C and 32°C in the majority of the country – except for the high-altitude region in the North with temperature below 21°C.

Chad’s climate ranges from desert to semi-arid in the north and centre to tropical savannah in the south. The climate is influenced by West African Monsoon, which brings large inter annual variability in wet-season rainfall and contributes to recurring droughts and floods. The rainfall season is from May to October with rainfall totals up to 150mm per month. The dry season lasts between November to March and very little to no rainfall during this season. 

Ranked 5 out of 191 countries by the 2022 Inform Risk Index, Chad is one of the higher hazard risk countries in the world exposed to floods, droughts and epidemics. 

• Climate change in Chad : 

Maximum and minimum temperature will increase, and heat waves will intensify in duration and peak temperatures for every increase in global warming levels above the pre-industrial values. 

The frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation events are projected to increase with potential effects in flooding and soil erosion. 

Priorities of the Movement and climate change

• Scale up climate-smart DRR, early action and preparedness : DRR portrait

• Drought 

Droughts and the current water management systems impact the Lake Chad, which could disappear in the next 20 years. 

• Flood

Flood risks are qualified of high in the South of the country, meaning that ‘life-threatening river floods are expected to occur at least once in the next 10 years’. Climate change is foreseen to worsen floods. 

• Epidemics

Epidemics have been the most prevalent risk in the country in average for 1980-2020, with diseases such as malaria, cholera, measles and meningitis. Endemic diseases are expected to be aggravated with the increase of extreme events. 

• Reduce health impacts of climate change

Increased frequency of heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms due to climate change affects human health and nutrition in Chad. With the rise in temperatures, mortality and morbidity from vector-borne diseases such as malaria will likely increase. Whereas rising temperature could decrease the risk of malaria, infection risks could increase in some areas due to flooding. Flooding also results in an increase in the cases of water-borne diseases such as cholera and diarrhea. In addition, temperature rises and a decrease in humidity will increase the cases of meningitis, especially in southern Chad’s ‘meningitis belt’. 

Droughts, temperature rises, and floods will also disrupt agricultural productivity and add to the food insecurity and malnutrition challenges which are leading health issues in Chad. The level of stunting among children is very high compared to the rest of the region at 37.8%. 

The temperature in Chad will also rise significantly and increase heat-related mortality such as three-fold by 2080. Heat waves will affect more infants, older people and those with pre-existing conditions and disabilities, such as diabetes and heart disease. 

• Sustainable water : resources management, infrastructure and access

Frequent and more intense droughts have reduced water levels in rivers and lakes in Chad. The reduction of Lake Chad volumes due to droughts and rainfall declines (by up to 95%) is visible and has become a symbol of climate change impact in the country. 

With the increasing droughts, water per capita is expected to decline by 75% by 2080, largely driven by population growth. 

Floods also cause contamination of shallow aquifers due to the combined impact of rapid urbanization and inadequate sanitation facilities. 

• Enable climate resilient livelihoods and economic security

Conflict and the presence of non-state armed groups in Chad has deep, long-lasting effects on economic security. 

Frequent droughts due to climate change will damage agriculture, a key livelihood source in Chad, in several ways including shrinking areas of production of cash crops, contributing to increases in pests and diseases, reduction in livestock pasture, and decline in crop yields. Agriculture accounts for 23% of Chad’s GDP and employs 77% of the labour force. 

A major impact of climate change in Chad relates to food insecurity : 38.4% of the population is below the poverty line, and the country as a whole is categorized by the World Health Organization as a « low-income food-deficit country ».  It is one of the world’s most food insecure countries : 40% of children aged under five suffer stunting and low height connected to malnutrition (…). Recently, metrics of food insecurity have increased, as severe insect and pest invasions as well as floods have destroyed agricultural production, leading to widespread and severe food insecurity with long-term health implications.

A decline in water quality and quantity and destruction of fish breeding grounds in Lake Chad and other rivers is expected to affect the livelihoods of people who depend on fisheries and generally on the lake ecosystem. In addition, Lake Chad is a significant source of food security and livelihood in the region. Therefore, climatic stressors on the lake directly affect incomes, food, and livelihoods. 

• Address climate displacement and protection

While Chadians move due to conflict as well as slow- and sudden-onset extreme events, people also find themselves unable to move as a response to the impacts of climate change. Conflict reduces people’s ability to move freely (…). 

The shortening of the rainy season has increased conflict between pastoralists and farmers. For example, many pastoralists leave prematurely in search of dry season grazing grounds in the wetlands of Yaéré-Naga, along the river Chari. This migration has fueled conflict both en route and while returning as pastoralists’ animals destroy still-growing crops or ones about to be harvested.