Globalization and Global Warming: A Case of Laikipia County, Kenya

Abstract

Globalization is regarded as a contributor to global warming. Population growth and increased movement of persons around the world potentially spur industrialization and the consequential increase in demand for ecosystem goods and services. Unsustainable industrialization coupled with the poorly controlled extraction of ecosystem goods and resources, resulting from globalization and movement of persons, create an environmental imbalance that could cause, among other things, global warming. Laikipia County, one of the counties in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, has attracted settlers from elsewhere that have set up large commercial farms, wildlife conservancies, among other private establishments over time. Consequently, communal grazing lands have reduced leaving local pastoralists struggling with water and pasture for their livestock. Perennial, prolonged, and frequent droughts have often resulted in clashes between herders and locals that include smallholder farmers, foreign ranch owners, wildlife conservancies and tourist facilities. This paper assesses past and future rainfall trends over Laikipia County and proposes appropriate climate change adaptation strategies to help the extensive Laikipia ecosystem better respond to extreme weather conditions. The assessment shows a downward trend, for both historical rainfall and climate model rainfall projections, over Laikipia. This highlights the importance of helping local pastoralists to diversify their livelihood activities while adopting more sustainable livestock keeping practices including strategic pasture and water harvesting. Otherwise, a peaceful coexistence and prosperity among the residents of Nanyuki County and beyond may be more difficult going forward – in the wake of a changing climate.