Climate change, a worldwide issue, is already impacting many regions and posing a threat to humanity in both in the present and future future. [1] The consequences of these effects pose significant threats to human welfare, ecological equilibrium, and the susceptibility of livelihoods. [2] The consequences of increasing global temperatures and extreme weather occurrences pose significant and formidable problems in the 21st century. However, the effects and dangers related to climate change can vary significantly among various countries. [3] Climate change is causing immediate and visible impacts such as heat waves, hurricanes, floods, forest fires, and droughts. Slower changes in average temperature, sea level, and rainfall patterns will have far-reaching consequences for larger populations in the future. [4] . It is widely acknowledged that Africa is exceptionally vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Pastoralist communities across the globe, including those in Africa, have long been confronted with a range of social, economic, and climate-related hurdles. [5] Due to their dependence on livestock-based livelihoods and their susceptibility to droughts and unpredictable rainfall, these communities are especially prone to the detrimental impacts of climate change [6] . In recent decades, pastoralism has undergone changes that have reduced its ability to withstand shocks and adapt to new circumstances, leading to increased poverty, social differentiation, and inequality within pastoralist communities [7] . Africa is a region heavily impacted by climate change [8] . The limited economic, developmental, and institutional capacities of African countries render them highly vulnerable to these impacts. Consequently, the progress achieved in enhancing the socio-economic welfare of Africans, including those in East Africa, is at risk of being undermined or reversed. [9] Pastoralist communities in Ethiopia are threatened by climate change, which has a direct impact on the availability of natural resources and livestock yields in grazing regions. [10] The livelihoods of these communities are greatly impacted by climate change, as evidenced by an observable rise in the frequency of extreme events like droughts and floods. These events disrupt the delicate equilibrium between land availability for grazing, the presence of cattle, and the impact caused by the human population. [11] These challenges have resulted in a shift in pastoral practices and a greater dependence on non-pastoral livelihoods. [12] Although pastoralist communities in Ethiopia face many challenges such as their high vulnerability to climate change, there is a dearth of adequate study and comprehension of their specific vulnerabilities and long-term consequences. Further investigation is required to examine the enduring consequences of climate change and get a more profound comprehension of the distinctive difficulties faced by pastoralists in the area. [13] In the Moyle District of the Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, there is a significant research gap pertaining to the prevention and management strategies for climate change risks. Although some studies have examined the vulnerability of pastoralist communities to climate change in the country, further research is necessary to enhance our understanding of this issue. This study aims to bridge this research gap by specifically assessing the vulnerability of pastoralist communities to climate change. Through a comprehensive examination, valuable insights can be gained regarding the specific challenges and risks faced by these communities, enabling the development of targeted interventions to support their resilience. The study area confronts challenges such as water scarcity, shifting rainfall patterns, and limited access to natural resources due to climate change. However, there is an insufficient level of research and understanding regarding the specific vulnerabilities and long-term impacts encountered by these communities. To address these knowledge gaps, additional research is required to examine the enduring impacts of climate change and gain a better understanding of the specific challenges faced by pastoralists in the region. By addressing these gaps, policymakers and practitioners can formulate targeted interventions to enhance the resilience of pastoralist communities in eastern Ethiopia, particularly in the Moyle District.

This section presents the study’s findings, which were collected directly from primary data sources. It also includes an analysis and explanation of these findings.

The study reveals that pastoralists are aware of climate impacts, but knowledge gaps need to be addressed to improve their understanding. This aligns with a Pakistani study that found a lack of knowledge is a significant obstacle to poor nations’ ability to adapt to climate change. [14] Similarly, [15] has shown that addressing climate change in poor countries is challenging owing to a lack of community awareness.

This study also identified perceived impacts of climate change and climate variability on pastoral households in moyale district. Accordingly, majority of households experienced recurring droughts, occurrence of floods, increased temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns. In line with other studies, the livelihoods of pastoralists and the production of livestock are strongly correlated with rangeland productivity. Consequently, the severe consequences of climate change, such as frequent droughts and animal mortality, have had a significant impact on the lowlands in the study area [16] [17] [18] . Pastoralists in the region perceive more erratic and reduced rainfall, rising temperatures, and prolonged drought. These factors have led to challenges such as cattle starvation, malnutrition, and reduced milk production [19] [20] . The livelihood of pastoral people in Ethiopia is threatened by repeated droughts, high livestock mortality, and famine, which ultimately results in human fatalities and famine [10] . The climate change affected livestock productivity due the decrease in water availability and pasture quality, along with increased disease prevalence and changes in breeding patterns. This finding is further supported by research done in Ethiopia’s southern lowlands, which showed that the rate of livestock productivity and reproduction has been periodically dropping in pastoral communities as a result of the detrimental effects of climate-related shocks, especially drought. [21] A study by Megersa et al. [20] revealed the production of livestock is greatly impacted by climate change, which results in reduced productivity due to increasing disease incidence, decreased availability of water, fodder, and pasture, as well as heat and cold stress. “In line with these findings, Kimaro et al.’s study [19] showed that in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, climate change significantly reduces livestock yield, worsens health, and lowers agricultural productivity. Additionally, the findings of this study are consistent with those of Mengistu’s research [22] , which investigated the effects of extreme drought circumstances on livestock.” during drought situations, a significant percentage of cattle mortality (68%), compared to lesser losses in goats (5%) and camels (2%). Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists face climate-related challenges such as inadequate rainfall, water availability, poor feed quality, animal disease risk, and heat stress, resulting in reduced livestock performance. [23] In addition to the impacts of climate change, which include reduced crop yields, altered rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, changes in crop suitability, and prolonged drought, these factors have had a negative effect on the productivity and sustainability of crop cultivation among pastoralist communities. Furthermore, this study specifically assessed the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations in pastoral communities, including women and children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. Among these groups, children and women in pastoral communities are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change.

In conclusion, the study revealed several significant findings concerning the consequences of climate change in the study area. It was evident that there was a considerable knowledge gap and low levels of awareness among the respondents regarding climate change and its potential consequences. The most prominent impacts identified were recurring droughts, followed by floods and variability in precipitation patterns. Livestock productivity was severely affected by reduced water availability, poor pasture quality, increased disease prevalence, and disrupted breeding and reproduction patterns. Crop yield was also impacted by decreased productivity, changes in rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and shifts in crop suitability. Vulnerable groups, such as women, children, elderly people, people with disabilities, and pastoralists, were particularly affected. To address these findings, raising awareness and implementing adaptive measures are crucial. Promoting knowledge about climate change and its consequences among the affected communities can empower them to take proactive measures. Additionally, implementing adaptive strategies, such as water conservation techniques, improved livestock management practices, and climate-resilient agricultural techniques, can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on livelihoods, agriculture, and livestock productivity.

The authors express gratitude to reviewers for their insightful comments and to local authorities, stakeholders, and enumerators for their invaluable time, cooperation, and support during field data collection.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Salah, A., Liu, X.H., Tareke, K.M., Azad, M. and Fikru, F.A. (2024) The Impact of Climate Change and Climate Variability on the Pastoralist Communities in Moyle District, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. Open Access Library Journal, 11: e11582. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111582