Africa is dealing with a disproportionate burden from climate change and the associated costs of adaptation, according to a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The continent of Africa has been experiencing a slightly faster rate of warming than the global average, with an increase of about 0.3 degrees Celsius per decade between 1991 and 2023, as reported by the WMO in their assessment of the climate in Africa last year.
North Africa, in particular, has witnessed the most rapid warming, with the city of Agadir in Morocco recording a new maximum temperature of 50.4 degrees.
Several countries have also observed extreme rainfall events leading to flooding.
Climate activists have consistently highlighted the fact that Africa bears a significant price for climate change impacts, despite being responsible for only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The upcoming COP29 climate summit, to be hosted by Azerbaijan in November, will focus on determining the contributions that wealthy industrialized nations should make to assist poorer countries in adapting to climate change.
“Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks from climate change-related weather patterns and events,” stated Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment at the African Union Commission, in the WMO report.
These climate impacts lead to significant humanitarian crises, affecting agriculture, food security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace and security, public health, water resources, and overall socio-economic development, she added.
In recent months, approximately 300,000 individuals across 10 countries were impacted by flooding, with Niger, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria being the most severely affected.
Zambia experienced its worst drought in 40 years, affecting around six million people, while other nations also faced severe drought conditions in 2023, according to the WMO.
The report emphasizes that climate extremes, including floods and droughts, have had a substantial impact on food security across the African continent.
African countries are currently losing two to five percent of their GDP, with many allocating up to nine percent of their budgets to address climate-related extremes, the WMO highlighted.
If appropriate measures are not taken, by 2030 an estimated up to 118 million people living on less than $1.90 a day in Africa will face the risks of droughts, floods, and extreme heat, the report warned.
This will further strain poverty alleviation efforts and significantly impede growth, according to the report.
The urgent need to invest in enhanced data collection, forecasting, and early warning capabilities was underscored by the UN agency.
“Between 1970 and 2021, Africa accounted for 35 percent of weather, climate, and water-related fatalities, yet only 40 percent of the population in Africa has access to early warning systems – the lowest rate among all regions worldwide,” the WMO mentioned.
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