A new report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Monday highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on the African continent. The report, focusing on the state of the climate in Africa last year, reveals a concerning trend of rising temperatures and extreme weather events.
The African continent has been warming at a faster pace than the global average, with temperatures increasing by approximately 0.3 degrees Celsius per decade between 1991 and 2023. North Africa experienced the most significant warming, with the Moroccan city of Agadir reaching a new high of 50.4 degrees Celsius.
Extreme rainfall events have also caused widespread flooding in various African countries. Climate activists have long emphasized that Africa bears a heavy burden of climate change despite contributing a relatively small portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan will address the issue of financial contributions from wealthy nations to help poorer countries adapt to climate change. The African Union Commission’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, emphasized the urgent need for action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Africa.
Flooding in September and October of 2023 affected over 300,000 people in ten African countries, with Niger, Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria experiencing the most significant impacts. This followed earlier flooding events in Libya and parts of East Africa. Additionally, Zambia faced its worst drought in 40 years, impacting millions of people.
The report underscores the severe consequences of climate change on food security, economic growth, and poverty alleviation in Africa. The continent is estimated to lose between 2 and 5 percent of its gross domestic product due to climate extremes. Without adequate measures to respond, the number of people exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat in Africa could reach 118 million by 2030.
To address these challenges, the WMO emphasizes the importance of investing in improved data collection, forecasting, and early warning systems. Despite accounting for 35 percent of weather, climate, and water-related fatalities between 1970 and 2021, only 40 percent of the African population has access to early warning systems.