A Continent in Peril: Climate Change Threatens Africa's Stability

A Continent in Peril: Climate Change Threatens Africa's Stability

The African continent is fast becoming susceptible to the devastating impacts of climate change.

Climate change and climate variability threaten Africa's stability, capable of causing food and water shortages amidst compromising the health, wellbeing and growth of its population in the nearby future.

There are expectations that climate change will add to widespread warming and increased global rainfall in the coming decades.

Africa, which is currently warming faster than the global average, could experience greater impacts, including the possibility to render large spaces uninhabitable.

This would have devastating effects on human health, food security, and poverty.

Moreso, tropical regions will expect more variable rainfall patterns, with unpredictable outcomes at the local level.

Temperature records show a steady increase of around 1 °C across Africa since the late 19th century.

However, the Sahel region has experienced a more dramatic rise of up to 3 °C in minimum temperature during the dry season.

Climate data indicates significant deviations from normal patterns, with Kenya being particularly susceptible to climate change impacts.

The country faces increased risks of droughts and floods due to projected changes in rainfall patterns, which are expected to become more intense and unpredictable.

Furthermore, climate models predict a temperature increase of 0.5 to 2 °C, which will be exacerbated by the urban heat island effect in informal settlements like Nairobi.

This effect is compounded by factors such as substandard building materials, inadequate ventilation, and limited access to essential services.

In its action plan and strategy, the African Union in 2014, proposed 47 goals in her draft report as measure to alleviate and tackle climate change in Africa.

The IMF has proposed in 2021 that $50 billion would be needed to defray the costs associated with climate change adaptation in the continent.

References

1. United Nations, UNEP (2017). "Responding to climate change". UNEP – UN Environment Programme.

2. European Investment Bank (6 July 2022). EIB Group Sustainability Report 2021. European Investment Bank.

3. Global warming: severe consequences for Africa. Africa Renewal. 7 December 2018.

4. Hirch, Aurther (November 2017). "Effects of climate change likely to be more deadly in poor African settlements"

5. Michaelson, Ruth (25 August 2018). "Houses claimed by the canal: life on Egypt's climate change frontline". The Guardian.

6. Welborn, Lily (2018). Africa and climate change: Projecting vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Institute for Security Studies.