The African Climate Policy Center predicts that the costs of climate change-related losses and damages in the African continent will range from $290 to $440 billion. According to their report for the year 2022, over 110 million people on the continent were directly affected by weather, climate, and water-related risks, resulting in economic damages exceeding $8.5 billion. Approximately 5,000 deaths were reported, with 48% linked to drought and 43% to floods in Africa.
Despite Africa being responsible for less than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Climate change threatens food security, environmental systems, and economies in Africa, fueling displacement, migration, and increasing the risk of conflicts over dwindling resources.
The agricultural sector serves as the backbone of livelihoods and national economies in Africa, with over 55% of the population relying on it. However, agricultural production has declined by 34% since 1961 due to climate change, resulting in an expected threefold increase in annual food imports for African countries by 2025.
On the other hand, climate change and the depletion of natural resources could exacerbate conflicts over productive land, water, and scarce pastures. The past decade has witnessed increased violence between farmers and herders due to mounting pressures on land resources, reflecting an ugly face of climate change in the African continent.