Africa is increasingly bearing a heavy burden from climate change, with the continent losing between 2 to 5 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually due to climate-related impacts.
This alarming statistic was highlighted in a recent report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), presented in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The report underscores the disproportionate costs African nations face in adapting to climate change, a situation that poses significant threats to the continent’s economic growth and development.
WMO secretary-general, Celeste Saulo, revealed that many African countries are forced to divert up to 9 percent of their national budgets to respond to climate extremes. The financial strain is particularly severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where the cost of adaptation is projected to range between $30 billion to $50 billion annually over the next decade. This figure represents 2 to 3 per cent of the region’s GDP, a substantial economic burden for countries already grappling with poverty and underdevelopment.
The WMO’s “State of the Climate in Africa 2023” report paints a grim picture of the future, projecting that by 2030, up to 118 million people living in extreme poverty—surviving on less than $1.90 per day—will be exposed to increasingly frequent and severe climate events such as droughts, floods and extreme heat. These conditions are expected to place enormous pressure on efforts to alleviate poverty and could significantly hinder economic growth across the continent.
To combat these challenges, the WMO report emphasizes the urgent need for African nations to increase investment in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS). Strengthening these services and accelerating the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative could save lives, protect livelihoods, and build resilience at local, national and regional levels. These measures are crucial for mitigating risks and guiding sustainable development strategies in the face of mounting climate threats.
The report highlights that Africa has been experiencing a rapid warming trend over the past 60 years, with 2023 marked as the hottest year on record globally. The continent has endured a series of devastating climate events, including deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts. Saulo noted that while many countries in the Horn of Africa, southern Africa, and north-west Africa have suffered from exceptional multi-year droughts, others have been hit by extreme precipitation events leading to catastrophic flooding.
“The pattern of extreme weather has persisted into 2024,” Saulo stated. “Parts of southern Africa continue to suffer from damaging droughts, while exceptional seasonal rainfall has caused death and destruction in East African countries, most notably in Sudan and South Sudan. These conditions exacerbate already dire humanitarian crises.”
The findings of the “State of the Climate in Africa 2023” report will be officially released at the 12th Climate Change for Development in Africa (CCDA) Conference in Abidjan. The report is a collaborative effort between the WMO, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology. It serves as a call to action for urgent investment in meteorological services and early warning systems, which are essential for adapting to climate change and building resilience across Africa.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission, H.E. Ambassador Josefa Sacko stressed the critical juncture at which Africa stands. “The continent faces disproportionate burdens from climate change-related weather events, leading to massive humanitarian crises and adverse impacts on agriculture, food security, education, energy, infrastructure, public health and overall socio-economic development,” she said.
As the impacts of climate change continue to manifest globally, Africa’s ability to adapt and build resilience will be crucial in securing a sustainable future for its people and economies.
