Central to the 2023 State of the Climate in Africa report’s analysis is that African countries are facing an escalating climate change bill, with an average loss of 2-5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to climate extremes.
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The report which focussed on climate change indicators and impacts in 2023 – globally the hottest year on record – shows that Africa bears an exceptionally heavy burden from climate change and disproportionately high costs for essential climate adaptation.
On average, it is noted, African countries are losing 2-5% of GDP and many are diverting up to 9% of their budgets responding to climate extremes.
Jointly launched by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the African Union Commission, on September 2, at the 12th Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA12) Conference, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the report presents a stark overview of the climate crisis facing the African continent and underscores the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation and resilience.
In 2023, Rwanda recorded different milestones including biodiversity conservation, environmental crime investigation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and climate finance, in combating climate change and protecting the environment. In June 2023, the country launched a Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy to achieve energy security and low carbon energy supply that supports the development of the green industry, among others.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the new report shows, the cost of adaptation is estimated to range from US$ 30-50 billion annually over the next decade, or 2-3% of the region's Gross Domestic Product.
"This report serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of climate action in Africa, where extreme weather events are intensifying and disproportionately impacting the continent's social economic development,” said the Minister of Green Economy and Environment of Zambia, Mike Elton Mposha.
"Africa is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, with its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and limited adaptive capacity. Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and erratic rainfall are already causing widespread harm to human health, ecosystems, and livelihood. These challenges threaten to derail Africa's big-bed progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals and the African Union agenda 2063,” stated the minister.
"It is essential to continue advocating for increased investments in climate adaptation and resilience, particularly through the laws and dynamic priorities,” he added.
"The State of the Climate in Africa 2023 Report highlights the urgent need for action. Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks from climate change, which threatens food security, public health, and socio-economic development across the continent,” said Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission.
Hanan Morsy, the Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said, "Africa is on the front lines of fighting climate change and its impacts, from rising temperatures to shifting rainfall patterns, and other extreme weather events. Consequently, key sectors like the agricultural sector, which employs over 60% of Africa’s population, are under threat. Crops are failing and livestock is suffering as climate variability disrupts traditional farming practices, jeopardizes food supply, and the economic stability of nations, which are already grappling with high poverty and levels.”
"At the same time, African countries face significant debt distress, forcing trade-offs with critical development needs such as health or education. We can only drive investments in climate action if we have financing, therefore, there is a need to achieve sustainable debt levels to make the essential investments” added Morsy.
To this end, she explained, "There must be first, a timely and sustainable international debt resolution that calls for an overhaul of the G20 Common Framework to make it more effective, time-bound, and transparent, and second, a reform of the global financial architecture to ensure affordable financing at scale.
"Third, the implementation of innovative financing instruments such as debt-for-nature swaps, and green and blue bonds; and fourth, advancing carbon markets to establish a fair carbon price supported by high-integrity carbon registries to ensure transparency and trust. These are transformative avenues to address Africa's climate finance requirements.”
The 2023 State of the Climate in Africa report, the fifth annual report on the climate in WMO Regional Association I (Africa), is expected to serve as a vital tool for policymakers, providing the observational basis necessary to drive action and support decision-making in the face of an increasingly challenging climate future.
According to the WMO, by 2030, it is estimated that up to 118 million extremely poor people (living on less than US$ 1.90 per day) will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa, if adequate response measures are not put in place.
This, as noted, will place additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and significantly hamper growth.
African countries need to prioritise increased investment in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, and accelerate implementation of the Early Warnings For All initiative to save lives and livelihoods, noted WMO. This will help mitigate risks, build adaptive capacity, boost resilience at local, national, and regional levels and guide sustainable development strategies, the report noted.