Africa in 2024: Battling Climate Extremes and Seeking Global Action

The year 2024 has been marked by severe climate challenges for Africa, as the continent faces increasingly extreme weather events. Despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa remains highly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. From worsening droughts to catastrophic flooding, the year has underscored the urgency for global action to address the continent’s climate vulnerabilities.

In an effort to address the climate crisis, the world’s largest emitters made new pledges at COP29, agreeing to ramp up climate action. However, these promises have fallen short of meeting the needs outlined by African nations, which are grappling with the escalating effects of climate change. El Niño has further exacerbated the situation, amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones.

At the start of the year, Cyclone Belal struck Mauritius, leaving thousands without power. In March, Cyclone Gamane ravaged Madagascar, affecting over 5,000 homes and forcing more than 20,000 people to flee. In May, Cyclone Hidaya devastated coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, highlighting East Africa’s vulnerability to these increasingly violent storms. These cyclones often bring heavy rains, which lead to widespread flooding and landslides. In 2024, countries such as Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experienced heavy rainfall that resulted in catastrophic flooding.

In the DRC, where conflict continues to disrupt daily life, torrential rains destroyed roads and homes, further complicating an already dire humanitarian situation. Similarly, in the Sahel region, the rainy season from July to September saw heavy flooding, especially in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. This flooding exacerbated the challenges faced by communities already dealing with food insecurity, political instability, and economic hardship.

This year has also been significant for global temperature trends. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024 marks the first year to exceed the 1.5°C warming threshold set by international climate goals. Their report, released in December, revealed that global temperatures were 0.14°C higher than in 2023. In Zambia, the rainy season—normally lasting from October to March—ended prematurely in January due to extreme heat, which caused severe droughts across Southern Africa. This prolonged drought has had significant consequences on food and water security, further straining the region’s resources and affecting energy production.

South Sudan faced its own extreme heat crisis, with temperatures reaching an unbearable 45°C, prompting the government to close schools for the first time in history due to the extreme heat wave. The relentless heat and drought in the region have devastated agriculture, on which 70% of Southern Africa’s population depends for their livelihoods. As crops fail, millions have been pushed into hunger, with countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe declaring national hunger crises in October. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that approximately 21 million children in Southern Africa are currently malnourished due to failed harvests and food insecurity.

The economic impact of these extreme weather events is staggering. Africa loses an estimated 2 to 5% of its GDP annually due to the effects of climate change. The economic toll is particularly harsh on countries that are already struggling with poverty, political instability, and limited infrastructure. The lack of sufficient financial support to mitigate the effects of climate change further deepens the vulnerability of African nations.

At COP29, developed countries pledged to increase climate finance, with a target of $300 billion annually by 2035. While this is a step in the right direction, it falls significantly short of the $1.3 trillion that developing nations, including African countries, have estimated is necessary for climate adaptation and resilience. African leaders continue to call for greater financial support to help their countries cope with the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.

As the continent faces worsening climate conditions, the urgency for global action becomes even more pressing. African nations are calling for stronger commitments from the international community to address the financial gaps in climate funding, implement climate resilience strategies, and ensure a more equitable approach to climate action. The need for a concerted global effort to combat climate change and support Africa’s vulnerable populations has never been more critical.

The year 2024 has highlighted both the devastating consequences of climate change for Africa and the critical need for urgent action to address these challenges. As the continent grapples with extreme weather events and seeks global support, the path forward will require greater solidarity and substantial investment in climate adaptation efforts. Only with meaningful action and cooperation can Africa hope to navigate the uncertain future that climate change presents.

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Ama Oprah

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