Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global patterns and temperatures, primarily driven by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
Industrial activities that emit greenhouse gases and increase the carbon footprint in the atmosphere include steel production, cement production, chemical manufacturing, fossil fuel refining, and natural gas processing.
These gases trap heat, causing global warming—the rise in average global temperatures and contribute to weather extremes, including increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
Despite contributing the least to global climate change—with low-income countries accounting for less than 10% of greenhouse gas emissions—African countries bear the brunt of its effects.
For instance, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s frequent floods and droughts worsen the country’s hunger crisis and strain its limited resources.
In Guinea-Bissau, rising sea levels threaten 70% of the population, and increased salinization has reduced rice production.
60% of South Sudan’s population relies solely on pastoralism amid ongoing conflicts over resources—conflicts that are exacerbated by climate change.
Climate change impacts in Africa are widespread.
The continent has warmed by 1°C since 1901, with projections showing a potential rise of up to 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050.
Precipitation patterns have significantly changed, affecting agricultural productivity, food security, and human settlements.
Rising sea levels have caused coastal erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.
These poor countries are more prone to the impacts of climate change due to several factors, including limited financial, technological, and institutional capacity to adapt.
Most of these countries rely heavily on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry.
Inadequate infrastructure, such as water management systems, and geographical vulnerability further increase their risk.
Many African countries are located in regions with high climate variability—particularly tropical zones—making them more prone to weather hazards such as droughts, floods, and storms.
Additionally, limited access to healthcare, education, and social services exacerbates the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations.
The health sector is heavily impacted by climate change.
There is an increased risk of heat-related illnesses such as skin cancer due to direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation, respiratory diseases, and vector-borne diseases like malaria.
Malaria is one of the leading killer diseases in developing countries, and warmer temperatures could result in 150 million new cases and 48,000 more diarrhoea-related deaths by 2030, according to the World Health Organisation.
Climate change also leads to biodiversity loss due to changes in ecosystems, species extinction, and disruptions to food chains.
Food insecurity has worsened as food production declines, leading to higher prices.
It is estimated that continuous crop yield losses could lead to a 12% increase in food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
Water availability is also being threatened by frequent droughts, affecting more than 20 million people as of 2025.
Migration is another serious challenge caused by climate change. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 20 million people will be forced to migrate within their countries by 2050, and up to 130 million people could be pushed into poverty.
Climate-related disasters have increased eightfold in low-income countries over the past decade, resulting in significant economic damage and loss.
Many families are withdrawing children from school to cope with the economic collapse.
Science plays a pivotal role in addressing the impacts of climate change by providing insights into its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.
Scientists study the Earth’s climate system—including temperature, precipitation, and sea levels—to understand its effects on both human and natural systems.
In November 2024, the COP29 summit was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a focus on mobilizing climate finance for developing countries, advancing renewable energy technologies, and developing comprehensive strategies for global adaptation to climate vulnerability.
The summit produced mixed results, with some progress made in key areas but overall falling short of expectations.
Developed countries agreed to triple climate finance to developing countries to $300 billion by 2035—an improvement, but still short of the $1.3 trillion required.
Countries also agreed on rules to create a centralized system for trading carbon credits, aiming to make these markets more transparent and credible.
This could attract more investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries.
However, African countries were criticized for lacking ambition, and the $300 billion budget is widely considered inadequate.
Since the summit occurred during the U.S. presidential transition, there are concerns about potential policy rollbacks and uncertainty in global climate leadership.
Research on climate change helps predict future changes, enabling policymakers to develop effective adaptation and mitigation measures.
Current research includes work on climate-resilient agriculture for example, the use of drought-resistant crop cultivars, improved water management, and climate-sensitive urban planning.
These efforts help communities adapt to their changing environments.
Other mitigation strategies include the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, which are sustainable, and carbon capture technologies such as post-combustion capture (capturing CO₂ from power plant emissions) and pre-combustion capture (capturing CO₂ before combustion, typically in gasification processes).
Land use practices that promote carbon sequestration have also been implemented.
An example of such conservation efforts is in Zimbabwe, where Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company plants a tree for every burial as part of its environmental conservation initiative.
Since launching the program in 2013, Nyaradzo has planted over 5.8 million trees and aims to plant 500 million trees by 2030.
Addressing the complex challenges of climate change demands coordinated action across all levels of society.
Individuals, organisations, and governments must unite to confront this global crisis by fostering collaboration, sharing scientific knowledge, and committing to bold, enforceable climate targets.
Accountability must become a cornerstone of international climate agreements, while education and public awareness campaigns must empower communities to take action.
Only through collective resolve and sustained commitment can we confront the injustices of climate change—where those least responsible suffer the most—and chart a path toward a more just, resilient, and sustainable future for Africa and the world.