Africa and Climate Change: A Pan African Concern

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Climate change is one of the leading global concerns and headaches. Its effect on biodiversity is a possible threat to human existence and various human activities are the drivers of this imminent threat.


Climate Change
Desert Encroachment


Industrialization, urbanization, inorganic agricultural activities, overreliance on non-renewable energy resources, and the general human culture of handling domestic waste are the most notable pollutants of the natural environment.


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Africa with a population of over 1.4 billion is at the tipping point of climate change. Even though Africa contributes to less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, reports indicate that the threat of unprecedented changes in global weather patterns is a worry.


We must also not go without mentioning that less than ten rich countries in the world release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than all the 54 countries of Africa. Concerning this, Africa has a huge role to play in counter effecting climate change.


Greenhouse gas emission
Industrial Emission


Africa believed to be the cradle of mankind, is quite capable of combatting climate change. With one of the largest renewable energy potentials globally, Africa must reduce its reliance on carbon fuel and kerosene by a significant percentage.


The presence of dense natural forests in Africa has played a great role as water catchment areas. Attracting rainfall and maintaining several African rivers that have the much experienced great importance as they pass through several cities.


The Pan-African Concern on climate change

With the increase in population, African states must fasten their seatbelts for the journey of combatting climate change. This must call for proper waste management in African cities. 


Africans must realize the importance of environmental conservation and play the most important role in protecting their own environment.


Justice for Climate
Africa Must Take Action Now Before The Damage Is Irreversible


According to Africa Waste Management Outlook, 2018, the continent is recycling as little as 4% of its waste. The majority of Africa’s waste, especially in dense urban cities lay loosely as unaccounted for. 


Africa Union’s vision that “African cities will be recycling at least 50 percent of the waste they generate by 2023” is still far from where our cities stand.


Waste management is of critical importance. African cities must have in place proper waste management schemes and employ workable waste management technologies. 


However, due to limited budgets and mismanagement of resources, some African cities have fallen short of adequately managing their waste. The threat to public health, human dignity, climate resilience, and environmental preservation is now of concern to the principles of Pan-Africanism.


Open Landfill
Unkempt Dumping site


As Pan-Africanism calls for an African solution to African problems, it is, therefore, necessary that Africa must take up its responsibility and join the rest of the world to fight negative climate change. African cities must exploit all available tools to help them do so.


City municipalities must also provide low-cost, appropriate approaches to waste management. This is an area of investment that have provided impressive employment opportunities to citizens and has many exploits as human being produce thousands of tons of waste a day. 


Proper waste management that starts from generation to transformation or processing of waste requires human discipline and efficient technology.


Furthermore, Africans must help reduce the pressure on landfills by properly handling their household, commercial, and municipal wastes. 


Recycling, reusing, and composting are critical areas for innovation and investments. African cities must open their doors wide open, to learn from each other.


Common Effects of Climate Change in Africa

Africa has experienced several climatic disasters. Some of these have since been prolonged and people have come to compromise with them. The disruption of global climatic patterns has cost the world great fortunes and Africa has also felt the pain.

Africa has been affected in several ways including:


1. Food and Water Scarcity

Deforestation due to pressure from urbanization and industrialization has led to the loss of natural forests due to human encroachments. 


This has consequently reduced or even disrupt rainfall patterns leading to prolonged dry seasons and increasing acidity in the soil.


Deadly drought in the Horn of Africa
(Credits: UNICEF)


The struggle for human settlement expansion rivals reversely with agricultural activities which the latter provide food for mankind. With these events, agricultural land is seemingly becoming scarce. 


The affected cities and those that lack adequate and efficient smart farm technologies might soon start importing several fresh farm produce.


2. Locust Infestation in The Horn of Africa

The 2020 locust infestation was widely felt as far as North Eastern Kenya. The destruction of agricultural resources that befell these regions was devastating since many farmers were counting losses. The losses could be summed up as a plague that threatened food security in Africa.


Locust Infestation in Kenya
(credit: Malteser International)


Traditionally, the movement of birds and insects was an important weather forecasting technique. Our ancestors used that information to prepare for future events or take caution in their next activities. 


The great locust migration was caused by possible prolonged dry seasons and desert conditions or other climatic changes over the horn of Africa. This implies that there are global alterations in the climatic condition of the Horn of Africa. 


3. Displacement of People, Loss of Life and Properties

Climatic disasters such as intense floods, prolonged drought, heat waves, and storms tend to alter normal life. Africa is hit frequently by either heavy rains followed by devastating floods or prolonged dry conditions followed by anger and starvation. 


These conditions hinder people from settling and establishing themselves as a community or society since they are always on the move escaping one climatic disaster to another.


Aftermath of floods
(Credit: Climate Justice for Africa)


The April 2006 floods in Kenya were an ordeal that left thousands dead and several others displaced. Intense foods also destroyed important infrastructure and caused great financial losses. 


Climate change also threatens Africa’s wildlife and consequently affects tourism as an economic activity. These floods and prolonged droughts are plagues contributing to Africa being one of the most wretched continents.


Which Way for Africa?

African leadership must spearhead the war against climate change. Exemplary leaders like Thomas Sankara should act as a motivating factor in this movement. 


During his tenure, President Sankara spearheaded the planting of 10.5 million trees, reducing the effects of the encroaching desert in Burkina Faso in just fifteen months and making tree planting a part of Burkinabe culture. 


In December 2022, Kenya’s president Dr. Ruto launched a similar program aiming at fifteen billion trees by 2032. A commendable move!



On the other hand, every African citizen must take responsibility for preserving the environment. Every citizen must assume the role of environmental activism to help educate and create awareness of the importance of environmental preservation.


Call for Climate Change Action
Calling On People From All Walks of Life To Act And Save The Planet Now


Africa must tap into its highest potential, the renewable energy resource in its stores, to counteract the nonrenewable energy resources that threaten the balance in the ozone layer. 


The preservation of the environment is imperative, there is no hallway compromise to it since all human activities rely on the environment for success. The destruction of the environment is death to mankind.

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