Climate change is hitting Africa hard and extreme weather could cost the continent $50bn annually by 2050, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
The WMO's new report, State of the Climate in Africa 2021, shows how extreme weather and climate change are undermining human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development.
In the past 50 years, droughts have claimed the lives of more than half a million people and led to economic losses of more than $70bn on the continent. More than 1,000 floods were reported involving more than 20,000 deaths in Africa over this period.
Rising water demand at a time of limited supplies threatens to aggravate conflict and displacement, the WMO warns. High water stress is estimated to affect about 250mn people in Africa and is expected to displace up to 700mn by 2030. Four out of five African countries are unlikely to have sustainably managed water resources by 2030.
Africa's climate has warmed more than the global average since pre-industrial times (1850-1900). The year 2021 was either the third or fourth-warmest year on record for Africa.
The sea level rise along African coastlines is also faster than the global mean, contributing to increased frequency and severity of coastal flooding and higher salinity in low-lying cities. By 2030, 108mn-116mn people in Africa are expected to be exposed to sea level rise risk.
Changes in continental water bodies have major impacts on the agriculture sector, ecosystems and biodiversity.
Increased temperatures have also contributed to a 34pc reduction in agricultural productivity growth in Africa since 1961 — more than any other region in the world. This trend is expected to continue in the future, increasing the risk of acute food insecurity and malnutrition. A global warming of 1.5°C is projected to bring a decline of 9pc in West Africa's maize yield and a 20-60pc lower wheat yield in northern and southern Africa.
High food prices impeded food availability and access, leaving more than 58mn people in Africa suffering acute food insecurity.
Climate-related hazards, such as chronic floods and droughts, sea level rises and extreme weather events, continued to be a major driver of displacement in Africa. In 2021, about 14.1mn people were internally displaced in Sub-Saharan Africa, including about 11.5mn owing to conflict and violence and 2.5mn owing to disasters.
But climate action in Africa is gaining momentum. More than 40 African countries have adopted more ambitious climate adaptation and mitigation targets as expressed in their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Although Africa contributes only 2-3pc of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, more than 83pc of national climate plans include GHG reduction targets, with focus areas including energy, agriculture, waste, land use and forestry.
Temperature increase, heat waves, extensive floods, tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts and sea level rises resulting in loss of lives, property damage and population displacement undermine Africa's ability to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and attain inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, the African Union Commission (AUC) says.
The WMO report, the third in a series, is a joint initiative with the AUC and includes input from a wide range of UN organisations, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, development partners and climate experts.
