UN report says climate change puts Africa at stake

The African continent, due to its geographical position, has to brace climate extremities which threaten its economic growth and deprives its people of livelihoods. In 2019, increased temperatures labelled the climate of the African continent, rising sea levels and other associated effects of extreme weather stipulations, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Half of the continent's population is at the brink of malnutrition due to an increase in global temperature of 2˚C (3.6 ˚F), resulting in the recent exacerbated poverty. The continent's economy and a major livelihood are based on agriculture, which is hugely reliant on climatic conditions.

Since 2012, the number of malnourished people has increased by 45.6 per cent in the drought-prone sub-Saharan African countries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Southern Africa was the most affected by drought in 2019.

The most intense climatic shift was experienced in the Greater Horn of Africa, from parched conditions in 2018 to floods and landslides in 2019. Flooding also affected the Sahel and surrounding areas from May to October 2019. Another report projects that between 75 to 250 million people on the continent are to be affected by increased water levels by 2020.

Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania logged at least double their average seasonal rainfall in late 2019. While the rains contributed to crop growth across the region, it also caused a locust plague since January.

WMO pointed out that clean energy and sustainable agriculture are two steering climate priorities and sectors which are economically comprehensive, and will contribute to socio-economic growth and flexibility. It also highlighted the fact that efforts need to be pursued to build resilience with prevention and risk management strategies.