By Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
As COP29 approaches, the recently released State of the Climate in Africa report offers crucial insights into the climate challenges facing the continent. The report, compiled by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and launched in September 2023, provides an in-depth overview of the ongoing climate crisis in Africa. It is expected to play a significant role in informing policy decisions, especially as world leaders prepare to gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November for COP29.
The 2023 report is a collaborative effort involving the WMO, the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology. It underscores Africa’s disproportionate burden due to climate change, with the continent facing escalating costs for climate adaptation. African nations are already losing an estimated 2% to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) due to climate-related events, with annual adaptation costs projected to range between $30 billion and $50 billion over the next decade—equivalent to 2% to 3% of the region’s GDP.
Dr. Stephan Steyn, a researcher and lecturer in agrometeorology at the University of the Free State, South Africa, emphasizes the report’s importance for African policymakers. According to Steyn, the report provides critical data on climate patterns and highlights the continent’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. “By outlining the climate risks threatening key sectors like agriculture, water resources, and health, the report serves as a key resource for African governments to prioritize climate adaptation strategies and secure international climate financing,” Steyn noted.
Steyn also stressed the report’s potential impact on global platforms like COP29, where it could be instrumental in advocating for Africa’s specific climate needs.
Nigerian researcher Dr. Adeyemi Isaiah Adeyemo from Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology agrees with Steyn on the report’s value. He believes it provides essential data for climate experts, policymakers, and communities and can be leveraged during global discussions, such as those at COP29, to advance Africa’s climate agenda.
Joalane Marunye, a lecturer at the National University of Lesotho, highlighted the report’s role in confirming the climate challenges facing the region. She views it as a compilation of evidence that could foster collaborations and partnerships among African institutions to tackle the issues identified in the report. “The WMO’s State of the Climate Report will be a critical asset for Africa’s negotiators at COP29, offering data-driven insights into the continent’s current climate challenges,” Marunye said.
Universities and researchers across Africa are expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges outlined in the report. Steyn pointed out that academia is crucial for improving climate modeling, developing innovative adaptation solutions, and enhancing early-warning systems. “Academia can also contribute to climate education, raise public awareness, and foster international collaboration to share knowledge and resources in addressing these climate challenges,” he added. He noted that the University of the Free State recently launched an MSc program in climate change to meet the growing demand for professionals skilled in climate science.
Adeyemo emphasized the importance of advocacy within universities to combat dangerous climatic activities in communities. Armed with information from reports like this, higher education institutions can lead awareness campaigns to strengthen community resilience against extreme climate events and establish environmental clubs to promote climate awareness. “Researchers must act as climate ambassadors, engaging schools, communities, and governments to support climate-enhancing activities,” Adeyemo stated.
African universities have not been immune to the impacts of extreme climate events. Institutions across Southern Africa, including the University of KwaZulu-Natal, have faced significant damage from severe floods and heatwaves. In Lesotho, universities have struggled with water shortages due to drought, while in Nigeria, extreme weather events have disrupted academic and economic activities, including agriculture.
Adeyemo noted that climate change is also threatening biodiversity, with certain species of flora and fauna becoming endangered or extinct. In response, his university is working to cultivate and protect these species, though limited funding and resources make this a daunting task. “Unfortunately, many species—both known and unknown—are disappearing from the wild, beyond the reach of our conservation efforts,” he lamented.
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