Climate change in Africa: R160 billion lost, 110 million people directly affected in 2022 – report

• Africa lost more than R160 billion in economic damages last year due to climate change.
• There were 5 000 deaths, of which 48% were related to drought, and 43% to flooding.
• By 2025, Africa’s food imports could go up three-fold.

Africa suffered more than R160 billion in economic damages due to climate change last year, while more than 110 million people on the continent were directly affected by weather, climate and water-related hazards.

This was according to the State of the Climate in Africa 2022 report, which was released at the ongoing Climate Change Week in Nairobi, Kenya.

The report outlined that there were 5 000 deaths, of which 48% were related to drought, and 43% to flooding. The true toll, however, is likely to be much higher because of under-reporting.

“Heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones and prolonged droughts are having devastating impacts on communities and economies, with increasing numbers of people at risk,” said the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organisation, Professor Petteri Taalas.

“There are big gaps in weather observations in Africa, and early warning services are woefully inadequate. We are determined to close those gaps and ensure that life-saving early warnings reach everyone.”

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African economies and ways of life are based mostly on agriculture, which provides more than 55% of the workforce.

However, due to climate change, the continent’s agricultural productivity has decreased by 34% since 1961.

This is the greatest decline, in comparison to other parts of the world.

By 2025, according to the report, it’s anticipated that African nations’ annual food imports will rise by a factor of three, from R665 billion to R2 trillion.

Key report findings

The rate of global warming has been quickest in North Africa, which was engulfed in intense heat in 2022, causing wildfires in Algeria and Tunisia.

In Africa, the average rate of warming increased from +0.2°C/decade between 1961 and 1990 to +0.3°C/decade between 1991 and 2022.

This is slightly above-average for the world.

Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia were particularly heavily-impacted in the Horn of Africa, which saw its worst drought in 40 years.

The “triple-dip” La Nia played a significant role.

Agriculture productivity and food security were reduced by five consecutive years of poor rainfall. 

Due to the devastating effects of the drought on farming and pastoral livelihoods, as well as hunger throughout the year, about 1.2 million individuals in Somalia experienced internal displacement.

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In Ethiopia, 512 000 additional internal displacements brought on by drought were noted.

During the monsoon season, there was major flooding in the Sahel, particularly in Nigeria, Niger, Chad and the southern half of Sudan.

Between 2020 and 2030, up to R52.3 trillion would be needed to implement Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

NDCs are countries’ self-defined national climate pledges, under the Paris Agreement, detailing what they will do to help meet the global goal to pursue 1.5°C, adapt to climate impacts, and ensure sufficient finance to support these efforts.

In addition to its efforts to generate up to R260 billion for its Africa Development Fund, the African Development Bank has quadrupled its climate finance to R375 billion by 2025 and dedicated 67% of it to adaptation.

The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.