Why Africa is most vulnerable to climate change
Climate change poses a growing threat to our world, evident through shifts in rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather conditions. To address these challenges, global efforts are imperative.
Remarkably, Africa stands as the most vulnerable continent to the consequences of climate change.
Despite contributing a mere 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa faces an outsized vulnerability to climate change compared to major emitters like China (23%), the US (19%), and the European Union (13%).
The repercussions for Africa are multifaceted, extending to its economies, infrastructure investments, water and food systems, public health, agriculture, and people's livelihoods. This vulnerability jeopardizes the modest development progress made and increases the risk of plunging into extreme poverty.
Several key factors contribute to Africa's heightened vulnerability:
Sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture, accounting for 95% of such farming globally. This dependence makes the region acutely sensitive to unpredictable weather patterns, leading to income losses and heightened food insecurity.
Agriculture plays a substantial role in Sub-Saharan Africa's GDP and employment, further amplifying its susceptibility to climate change's adverse impacts.
Notably, seven of the ten countries most susceptible to climate change are situated in Africa. In 2015, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, and Madagascar ranked among the top ten most affected nations.
Research commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that, by 2050, adapting to climate change across Africa could cost as much as $50 billion annually, provided global temperature increases remain within 2°C above preindustrial levels.
To manage the detrimental effects of climate change, African countries must allocate significant resources to mitigation efforts, placing additional strain on their economies.
Unfortunately, many African economies are grappling with post-COVID-19 recovery, making it challenging to invest in essential sectors while simultaneously addressing the urgent consequences of climate change, which show no mercy to economic hardships
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