Africa is facing a climate emergency despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are the major causes of the climate crisis, with highland countries like Kenya and Uganda.
Worse, semi and arid nations like Somalia and South Sudan are registering record-breaking temperatures. A recent study warns that Africa is “highly likely” to exceed 1.5°C of warming by 2040—a threshold that could devastate agriculture-based livelihoods, which millions depend on for survival.
Alarmingly, Africa’s emissions largely come from agriculture, forestry, and land use—sectors. They are critical to the continent’s economy and among the most vulnerable to climate change. For example, maize yields have dropped in over 89% of harvested areas in Central Africa, and by 2070, suitable climates for maize cultivation could shrink by a third.
As a result, vulnerable people like women and children are at risk due to factors like food insecurity and deepening poverty. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Africa’s agriculture, are hit the hardest.
To avoid the dire consequences, climate action is key for Africa. Solutions include adapting farming systems, investing in technology, restoring degraded lands, and protecting ecosystems.
Furthermore, Africa’s future depends on bold, collective action. It’s time for the world to step up and support a continent that is paying the price for a crisis it did little to create. The climate crisis is here, and Africa needs solutions—now.
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