Africa Bears the Brunt of Climate Change, with Disproportionate Adaptation Costs
According to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Africa is shouldering an increasingly heavy burden due to climate change and disproportionate costs for essential climate adaptation.
African countries are now losing an average of 2 to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to deadly heatwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, cyclones, and prolonged droughts.
In sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, the cost of adaptation is estimated to be between $30 and $50 billion per year over the next decade, equivalent to 2 to 3% of the region's GDP.
"Over the past 60 years, Africa has observed a warming trend that has become faster than the global average. In 2023, the continent experienced deadly heatwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
Furthermore, the report indicates that climate extremes, including flooding and drought, have also had a significant impact on food security.
In particular, North Africa's cereal production in 2023 was approximately 10% lower than the estimated five-year average of 33 million tons, similar to the previous year's harvest, which was already affected by drought. Tunisia was the most affected.
