🌍 By 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor people in Africa (living on less than $1.90 per day) could be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat if adequate response measures are not taken.
📊Full report: https://t.co/Dyeiu9MD2c pic.twitter.com/gcBbCezGmx
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) September 4, 2024
Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change and adaptation costs, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). African countries are losing 2-5% of their GDP on average and diverting up to 9% of their budgets to respond to climate extremes. The cost of adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be between $30-50 billion annually over the next decade, or 2-3% of the region’s GDP.
❓ Which hazard is of greatest concern for the African region?
🤔 Surprised by the answer, or did you already know?
💬 Comment below with your thoughts as highlighted in the latest #StateOfClimate in Africa report.
📊 Check out the full report here: https://t.co/IdvsbIHn6j pic.twitter.com/fQkBFCz84u
— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) September 3, 2024
By 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor people (living on less than $1.90 per day) are expected to be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat in Africa if adequate response measures are not implemented. This will place additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and hamper growth. The report emphasizes that African countries need to prioritize increased investment in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and accelerate the implementation of measures to save lives and livelihoods.
This will help mitigate risks, build adaptive capacity, boost resilience, and guide sustainable development strategies.
“On average, African countries are losing 2-5% of GDP and many are diverting up to 9% of their budgets responding to c…” #ClimateAction #Agenda2030 https://t.co/MZpsNQBv3F
— Preet Lidder (@lidderpr) September 2, 2024
Africa’s climate adaptation costs rise
The report focuses on climate change indicators and impacts in 2023, the world’s hottest year on record to date.
“Over the past 60 years, Africa has observed a warming trend that has become more rapid than the global average. In 2023, the continent experienced deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. The WMO, the African Union Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology released the report in collaboration with partners at the 12th Climate Change for Development in Africa (CCDA) Conference in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on 2 September 2024.
“Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change-related weather events and patterns, which cause massive humanitarian crises with detrimental impacts on agriculture, food security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace, security, public health, water resources, and overall socio-economic development,” said H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission. The report highlights the urgent need for investing in meteorological services and early warning systems to help adapt to climate change and build resilience in Africa. As the impacts of climate change continue to manifest globally, the African continent stands at a critical juncture.
