Drought in Madagascar has exposed millions to Famine with no water or food image/courtesy
Increasing temperatures and sea levels, changing precipitation patterns and more extreme weather are threatening human health and safety, food and water security, and socio-economic development in Africa.
There has been compelling evidence that Africa as a continent remains the most affected by the effects of climate change, despite the fact that her carbon footprint is the lowest.
In one of its assessments, the Inter-governmental panel on climate change warned that temperature increases in the sub-Saharan region are projected to be higher than the global mean temperature increase; regions in Africa within 15 degrees of the equator are projected to experience an increase in hot nights as well as longer and more frequent heatwaves.
The over-reliant of African economies on rain-fed Agriculture has been her biggest undoing: today, rainfall is no longer predictable, and when it rains, flash floods, insufficient rainfall or even cases where rainfall is so poorly distributed to support the growth of crops has become the norm.
As developed countries fear the economic effects of adjusting their production systems to more sustainable approaches, African economies are staring at the blink of collapse with more national resources having to be directed to acquiring food and water for their citizens.
Several reports by the United nation (UN) have constantly warned of increasing climate change threats for human health, food and water security, and socio-economic development in Africa. And still, even with accurate and current data for adaptation planning, world leaders have continued to pay lip service instead of coordinated affirmative action for a better and cleaner environment.
It is worrying that over the last 50 years since the Bruntland commission, hundreds of trillions of dollars have been spent on climate change, yet there is little or nothing in terms of results to show for the piles of research work regarding the risk to the environment that the world has to show for these huge investments.
Figure 1: Due to rising water levels, the entrance of Lake Nakuru National park has now been completely submerged in water. image/courtesy
Yet as the world leaders continue with their blame game, Africa is at crossroads, left to face the consequences of years of environmental plunder. And this fight for survival by its citizens and governments has seen them turn on the environment and continue to exploit these same resources with impunity.
Today, all lakes in rift valley Kenya have risen to unprecedented levels, displacing thousands of people; previously arable land in parts of Zimbabwe is no longer productive; and down there in South Africa, thousands of acres of trees have been totally destroyed by acidic rain as a result of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrous oxide (NOX) released to the atmosphere. This has also threatened aquatic life in the affected areas. In Madagascar, the country is now facing its worst drought in our generation with hundreds of thousands of its citizens without water or food.
A woman collects water from a puddle in the dried Manambovo river bed in Tsihombe, Madagascar, May 2, 2021 image/courtesy
How much longer do we need to wait before meaningful action is taken?
We hope that the upcoming Glasgow cop26 in November, all leaders that will attend, will discuss this African issue and they see ‘how’ it can be implemented for the betterment of Africa and its people for this decade before 2030.
Below are some sources that guided me to write this article-:)
https://350africa.org/8-ways-climate-change-is-already-affecting-africa/
https://www.environment.co.za/environmental-issues/acid-rain.html
https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2018-march-2019/global-warming-severe-consequences-africa
Written by-:)
Patrick Kiarie.
We Dont Have Time-Kenya Chapter.
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Very informative,sad moments in diffrents part of Africa
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Great points and sources,I never knew there is acidic rain..
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Touching
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Informative piece Patrick, thanks for sharing! I hope African countries will be listened to at the upcoming COP26, seeing Kabylie burning in Algeria really broke my heart.
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Yah it was really sad for me too..and effects of climate change in many areas.
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Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark, in our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere it's upon us to take action and raise our voices if we want to rescue ourselves...
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Yah it's through our power of many that can bring strong solution!
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Wah! The article itself is soo deep! Action is really needed.
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True