africa
Newsletter
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Floods displace nearly a million in West and Central Africa
Severe floods in West and Central Africa have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced close to a million, with entire communities submerged and aid falling short.
In short:
- Torrential rains have caused widespread flooding across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Mali, destroying homes and displacing millions.
- Affected areas, already grappling with conflict and poverty, lack resources to handle the crisis, leaving survivors stranded without food or shelter.
- Experts link the disaster to climate change, warning that poor infrastructure and inadequate planning will worsen future floods.
Key quote:
“The impact of climate change is what we’re witnessing right now. There’s no way we can prevent major disasters from happening, but there are steps we can take to lessen the effect.”
— Olasunkanmi Okunola, flood risk management scientist
Why this matters:
Floods in West and Central Africa are exacerbated by climate change, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. Lack of international funding and poor infrastructure compound the region’s struggle to address both immediate and long-term needs.
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Company’s attempt to improve African communities with cookstoves fails to meet promises
C-Quest Capital's program to distribute cleaner cookstoves across Mozambique, intended to reduce emissions and improve lives, has fallen short, with many stoves unused or broken, raising concerns about the credibility of carbon credits generated by the project.
In short:
- C-Quest Capital's cookstove distribution in Mozambique faced issues with stove durability, leading many to revert to traditional cooking methods.
- The company's claims of widespread stove use and resulting carbon credits are questioned due to poor monitoring and inaccurate usage data.
- A shift in company management has revealed potential wrongdoing by the former CEO, leading to the suspension of related carbon credit projects.
Key quote:
“This is clearly not the best they could do.”
— Victoria Jose Arriscado, cookstove recipient in Mozambique
Why this matters:
The failure of projects like C-Quest’s undermines trust in the carbon credit market, a critical tool in global efforts to combat climate change. Poor execution not only fails to deliver promised environmental benefits but can also worsen conditions for the communities they aim to help.
Related:
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Extreme weather is worsening Africa's cholera crisis
Relentless extreme weather in Africa has led to severe cholera outbreaks, killing thousands and affecting hundreds of thousands more.
Sebabatso Mosamo, Farai Mutsaka, and Gerald Imray report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Since late 2021, more than 6,000 people have died and nearly 350,000 have been infected with cholera in southern and East Africa.
- Extreme weather, including cyclones, floods, and droughts, has increased the incidence of cholera by contaminating water sources.
- A global shortage of cholera vaccines has exacerbated the crisis, particularly in poorer countries that are most affected.
Key quote:
"The outbreaks are getting much larger because the extreme climate events are getting much more common."
— Tulio de Oliveira, South Africa-based disease scientist
Why this matters:
Floods not only spread cholera but also destroy crops, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition, which weakens immune systems and makes populations more vulnerable to diseases. Conversely, droughts deplete water sources, pushing people to use contaminated water for drinking and cooking.
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El Niño-triggered drought leads to severe hunger in southern Africa
A devastating drought driven by the El Niño weather pattern has led to widespread crop failure in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, resulting in severe food shortages and national emergency declarations.
Jenipher Changwanda and Freddie Clayton report for Yale Environment 360.
In short:
- Southern Africa experienced its worst mid-season dry spell in over a century, drastically reducing maize harvests.
- Food prices in some drought-affected areas have increased by up to 82%, and more than 18 million people now need urgent humanitarian assistance.
- Efforts to adapt with climate-smart farming techniques have had limited success against extreme weather conditions.
Key quote:
“I cannot remember anything like this. People are so hungry they are stealing food ... If we survive until the next harvest, it will be by the grace of God.”
— Esnart Chongani, Zambian farmer
Why this matters:
Climate change is likely making extreme weather events like El Niño more severe, increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts. The current El Niño, a periodic climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has significantly disrupted weather patterns globally. In Southern Africa, this has manifested in prolonged dry spells and intense heat, crippling agricultural production in regions heavily reliant on rainfall for farming. As global temperatures continue to rise, the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events are likely to increase.
Opinion: The case for a child-centered energy and climate policy
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Climate change and its impact on Africa's public health
Africa's rising temperatures are worsening vector-borne diseases in vulnerable regions, a serious public health issue.
In short:
- Rising temperatures in Africa extend the life cycle of disease vectors like mosquitoes and ticks, increasing disease spread.
- Edward Miano emphasized climate change as a major public health crisis, linking it to the reemergence of diseases in previously unaffected areas.
- Collaborative efforts across various sectors are deemed necessary to combat the adverse effects of climate change on health.
Key quote:
"It is crucial to acknowledge the gravity of the situation that we are facing today, especially around climate change, as it is no longer only an environmental concern, but it has evolved into a significant public health crisis with far-reaching implications for communities worldwide."
— Edward Miano, executive director of the Health Rights Advocacy Forum
Why this matters:
Climate change reshapes our environment and our health landscape, making once rare diseases common and introducing new health threats to regions already facing socio-economic challenges.
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Struggle for African penguin survival intensifies
African penguins face extinction by 2035 unless immediate conservation action is taken, warns a leading seabird conservationist.
In short:
- African penguins have lost 99% of their population over the past century and are declining at a rate of 8% annually.
- Legal action has been initiated against the South African government for failing to protect these endangered seabirds.
- The penguins’ main food sources, sardines and anchovies, are being depleted by commercial fishing, further threatening their survival.
Key quote:
“We cannot let a species go extinct on our watch.”
— Kate Handley, Biodiversity Law Centre
Why this matters:
African penguins serve as a key indicator species; their decline signals profound ecological shifts that could have cascading effects on other marine life and the health of the oceans. Native to the coastlines of southern Africa, these penguins have faced relentless threats, primarily from oil spills, overfishing, and climate change, which have drastically reduced their food sources and disrupted their breeding habitats.
Also see: Scientists race to save seabirds threatened by climate change
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Process raw materials in Africa to benefit its people and environment
Africa should boost its economy and environment by processing its own raw materials, says leading environmentalist Wanjira Mathai.
In short:
- Wanjira Mathai, from the World Resources Institute, advocates for processing Africa's resources locally to aid in the global shift toward a low-carbon future.
- Processing locally can enhance income and reduce carbon emissions from transporting raw materials.
- Mathai emphasizes that investing in local processing is crucial for building sustainable and resilient African economies.
Key quote:
“There’s a real opportunity in green industrialisation(...) We have to build resilience that is deep, that is anchored in wealth creation.”
— Wanjira Mathai, managing director for Africa and global partnerships at the World Resources Institute.
Why this matters:
Africa's abundant resources have historically fueled the global economy, yet little of the economic benefits from them has remained in the continent. Moving up in the value chain can foster economic independence and environmental sustainability for local communities.
As nations worldwide strive to combat climate change by transitioning to renewable energy, they find themselves grappling with how to avoid repeating the mistakes of 150 years of fossil fuel production.
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