By Elias Ngalame
Scientists, researchers and academics have raised their voices on the need for improved knowledge and investments in early warning systems to protect communities in Africa from the ravages of climate disasters.
On average, African countries are losing 2%-5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and many are diverting up to 9% of their budgets responding to climate extremes.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of adaptation is estimated to range from US$30 billion to US$50 billion annually over the next decade, or 2%-3% of the region’s GDP, according to a report of the World Meteorological Organization that was presented at the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, or AMCEN.
It took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 30 August to 6 September, and was held alongside the 12th Climate Change and Development in Africa, or CCDA, Conference, with various speakers using the opportunity to call on African scientists, researchers and academics to amplify their efforts in the fight against climate change through knowledge-sharing and specialised training as well as innovation and technology to drive the needed solutions.
“Africa is in need of better climate-related research and improved expertise in early warning systems as extreme weather continues to affect the continent. The training of more meteorology specialists at universities, the provisioning of scholarship opportunities for knowledge exchange and the development of the needed scientific tools will help the population to better predict and prevent them from falling prey to, extreme weather disasters,” Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire Robert Beugré Mambé said.
He emphasised the need to adopt a circular economy that will protect Africa’s natural resources, develop the right human resources with the ability to anticipate meteorological forecasts, also noting that investing in and the training of experts on advanced weather and climate forecasting tools can help the population prepare for the worst.
The conference was held under the theme, ‘Raising Africa’s Ambition to Reduce Land Degradation, Desertification and Drought’.
‘We are all in this crisis together’
United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called for collective efforts to develop solutions against climate extremes.
“The economic and political reality in an interdependent world is, we are all in this crisis together. We rise together, or we fall together,” he said in his address.
He noted that, if the climate and economic crises are globally interlinked, so, too, are the solutions.
“So it’s time to flip the script. From potential climate tipping points to exponential changes in business, investment and growth – changes that will further strengthen African nations’ climate leadership and vital role in global climate solutions on all fronts,” he said.
Early Warnings for All
According to the 2023 World Meteorological Organization, or WMO, report, one of the key solutions to the climate crisis is for African countries to prioritise increased investment in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, and accelerate implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative to save lives and livelihoods.
“This will help mitigate risks, build adaptive capacity, boost resilience at local, national and regional levels and guide sustainable development strategies,” says the report.
The report, released by WMO, the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, or UNECA, and the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology, notes that Africa bears an exceptionally heavy burden because of climate change and disproportionately high costs for essential climate adaptation.
“By 2030, it is estimated that up to 118 million extremely poor people (living on less than US$1.90 per day) will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa if adequate response measures are not put in place. This will place additional burdens on poverty alleviation efforts and significantly hamper growth,” the report warns.
Home-grown innovative solutions
It is against this backdrop that African scientists, researchers and academics were enjoined to step up to the plate in their collaboration and knowledge-sharing efforts for Africa to make use of its untapped human resources that could be a solution to the worst environmental crisis the world is faced with.
UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist Hanan Morsy, in her remarks, underscored that climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss are not just environmental issues, they are economic and social challenges that threaten the very fabric of our societies, demanding immediate and united action, urgent collaboration and knowledge-sharing among the different stakeholders.
“The challenges we face are immense, but so are the opportunities for Africa to lead with innovative, sustainable solutions. By leveraging our collective strengths and deepening our collaboration, we can protect our ecosystems, empower our communities and drive sustainable development,” she said.
“This path forward will require commitment in resources, policy and action. Together, we can build a resilient future for Africa for our children and future generations. Let us transform our ambition into action,” she urged.
Also reflecting on some figures, Morsy noted that climate change was costing African economies up to 15% of GDP annually. Governments are diverting up to 9% of their budgets to cope with extreme weather, while grappling with debt distress, facing difficult trade-offs between climate action and meeting critical development needs, such as health and education.
Climate activists also agree that having experts who can provide frequent and reliable data to the urban and rural population can help to predict and plan for future extreme weather events, mitigating their impact on human life.
“Weather stations in many African countries, including Cameroon, are sparse, unevenly distributed and poorly equipped, leading to huge gaps in climate data.
“In many cases, the stations don’t have the needed specialists and this may lead to significant margins of error in the information provided,” Augustin Njamnshi, the executive director of the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy and Access, or ACSEA, told University World News.
“It is in the interest of Africa, in particular, and the world at large to invest in the needed infrastructure and human resources for quality climate research and integrate weather information services for effective adaptation and mitigation strategies,” he added.
