Africa is bearing a growing burden from climate change, with numerous countries allocating up to 9% of their budgets to combat extreme weather conditions, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Monday.
Despite emitting significantly less greenhouse gases than other continents, Africa has experienced a faster rise in temperatures than the global average. The WMO's State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report reveals that African nations are losing an average of 2%–5% of their gross domestic product due to severe heatwaves, heavy rainfall, floods, cyclones, and extended droughts.
For sub-Saharan Africa, the cost of adapting to these climate changes is projected to be between $30-50 billion annually over the next ten years. The report urges countries to invest in meteorological and hydrological services and to expedite the deployment of early warning systems to protect lives. This call to action comes as African countries consider how to leverage this year's UN COP meetings to secure a larger portion of global climate financing.
Although the continent, comprising 54 nations, has seen an increase in funding for climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives in recent years, it still receives less than 1% of the annual global climate financing, as stated by government officials in early August.
