By George Tsitati
For decades, Africa, with its diverse ecosystems and economies, has experienced both poverty and the effects of climate change. Understanding the connections between these two phenomena is critical for developing effective policies and strategies to combat poverty and build resilience in the region to climate change. Poverty has been quantified using a variety of measures, including income-based measures (such as the poverty line) and multidimensional measures that consider factors such as education, health, and access to services.
Poverty levels in Africa have shown a mixed trend over the last five decades. While some regions have made progress in reducing poverty, overall poverty rates have remained high. Population growth, economic inequalities, and political instability have all played a role in the persistence of poverty in many African countries. According to World Bank data, approximately 50% of the African population lived in extreme poverty in 1970 (defined as living below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day). By 2020, this figure was expected to fall to around 37%. However, due to population growth, the absolute number of people living in extreme poverty has increased. Over 500 million Africans were estimated to be living in extreme poverty in 2020.
The prevalence of poverty varies by region in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, has higher poverty rates than North Africa. Variations exist within sub-regions due to factors such as the rural-urban divide, conflict, and natural resource endowment. Countries like Tunisia and Morocco have lower poverty rates than their Sub-Saharan counterparts in North Africa. Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia have the highest poverty rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Several factors contribute to Africa’s high poverty levels. Inadequate access to education and healthcare, a lack of job opportunities, a lack of infrastructure, political instability, and poor governance all play a role. These factors interact with the effects of climate change, exacerbating poverty in the region. Africa is extremely vulnerable to climate change, and its effects have become increasingly apparent in recent decades. Among the notable climate change trends affecting the continent are rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, and sea-level rise. According to projections, these effects will likely worsen in the future.
African countries are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to their socioeconomic characteristics. Limited adaptive capacity, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, inadequate infrastructure, and high population density in vulnerable areas all contribute to African countries’ vulnerability to climate change. Droughts, floods, and storms caused by climate change have devastated African communities. Here are some key statistics about the effects of climate change in Africa:
Droughts: The Sahel region has been plagued by recurring droughts, with an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people dying from drought-related causes between 1970 and 2020. Droughts have also been devastating in East Africa, with the 2011 East Africa drought killing over 260,000 people and affecting millions more.
Floods: Several African countries have been flooded. For example, the 2019 floods in South Sudan displaced over 900,000 people and damaged infrastructure and crops significantly. In 2020, severe flooding in Nigeria affected over 2 million people and displaced approximately 500,000 people.
Storms and Cyclones: In recent years, the frequency and intensity of tropical storms and cyclones have increased in Africa’s coastal regions. Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe in 2019, affected over 3 million people and caused extensive infrastructure damage and fatalities. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was especially active, with several storms hitting African countries. Storm surges and heavy rainfall caused significant damage in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania.
Agriculture: Climate change is posing significant challenges to African agricultural productivity. Crop yields and livestock productivity have been impacted by changing rainfall patterns and increased frequency of droughts and floods. Maize yields in Africa are expected to fall by up to 22% by 2030, resulting in decreased food security and increased poverty. Smallholder farmers, who account for a sizable portion of the population, are especially vulnerable to these effects. Agriculture employs approximately 60% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa and accounts for approximately 23% of GDP.
Access to Clean and Affordable Energy: Access to clean and affordable energy is critical in Africa. It was estimated that approximately 580 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity as of 2020. The use of traditional biomass fuels for cooking and heating contributes to deforestation and indoor air pollution, both of which have negative health consequences, particularly for women and children. Renewable energy deployment is increasing in Africa, with countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa making significant progress in expanding their renewable energy capacity.
Poverty makes communities more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Communities’ ability to adapt to climate change is hampered by limited access to resources such as clean energy, adequate housing, and healthcare. Poverty also encourages unsustainable practices like deforestation and overexploitation of natural resources, both of which contribute to climate change. Climate change exacerbates poverty in various ways, including decreased agricultural productivity, loss of livelihoods in industries such as fishing and forestry, increased healthcare costs due to climate-related diseases, and community displacement. Furthermore, climate change disproportionately affects marginalised groups, exacerbating existing inequalities.
Poverty and climate change are inextricably linked, which can result in feedback loops and vicious cycles that reinforce each other’s negative effects. For example, crop failures caused by climate change can result in food shortages and higher food prices, pushing vulnerable populations deeper into poverty. Similarly, impoverished communities may engage in unsustainable practices, such as deforestation for fuel, which contribute to climate change and worsen their own environments.
Droughts and desertification have caused land degradation and agricultural productivity loss in regions like the Sahel. Climate change has exacerbated poverty and food insecurity, with many communities relying on humanitarian assistance to survive. Flooding has killed people and caused widespread devastation in Sub-Saharan African countries such as Mozambique and Nigeria. Water scarcity, on the other hand, exacerbates poverty and impedes socioeconomic development, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Horn of Africa.
Implementing adaptation measures is critical for increasing resilience to the effects of climate change. The measures proposed include improving early warning systems, promoting climate-smart agriculture, investing in water management and infrastructure, and strengthening social safety nets to assist vulnerable populations during climate-related disasters. Mitigation efforts seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while addressing the underlying causes of climate change. African countries can promote energy efficiency and invest in sustainable transportation systems by adopting renewable energy technologies. Initiatives for forest conservation and reforestation can also help mitigate climate change while providing additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and income generation.
nternational collaboration and financial assistance are critical for Africa’s efforts to combat poverty and climate change. Increased financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity building can all help African countries implement long-term development plans. Collaborative initiatives like the Green Climate Fund and the African Renewable Energy Initiative can aid in the mobilisation of resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in the region.
Several African countries have made significant strides in the deployment of renewable energy. Ethiopia, for example, has made significant investments in hydropower and wind energy, while Kenya has developed one of the world’s largest geothermal power capacities. These initiatives not only address energy access issues, but they also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. Conservation agriculture and agroforestry, for example, have shown promising results in improving soil health, water retention, and crop resilience. Integrated water resource management approaches, such as rainwater harvesting and small-scale irrigation schemes, have also increased water availability for agricultural activities, reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
Local communities are empowered by community-based adaptation strategies to identify and implement climate change adaptation measures that are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. These initiatives involve improving traditional knowledge, strengthening local capacities, and assisting community-led projects such as climate-resilient farming practices and water management systems. Climate change adaptation measures, such as the development of robust early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and social safety nets, should be prioritised by governments. Improving access to education, healthcare, and social protection programmes can help vulnerable communities adapt.
Climate-smart agriculture practices that increase productivity, conserve soil moisture, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be promoted through policies and programmes. Sustainable land management practices such as afforestation, reforestation, and land restoration can improve ecosystem resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change. Efforts should be made to improve energy access, particularly in rural areas, by expanding renewable energy sources. Access to clean cooking technologies and energy-efficient household appliances can help reduce reliance on biomass fuels while improving indoor air quality and lowering deforestation pressures. Investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as water supply systems, roads, and housing, can improve communities’ adaptive capacity.
Education and awareness-raising campaigns are critical for ensuring Africa’s long-term sustainability and resilience to climate change. Promoting environmental education and training programmes can improve individuals’ and communities’ knowledge and understanding of climate change impacts, encouraging them to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Furthermore, governance and institutional frameworks must be strengthened for effective poverty reduction and climate change resilience. Climate change considerations must be incorporated into national development plans, policies, and strategies. Fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and involving stakeholders from various backgrounds, such as local communities, civil society organisations, private sector entities, and international partners, is critical.
Financial resources are critical in assisting poverty alleviation and climate change adaptation efforts. Increased domestic and international investment in climate finance can assist African countries in implementing sustainable development projects and building resilience to climate change impacts. Mobilising private sector investment through innovative financial mechanisms and partnerships can also help to scale up regional climate action.
Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems should be established to track progress in poverty reduction and climate change adaptation. Regular data collection and analysis are required to assess intervention effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. Countries can foster knowledge exchange and evidence-based decision-making by sharing best practices and lessons learned.