Africa's Growing Climate Change Burden: A Financial Crisis in the Making

A World Meteorological Organization report reveals that Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change, spending up to 9% of its budgets to combat climate extremes despite low greenhouse gas emissions. The report urges investment in meteorological services and early warning systems, as African nations seek increased climate financing at U.N. COP meetings.

Africa is facing an increasingly heavy toll from climate change, with many countries allocating up to 9% of their budgets to combat climate extremes, according to a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report released on Monday. Despite its low greenhouse gas emissions, the continent's temperatures are rising faster than the global average.

The WMO's State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report states that African nations are losing an average of 2%–5% of their gross domestic product addressing deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, cyclones, and prolonged droughts. In sub-Saharan Africa, adapting to the changing climate will cost an estimated $30-50 billion per year over the next decade. The report calls for substantial investments in state meteorological and hydrological services and rapid implementation of early warning systems to save lives.

The warning comes as African countries prepare for this year's U.N. COP meetings, aiming to secure a larger share of global climate financing. Although the 54-nation continent has been attracting more funds for climate mitigation and adaptation projects, it still receives less than 1% of annual global climate financing, according to government officials.

(With inputs from agencies.)