Much of today’s global discourse on climate
change doesn’t adequately address the specific—and urgent—needs of countries in
Africa. It’s time for African leaders to have a greater voice in the discussion.
The focus on mitigation is a good example.
African nations are being required to make commitments on emissions reduction,
which is of course necessary. The reality, however, is that while the 54
African countries together contribute less than 5% of the world’s greenhouse
gas emissions, they will suffer disproportionately from the effects of climate
change. The current climate conversations must not ignore Africa’s need to
adapt to the actual impacts of climate change and build resilience; in fact,
adaptation and resilience may be the most urgent priority across the continent.
African countries are already confronting
three major climate challenges that will only become more severe in the years
ahead:
· Arid regions will face an
increasing risk of drought. Here the most urgent priorities may involve
irrigation and drought-resistant agriculture.
· All countries will likely have
to deal with extreme heat in some way. They will need large-scale projects
aimed at cooling—changing building designs and materials to reduce trapped
heat, for example—and infrastructure upgrades to maintain critical services.
·
Coastal cities will face rising
sea levels and catastrophic storms. They will need to consider infrastructure
to reduce flooding, salt-water intrusion, and erosion, including dikes and
seawalls as well as nature-based methods.
These aren’t isolated challenges—many
regions will face all three.
African leaders must also press for a
louder voice in another part of the climate change conversation: energy transition
and security.
Remember, Africa hasn’t yet fully built out
the energy infrastructure required to industrialize and develop its
economies—or even meet basic living needs. As a result, access to energy
continues to be extremely important and will grow increasingly so in the face
of climate change.
Without energy, Africa cannot develop or
adapt. Extreme heat will require additional energy for cooling, for example. As
droughts and flooding increase, more energy will be needed to keep food systems
resilient. Yet many funding conversations today focus on the transition to
greener energy rather than adaptation and resilience. African leaders must
ensure that their countries’ energy and adaptation needs are central to these
funding discussions.
To strengthen the case for funding, African
leaders should do some housecleaning. Many African governments lack adequate
adaptation and resilience planning. To win financial backing, they must invest
in robust, data-driven plans. Such plans must be based on a deep understanding
of the impacts of climate change and the cost of inaction from a social,
economic, and environmental perspective; the plans should outline projects to
address those impacts, specify the funding required, and highlight the
potential return on investment.
African leaders are taking on the fight
against climate change and seeking to adapt and build resilience. Because the
continent is so diverse, it is sometimes hard to speak as a region, even though
the challenges are similar. African leaders must find opportunities to bring a
common agenda to the global stage through initiatives such as the recently
formed Africa Business Leaders’ Coalition (ABLC).
The key question then becomes: Will other
countries create a tailwind or a headwind for Africa? It is imperative that the
global community recognizes the importance of African countries in the global
climate dialogue—and that it provides the technical and financial help that
will bring adaptation and resilience within reach. Without this, the climate
impact on Africa will be devastating. The time is now for African leaders to
speak up—and for other global leaders to listen.
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