WMO raises concerns as Africa loses over 2 percent annual GDP to climate change

WMO raises concerns as Africa loses over 2 percent annual GDP to climate change

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

A new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has sounded the alarm on the devastating impacts of climate change on Africa, warning that the continent is losing over 2% of its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to climate-related disasters.

The report, released at the 12th Climate Change for Development in Africa (CCDA) Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the disproportionate burden that climate change is placing on African countries. 

It also stated that many African countries are diverting up to 9% of their budgets to respond to climate-related extreme events, with the cost of adaptation estimated to be between US$ 30-50 billion annually over the next decade.

According to the report in Abidjan on Monday, the Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Celeste Saul, noted that the current situation is a wake-up call for Africa.

“Over the past 60 years, Africa has observed a warming trend that has become more rapid than the global average. In 2023, the continent experienced deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts.  

“While many countries in the Horn of Africa, southern and North-West Africa continued to suffer exceptional multi-year drought, other countries experienced extreme precipitation events in 2023 leading to flooding with significant casualties. These extreme events led to devastating impacts on communities, with serious economic implications,” Saulo said.

She added that the pattern of extreme weather has continued in 2024 as parts of southern Africa have been gripped by damaging drought. 

“Exceptional seasonal rainfall has caused death and devastation in East African countries, most recently in Sudan and South Sudan. This exacerbates an already desperate humanitarian crisis,” she said.  

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission, H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, called for increased investment in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and accelerated implementation of the Early Warnings For All initiative to save lives and livelihoods.

“The State of Climate in Africa 2023 Report highlights the urgent need for investing in meteorological services and early warning systems to help adapt to climate change and build resilience in Africa. As the impacts of climate change continue to manifest globally, the African continent stands at a critical juncture.

“Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change related weather events and patterns, which cause massive humanitarian crises with detrimental impacts on agriculture, and food security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace, and security, public health, water resources, and overall socio-economic development,” Sacko said. 

The report was released in collaboration with partners at the 12th CCDA Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.