Human-induced climate change has exacerbated recent floods in several African nations, resulting in hundreds of fatalities and millions displaced. A study by the WWA indicates that fossil fuel-driven warming intensified rainfall by five to twenty percent in the Niger and Lake Chad basins. Increases in extreme flood risks are expected to continue unless action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve disaster prevention measures.
Recent research has identified that human-induced climate change has significantly worsened flooding conditions across several African nations, including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan, resulting in tragic fatalities and the displacement of millions. This alarming finding was published on a Wednesday by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network of scientists, who analyzed the effects of an intensifying rainy season in the Sahel region, adjoining the Sahara Desert. According to their study, the usage of fossil fuels has led to warming that exacerbates flooding scenarios, particularly in Sudan. The researchers reported that climate change increased the rain intensity this year by approximately five to twenty percent throughout the Niger and Lake Chad basins. Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London highlighted the serious implications, asserting that if fossil fuel consumption continues, such heavy rainfall occurrences may become an annual phenomenon as global temperatures rise by two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. As climate change contributes not only to temperature increases but also to intensified meteorological events, the impact is particularly evident in conflict-stricken Sudan, which faces a humanitarian crisis. The researchers utilized models to contrast weather conditions with and without the influence of human-induced warming, determining that prolonged periods of intense rainfall have become more frequent and severe. Currently, with temperatures having increased by 1.3 degrees Celsius, these events are anticipated to occur approximately every three years, intensifying by around ten percent due to changing climate conditions. Izidine Pinto, a co-author of the study, expressed deep concern regarding these findings, warning that the likelihood of extreme flooding increases with every fraction of a degree of warming, emphasizing the need for urgent action at the upcoming UN COP29 climate summit. Further, Joyce Kimutai, also from Imperial’s Centre for Environmental Policy, called attention to the critical need for establishing a loss and damage fund aimed at supporting nations affected by climate change. She lamented the minimal progress made at recent discussions concerning financing solutions for impacted developing nations, pointing out Africa’s disproportionately severe experiences with climate impacts despite its negligible carbon emissions. The researchers advocate for improved dam maintenance and investment in advanced warning systems to better manage the severe weather events induced by climate change.
The issue of climate change is multifaceted and includes rising temperatures largely attributed to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. This warming leads to alterations in weather patterns, resulting in extreme rainfall and severe storms. In the Sahel region of Africa, these phenomena have led to catastrophic flooding. The Sahel, which borders the Sahara Desert, is particularly vulnerable due to its socio-political challenges, such as conflict and displacement, making it essential to understand the human and environmental connections that exacerbate such crises. This research underscores the importance of addressing climate change as a global phenomenon while recognizing its localized effects, particularly in developing nations that are often the hardest hit despite being the least responsible for carbon emissions.
In conclusion, the findings of the recent study reveal a direct connection between human-caused climate change and the heightened intensity of floods in Africa, particularly affecting Sudan and its neighboring countries. This research not only emphasizes the urgent need for a transition away from fossil fuel reliance but also calls for an international response to support the nations most impacted by climate change. Immediate actions such as improved infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and financing mechanisms are crucial to mitigate the effects of climate-induced disasters, especially in vulnerable regions.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
