Global warming is causing intensified flooding across Africa, leading to devastating humanitarian crises. The WWA network reports that rainfall has increased by 5-20% in regions like the Niger and Lake Chad basins, impacting countries such as Sudan and Nigeria. Despite Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions, it is severely affected by climate change, necessitating urgent action at international climate summits to mitigate future disasters.
Recent reports indicate that global warming is exacerbating deadly flooding in Africa, despite the continent contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. The World Weather Attribution (WWA) network revealed that in 2024, climate change has intensified the rainy seasons in multiple African nations, leading to catastrophic floods. Specifically, it has increased rainfall across the Niger and Lake Chad basins by 5 to 20 percent this year, resulting in significant humanitarian crises. Researchers, including Izidine Pinto from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, have expressed concern over the implications of these findings. He noted that heavy summer rainfall has become a prevalent issue in countries such as Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, emphasizing, “With every fraction of a degree of warming, the risk of extreme floods will keep increasing.” He urged for urgent measures at the upcoming UN COP29 climate summit to hasten the transition away from fossil fuels. The severity of flooding in West and Central Africa has been alarming, with recent estimates indicating approximately 1,500 fatalities and over one million individuals displaced by floods this year, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The deluge has overwhelmed significant infrastructures such as dams in Nigeria and Sudan. WWA scientists anticipate that if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, such floods could become an annual occurrence, potentially materializing by the 2050s. Special attention was given to flood-affected Sudan, where ongoing conflicts have forced millions into vulnerable, flood-prone regions. Through modelling, researchers concluded that prolonged periods of intense rainfall in Sudan have likely intensified due to climate change. Joyce Kimutai from Imperial College London highlighted the disparity between Africa’s minimal contribution to global emissions and the disproportionate impact of extreme weather on the continent, stating, “Africa has contributed a tiny amount of carbon emissions globally, but is being hit the hardest by extreme weather.” Furthermore, researchers emphasized the necessity for improved dam maintenance and early warning systems to mitigate the impact of such disasters. Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy warned, “This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels.”
The ongoing environmental crisis of global warming presents significant challenges worldwide, yet Africa, a continent with minimal contributions to global emissions, bears the heaviest burdens of climate change. The WWA network’s findings underscore the critical link between human-induced climate change and increasingly severe weather events, particularly in regions already struggling with pre-existing adversities such as conflict and inadequate infrastructure. The implications extend beyond environmental damage to encompass humanitarian crises, necessitating urgent international attention and proactive global climate policies.
In summary, the findings by the WWA network highlight the urgent need for global acknowledgement and action regarding climate change’s impact on Africa. The alarming increase in rainy season flooding illustrates how communities already facing socio-economic challenges are further endangered by climate-induced disasters. It is imperative to advocate for infrastructural improvements and a shift towards sustainable energy practices to avert future catastrophes.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
