Africa faces severe climate change consequences by 2030, WMO report warns

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed that nearly 118 million people in Africa will be exposed to severe climate change by 2030 if adequate measures are not taken.

“By 2030, it is estimated that up to 118 million extremely poor people (living on less than US$ 1.90 per day) will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa, if adequate response measures are not put in place,” according to the State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report.

The report highlights the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation and resilience-building initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the continent. African nations are already losing an average of 2–5% of their GDP annually due to climate extremes.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized that Africa has observed a warming trend over the past 60 years, with devastating climate events in 2023, including deadly heat waves, floods, and droughts. The pattern of extreme weather has continued in 2024, with damaging droughts and exceptional seasonal rainfall causing death and devastation in several countries.

“This pattern of extreme weather has continued in 2024,” Saulo added. “Parts of southern Africa have been gripped by damaging drought, and exceptional seasonal rainfall has caused death and devastation in East African countries, most recently in Sudan and South Sudan, exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian crisis.”