Africa is grappling with escalating climate change costs, with some countries allocating up to 9% of their budgets to combat extreme weather, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released on Monday.
Despite contributing significantly less to global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa’s temperatures are climbing faster than the global average, leading to severe economic consequences. The WMO’s “State of the Climate in Africa 2023” report highlights that African nations are losing an average of 2%–5% of their GDP due to life-threatening heatwaves, heavy rainfall, floods, cyclones, and extended droughts.
The report estimates that adapting to the changing climate in sub-Saharan Africa will require $30-50 billion annually over the next decade. The WMO urges African nations to invest in robust meteorological and hydrological services and accelerate the rollout of early warning systems to protect lives and livelihoods.
This warning comes as African countries prepare for the upcoming U.N. COP meetings, where they aim to secure a larger share of global climate financing. While the 54-nation continent has seen an increase in funds for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in recent years, it still receives less than 1% of the annual global climate finance, according to government officials earlier in August.