Climate change affecting Africans negatively – Report

Climate change has been having an adverse impact on the everyday life of Africans, a new report has indicated.

The report by EnviroNews Nigeria, titled “88% of Africans believe climate change is already affecting their everyday life”, stated that 61 per cent of respondents believed that climate change and environmental damage have affected their income or source of livelihood, and 76 per cent of African respondents said renewable energy should be prioritised.

According to the report, the results of the survey came at a critical moment for Africa after COP27, where the mobilisation of resources for the mitigation of global warming and the adaptation to its effects was at the heart of the debates.

The one of decisive agreements reached at COP27 was on a new “loss and damage” fund for vulnerable countries hard hit by climatic disasters.

It read in part, “The survey results confirm that climate change has negatively affected the livelihoods of African people, with 61 per cent stating that their income has been affected. These losses are typically due to severe drought, rising sea levels or coastal erosion, or extreme weather events such as floods or hurricanes.

“More than half of African respondents (57 per cent) say they or people they know have already taken some form of action to adapt to the impact of climate change. Some of these initiatives include investments in water-saving technologies to reduce the impact of drought and drain clearing in advance of flooding.

“When asked about the sources of energy their country should invest in, 76 per cent of African respondents say renewable energy should be prioritised, far ahead of fossil fuels (13 per cent).”

The Vice-President, European Investment Bank, Ambroise Fayolle, said, “A great majority of respondents in the countries polled in Africa are alerting us that climate change is already impacting their families and sources of income. The results of the EIB 2022 Climate Survey also shows that developing renewable energy is seen as an important priority by most of the respondents.”

He added that EIB has been supporting clean energy investments in Africa, such as wind power, hydropower, and off-grid solutions, for many years.

“We stand ready to use our full range of advisory and financial instruments to support our partners on the ground to mitigate climate change, adapt to its already palpable, negative effects, and ensure a just transition,” he noted.

According to him, EIB has provided support for numerous initiatives and projects, including in the areas of environmental protection and climate change, the digital economy and telecommunications, sustainable agriculture and food security, clean water and sanitation, clean and affordable energy, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable industrial development, urban development, education, and lending for sustainable projects carried out by small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations.

“Africa is the part of the world most affected by climate change, although it contributes least to the problem. The continent faces an increased threat from extreme weather events and chronic climate change, which influence agricultural yields, food and water security, ecosystems, livelihoods, health, infrastructure, and migration.

“By damaging vital resources and increasing competition for natural resources, climate change is likely to increase poverty, inequality, and unemployment,” he said.