WMO warns Africa of economic challenges due to rising temperatures

• WMO reports Africa is spending up to 9% of its budget on climate change.
• Despite emitting fewer greenhouse gases, Africa’s temperatures have risen more than the global average.
• Adapting to climate change will cost sub-Saharan Africa $30-50 billion per year over the next decade.

On Monday, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that Africa is facing an increasingly heavy toll from climate change, with many countries having to spend up to 9 percent of their budgets to combat climate extremes.

Despite emitting far fewer greenhouse gases than other continents, Africa’s temperatures have risen more rapidly than the global average.

According to the WMO’s “State of the Climate in Africa 2023” report, African countries are now losing an average of 2 percent to 5 percent of their gross domestic product due to deadly heat waves, heavy rains, floods, cyclones, and prolonged droughts.

The report stated that adapting to the changing climate will cost sub-Saharan Africa an estimated $30-50 billion per year over the next decade. It urged countries to invest in state meteorological and hydrological services and to accelerate the implementation of early warning systems to save lives.

The warning comes as African countries consider how to leverage this year’s UN COP meetings to secure a larger share of global climate financing. While the 54-nation continent has been attracting more funds for climate mitigation and adaptation projects in recent years, government officials stated earlier in August that it still receives less than 1 percent of annual global climate financing.

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