Africa is facing intensifying climate impacts, with deadly floods, prolonged droughts and record heatwaves driving displacement, food insecurity and economic loss across the continent. New reports highlight that the last five years have been among the most destructive in decades.
Heatwaves intensify
Research shows that heatwaves across Africa are now hotter, longer and more frequent than forty years ago. In the Sahel, temperatures above 45 °C are increasingly common, with climate change making extreme heat events up to ten times more likely. The health risks are rising sharply, particularly for vulnerable communities without access to cooling or healthcare.
Floods and droughts displace millions
Extreme weather is striking at both ends of the spectrum. In 2024, severe flooding in the Sahel displaced more than 1.2 million people, while prolonged drought in Southern Africa devastated harvests in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Both events pushed households into poverty, deepening reliance on aid and heightening migration pressures.
Rising death tolls
Between 2021 and 2025, over 220 million Africans have been directly affected by extreme weather. In June 2025, floods in South Africa’s Eastern Cape left more than 100 people dead and caused almost $300 million in damage. Such disasters underline the continent’s vulnerability to climate shocks.
Coastal communities at risk
In Nigeria, rising sea levels and coastal erosion have destroyed entire settlements. Villages such as Apakin have lost homes, ancestral graves and cultural landmarks to the ocean. Despite international pledges, local leaders say promised climate financing and adaptation support remain limited.
Food insecurity grows
Climate-driven disruption to agriculture is worsening hunger. UN estimates suggest over 90 million people in Eastern and Southern Africa face severe food insecurity. Maize yields in Zimbabwe fell by up to 70%, while rising prices—labelled “climateflation”—are forcing families to shift to cheaper, less nutritious diets.
Outlook
The combination of heat, floods, droughts and rising seas underscores Africa’s exposure to climate change. Without accelerated investment in resilience, adaptation and early warning systems, the continent faces escalating human and economic costs. The call for climate justice and sustainable financing is becoming increasingly urgent.
REFH – Newshub, 1 September 2025
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