Kudus Research and Advocacy Center a Ghanaian based Organization would like to look into Climate Change its causes and effects in general and that of Africa our interest how it impacts Africa, climate financing among others. Our study seeks to weigh into the causes effects and impact of climate Change in Africa, who is seen as the continent of low rates of emission levels but suffers the adverse effects of it how it can be resolved by first identifying these causes and effects, impact, which regions and countries in Africa most vulnerable to these realities of climate change its impact, climate change financing in Africa among others. We wanted to test the Null hypothesis Climate Change causes effects and impact doesn’t have negative effects on Africa against the Alternative hypothesis that Climate Change causes effects and impact have negative effects on Africa
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center weighs into how Humans are responsible for global warming, Climate scientists have showed that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years. The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center weighs into how many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others. The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center weighs into how People are experiencing climate change in diverse ways Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of people displaced by weather-related events is expected to rise.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center weighs into how Every increase in global warming matters In a series of UN reports, thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate. Yet policies currently in place point to up to 3.1°C of warming by the end of the century.
The emissions that cause climate change come from every part of the world and affect everyone, but others. The six biggest emitters (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) together accounted for more than half of all global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. By contrast, the 47 least developed countries accounted for only 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
We can pay the bill now, or pay dearly in the future for Climate action requires significant financial investments by governments and businesses. But climate inaction is vastly more expensive. One critical step is for developed countries to support developing countries so they can adapt and move towards greener economies
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center look into general Causes and Effects of Climate Change Fossil fuels coal, oil and gas are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun’s heat. This leads to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to human beings and all other forms of life on Earth.
Generating power - Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of global emissions. Most electricity is still generated by burning coal, oil, or gas, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide powerful greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat. Globally, a bit more than a quarter of electricity comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources which, as opposed to fossil fuels, emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
Manufacturing goods - Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods. Mining and other industrial processes also release gases, as does the construction industry. Machines used in the manufacturing process often run on coal, oil, or gas; and some materials, like plastics, are made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. The manufacturing industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Cutting down forests - Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions, since trees, when they are cut, release the carbon they have been storing. Each year approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed. Since forests absorb carbon dioxide, destroying them also limits nature’s ability to keep emissions out of the atmosphere. Deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use changes, is responsible for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Using transportation - Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. That makes transportation a major contributor of greenhouse gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions. Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to the combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines. But emissions from ships and planes continue to grow. Transport accounts for nearly one quarter of global energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions. And trends point to a significant increase in energy use for transport over the coming years.
Producing food - Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in various ways, including through deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and grazing, digestion by cows and sheep, the production and use of fertilizers and manure for growing crops, and the use of energy to run farm equipment or fishing boats, usually with fossil fuels. All this makes food production a major contributor to climate change. And greenhouse gas emissions also come from packaging and distributing food.
Powering buildings - Globally, residential and commercial buildings consume over half of all electricity. As they continue to draw on coal, oil, and natural gas for heating and cooling, they emit significant quantities of greenhouse gas emissions. Growing energy demand for heating and cooling, with rising air-conditioner ownership, as well as increased electricity consumption for lighting, appliances, and connected devices, has contributed to a rise in energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions from buildings in recent years.
Consuming too much - Your home and use of power, how you move around, what you eat and how much you throw away all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. So does the consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics, and plastics. A large chunk of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to private households. Our lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. The wealthiest bear the greatest responsibility: the richest 1 per cent of the global population combined account for more greenhouse gas emissions than the poorest 50 per cent.
Hotter temperatures - As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, so does the global surface temperature. The last decade, 2011-2020, is the warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one. Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult. Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions are hotter. Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed at least twice as fast as the global average.
More severe storms - Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As temperatures rise, more moisture evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms is also affected by the warming ocean. Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons feed on warm waters at the ocean surface. Such storms often destroy homes and communities, causing deaths and huge economic losses.
Increased drought - Climate change is changing water availability, making it scarcer in more regions. Global warming exacerbates water shortages in already water-stressed regions and is leading to an increased risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems. Droughts can also stir destructive sand and dust storms that can move billions of tons of sand across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for growing food. Many people now face the threat of not having enough water on a regular basis.
A warming, rising ocean - The Ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. The rate at which the ocean is warming strongly increased over the past two decades, across all depths of the ocean. As the ocean warms, its volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. In addition, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and coral reefs.
Loss of species - Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as temperatures climb. Exacerbated by climate change, the world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million species are at risk of becoming extinct within the next few decades. Forest fires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats related to climate change. Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but others will not.
Not enough food - Changes in the climate and increases in extreme weather events are among the reasons behind a global rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Fisheries, crops, and livestock may be destroyed or become less productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine resources that feed billions of people are at risk. Changes in snow and ice cover in many Arctic regions have disrupted food supplies from herding, hunting, and fishing. Heat stress can diminish water and grasslands for grazing, causing declining crop yields and affecting livestock.
More health risks - Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already harming health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, and forced displacement, pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million people. Changing weather patterns are expanding diseases, and extreme weather events increase deaths and make it difficult for health care systems to keep up.
Poverty and displacement - Climate change increases the factors that put and keep people in poverty. Floods may sweep away urban slums, destroying homes and livelihoods. Heat can make it difficult to work in outdoor jobs. Water scarcity may affect crops. Over the past decade (2010–2019), weather-related events displaced an estimated 23.1 million people on average each year, leaving many more vulnerable to poverty. Most refugees come from countries that are most vulnerable and least ready to adapt to the impacts of climate change. (Based on various UN sources)
We also look into possibilities of achieving Net Zero as For Net-zero commitments must be backed by credible action we weigh into these probing questions that demands answers by way of its resolutions But before that lets look into how the various sectors emissions levels by way of percentages The world’s emissions can be divided into five sectors. We must get to zero emissions in each one to meet our climate goals. Electric vehicles and power plants get the most attention, but emissions come from lots of different human activities. The good news is that we are making progress across all five sectors. Electricity (Coal oil and gas) 29%, Transportations (ground air and sea) 15%, Buildings (Commercial and residential) 7%, Manufacturing (cement chemical Iron and steel oil and gas productions other materials) 29% and Agriculture (crops livestock waste and land use0 20% (Source: Rhodium, 2021)
Firstly, Kudus Research and Advocacy look into what is net zero? Put simply, net zero means cutting carbon emissions to a small amount of residual emissions that can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere.
Secondly Kudus Research and Advocacy look into why is net zero important? The science shows clearly that in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change and preserve a livable planet, global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above per-industrial levels. Currently, the Earth is already about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s, and emissions continue to rise. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Thirdly Kudus Research and Advocacy look into how can net zero be achieved? Transitioning to a net-zero world is one of the greatest challenges humankind has faced. It calls for nothing less than a complete transformation of how we produce, consume, and move about. The energy sector is the source of around three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions today and holds the key to averting the worst effects of climate change. Replacing polluting coal, gas and oil-fired power with energy from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, would dramatically reduce carbon emissions.
Fourthly Kudus Research and Advocacy look into is there a global effort to reach net zero? Yes, a growing coalition of countries, cities, businesses and other institutions are pledging to get to net-zero emissions. As of June 2024, 107 countries, responsible for approximately 82 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, had adopted net-zero pledges either in law, in a policy document such as a national climate action plan or a long-term strategy, or in an announcement by a high-level government official. More than 9,000 companies, over 1000 cities, more than 1000 educational institutions, and over 600 financial institutions have joined the Race to Zero, pledging to take rigorous, immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030.
Furthermore, Kudus Research and Advocacy look into how do we ensure commitments are turned into action? The growth in net-zero pledges has been accompanied by a proliferation of criteria with varying levels of robustness. To develop stronger and clearer standards for net-zero emissions pledges by non-State entities such as businesses, investors, cities and regions, and speed up their implementation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March 2022 established a High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities. The Expert Group presented its recommendations at COP27 on 8 November 2022.
Finally, Kudus Research and Advocacy look into Are we on track to reach net zero by 2050? No, commitments made by governments to date fall far short of what is required. Current national climate plans for 195 Parties to the Paris Agreement taken together would lead to a 2.6 per cent decrease in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement emissions need to be reduced by 43 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Getting to net zero requires all governments first and foremost the biggest emitters to significantly strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and take bold, immediate steps towards reducing emissions now.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center we also looked into which countries most emissions come from and we realized just a few countries, the six largest greenhouse gas emitters (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) accounted for 63 per cent of global emissions in 2023. By contrast, the 47 least developed countries accounted for only 3 percent. The G20, the group of the world’s largest 20 economies (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union) are responsible for about 77 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. (Source: UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2024)
Climate Change in Africa, Africa, despite its low contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, remains the most vulnerable continent.
Africa is the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts under all climate scenarios above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Despite having contributed the least to global warming and having the lowest emissions, Africa faces exponential collateral damage, posing systemic risks to its economies, infrastructure investments, water and food systems, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods, threatening to undo its modest development gains and slip into higher levels of extreme poverty.
The following factors contribute to Africa’s vulnerability: Sub-Saharan Africa has 95% of rain-fed agriculture globally. A large share of agriculture in GDP and employment adds to vulnerability, as do other weather-sensitive activities, such as herding and fishing, leading to income losses and increased food insecurity. Seven of the 10 countries that are most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa. In 2015, four African countries ranked among the 10 countries most affected: Mozambique (1st), Malawi (3rd), Ghana and Madagascar (joint 8th position). Climate change represents a major threat to Africa achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report 2018 highlighted the grave consequences of a temperature increase above 1.5°C, especially for Africa. UNEP - commissioned research estimates that the cost of adapting to climate change across Africa could reach $50 billion a year by 2050, if the global temperature increase is kept within 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Under the Paris Agreement reached at COP21, all countries agreed to take collective action on climate change to keep global temperature increases to no more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. African countries have outlined bold aspirations to build climate resilient and low carbon economies in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. Having signed and ratified the Paris Agreement, nearly all African countries have committed to enhancing climate action through reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience. For the continent, adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change is urgent. However, many of their commitments are conditional upon receiving adequate financial, technical and capacity building support Nevertheless; climate change also provides opportunities for Africa to harness its huge resource potential to achieve the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing climate change in Africa will create significant market opportunities on the continent, especially for the private sector and institutional investors
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center also weighs into how Climate change is impacting Africa in many ways, including: Droughts - Severe, long-term droughts are affecting some regions, causing crop failures and famine, Extreme weather - Extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and flooding, are becoming more frequent, Food insecurity - Drought severity has increased, degrading arable land and threatening food security for rural households. Water stress - Rainfall patterns are disrupted, glaciers are disappearing, and key lakes are shrinking. Heat-related health impacts - Extreme heat spells have led to heat-related health impacts. Displacement - Millions of Africans have been displaced from their homes.
We also took notices that Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change and adaptation costs. Other factors that exacerbate the situation include: Health pandemics, Economic devastation, Poverty, Gender inequality. Rapid urbanization, Extremism, Military coups, Superpower rivalry
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center looked into how Climate change is causing Africa and came to realization that: Economic losses - Africa is estimated to lose $7–15 billion per year to climate change, and this could rise to $50 billion per year by 2030, Increased extreme weather events - Countries are experiencing more frequent and intense storms, cyclones, floods, and droughts, Humanitarian needs - The number of people in sub-Saharan Africa needing humanitarian assistance has increased from 110 million in 2021 to 168 million in 2023, Health risks - Extreme heat and more frequent extreme weather events endanger human health, Job losses - Extreme heat and more frequent extreme weather events hurt productivity and jobs in key sectors such as agriculture and construction
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center also looked into Climate Change Impacts in Africa: The Effects on Key Sectors in the Nine Most Vulnerable Countries: In recent years, the effects of climate change have been felt all over the world: from the floods in Pakistan and Nigeria to the heat waves in India, the US and Europe. Although the effects may appear to be universal, the implications for life and livelihoods vary greatly between regions. In view of these effects, how are African countries faring? How is climate change impacting people's lives and livelihoods? According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerabilities, the African continent, despite its status as one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, is already experiencing widespread losses and damages due to human-induced climate change. Indeed, as the African Union points out in its Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), the continent is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change. This vulnerability stems from several factors such as high dependence on rain-fed agriculture, inequitable access to financial resources and weak adaptive capacity, among others. These risks and vulnerabilities are underscored in the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN Index), which shows that 9 out of the 10 countries most vulnerable and least resilient to climate change are located in Africa. The countries include Chad, the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Niger, Zimbabwe and Liberia. The question, however, is: how do vulnerability and lack of resilience play out in the day-to-day lives of these populations? Which sectors are most affected and in most urgent need of local, national and global action? This knowledge is at the core of ensuring relevant, effective and sustained climate action. To this purpose, APRI has developed an interactive map that displays the effects of climate change on key sectors with immediate and direct impacts on lives and livelihoods in the 9 countries.
In 2024, Africa has experienced extreme weather events and other climate change impacts, including: Drought - Southern Africa has been affected by damaging drought. As of August 2024, six countries in the region declared a state of emergency due to the drought, including Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Seasonal rainfall - East African countries, including Sudan and South Sudan, have experienced exceptional seasonal rainfall that has caused death and devastation. Cyclones - Southern Africa has been impacted by cyclones like Cyclone Freddy and Cyclone Idai. The Sahara Desert turning green - The Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert, has been much greener than usual due to climate change. Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change and the costs of adaptation. Seven of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa.
Some of the longer-term impacts of climate change in Africa include: Changing rainfall patterns that affect agriculture and food security, Worsening water security, decreasing fish resources in large lakes, rising sea levels affecting low-lying coastal areas, Global warming worsening deadly flooding in Africa, warn scientists. Africa is bearing the brunt of climate change despite producing tiny percentage of global emissions. Global warming intensified the rainy season in many African countries in 2024, sparking deadly floods, according to scientists.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center we also look into how Global warming worsening deadly flooding in Africa, warn by scientists Africa is bearing the brunt of climate change despite producing tiny percentage of global emissions. Global warming intensified the rainy season in many African countries in 2024, sparking deadly floods, according to scientists.
The World Weather Attribution (WWA) network said on Wednesday that human-driven climate change, caused by the use of fossil fuels, had made seasonal downpours across the Niger and Lake Chad basins 5-20 percent worse this year, unleashing a humanitarian catastrophe.
“These results are incredibly concerning,” said Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and one of the study’s authors. He pointed out that “spells of heavy summer rainfall” had become the “new normal” in Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. “With every fraction of a degree of warming, the risk of extreme floods will keep increasing,” Pinto added, calling for the United Nations COP29 climate summit to “accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels” when it meets in Azerbaijan next month
Floods killed about 1,500 people and displaced more than one million in West and Central Africa this year, according to UN aid agency OCHA. The rains also overwhelmed dams in Nigeria and Sudan. Such downpours “could happen every year” if global temperatures increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, warned WWA. It forecasts that this could happen as early as the 2050s.
The network’s scientists focused on war-torn Sudan, where millions of displaced people have been uprooted by conflict and driven into flood-prone areas. They used modeling to analyze current weather trends, comparing them with patterns in a world without human-induced warming, finding that month long spells of intense rainfall in parts of Sudan had become heavier as a likely result of climate change. “Africa has contributed a tiny amount of carbon emissions globally, but is being hit the hardest by extreme weather,” said Joyce Kimutai, researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College in London. The role of climate change in the floods was compounded by other human-made problems, said scientists, calling for better maintenance of dams and investment in early warning systems. “This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels,” said Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy. (Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies)
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center look into Climate Finance in Africa an overview of climate finance flows, challenges and opportunities: Climate change is arguably the greatest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century. Its impacts have significantly altered the natural world and affected global economic performance and human well-being. A recent study estimates that damage from climate change globally to farming, infrastructure, productivity, and health will cost an estimated $38 trillion per year by 2050 and see a 19 percent reduction of income (Kotz et al., 2024). As climate change impacts are being experienced globally, they are not evenly distributed, and Africa is projected to be impacted significantly more than other parts of the world. It is also a region with the least capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change and contributes less than four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) (Global Carbon Budget, 2022). Yet, the disproportionate impacts of climate change in Africa are confirmed by several reports, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO, 2022), which found that Africa’s average temperature has increased faster than other parts of the world, leading to an above average increase in sea level rise along African coastlines. This has increased the frequency and severity of coastal flooding, erosion and salinity in low-lying cities. Changes in climate will bring an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts and flooding. These impacts can reduce socio-economic development at the community and household levels, a worrying trend for a continent that depends heavily on its natural resource base for livelihoods.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center finally looked into climate innovations using Bill Gates climate change advocate and financier piece on Climate change entitled “Accelerate climate innovation” according to him in his work on climate innovations that:
“The European Union recently reported the biggest reduction in carbon emissions in decades—an 8 percent drop from 2022 to 2023. That’s the kind of progress that is increasingly possible because of innovation in clean energy. I’ve been working on clean energy and climate change since 2008. It’s one of the most urgent and complex problems the world faces, and we need to act quickly to avoid the worst possible outcomes. We need to do two things at once: reduce emissions to net-zero, and help people cope with the effects of climate change that are already happening. Addressing these challenges is incredibly difficult, but it’s also an opportunity. When everyone in the world has access to affordable, reliable, and abundant clean energy, the world will be healthier and more prosperous. I wish the world had everything we needed to eliminate emissions, but we don’t—not yet. For example, we don’t know how to make clean plastic, steel, or cement at the scale we need. We need to transform the entire physical economy, including how we generate electricity, move around, manufacture things, and grow food, and heat and cool buildings. And we need to make all these innovations cheap enough for everyone to afford them. So through Breakthrough Energy, I fund work on innovations that will help us make that transformation. I also fund work to help people in the world’s poorest countries thrive in a climate where droughts, floods, and heat waves are becoming more severe and more frequent. That work is driven primarily by the Gates Foundation, whose partners are working on things like new varieties of crops and livestock that can flourish in a warmer world” (Source Gates Notes). We also took notices of Bill Gates has said that climate change is one of the world's most urgent problems and that we need to act quickly to avoid the worst outcomes. He has made several statements about climate change, including: Reducing emissions - We need to reduce emissions to net-zero, but we also need to help people cope with the effects of climate change that are already happening. Investing in new technologies - We need to invest in new technologies for carbon removal, clean energy, and electric vehicles. Implementing policies - We need to implement policies like carbon taxes that could fund future green technologies. Funding clean-energy technology - He has funded $2 billion in clean-energy technology and plans to fund that much again in the next few years. Supporting plant-based meat startups - He has financially backed plant-based and lab-grown meat startups such as Impossible, Beyond Meat, and Upside Foods.
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center in conclusion conclude that at 95% confidence level that indeed Climate Change causes effects and impact have negative effects on Africa in various ways rejecting the Null hypothesis that climate change causes effects and impact has no negative impact on Africa in favor of the Alternative hypothesis that Climate change causes effects and impact has negative impact on Africa because the major causes of climate change in Africa were realized to be that Climate change is impacting Africa in many ways, including: Droughts, Extreme weather, Food insecurity, Water stress, Heat-related health impacts, Displacement
Some countries in Africa are particularly vulnerable to climate change, including: Chad, The Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, and Eritrea.
Africa faces a disproportionate burden from climate change and adaptation costs. Other factors that exacerbate the situation include: Health pandemics Economic devastation, Poverty, Gender inequality, Rapid urbanization, Extremism, Military coups, Superpower rivalry
Top 10 most vulnerable African countries to climate change are Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone South Sudan (5) Nigeria Democratic Republic of the Congo Ethiopia Eritrea Central African Republic Chad Senegal
Climate change is causing Africa: Economic losses - Africa is estimated to lose $7–15 billion per year to climate change, and this could rise to $50 billion per year by 2030. Increased extreme weather events - Countries are experiencing more frequent and intense storms, cyclones, floods, and droughts. Humanitarian needs - The number of people in sub-Saharan Africa needing humanitarian assistance has increased from 110 million in 2021 to 168 million in 2023. Health risks - Extreme heat and more frequent extreme weather events endanger human health. Job losses - Extreme heat and more frequent extreme weather events hurt productivity and jobs in key sectors such as agriculture and construction
In 2024, Africa has experienced extreme weather events and other climate change impacts, including: Drought-Southern Africa has been affected by damaging drought. As of August 2024, six countries in the region declared a state of emergency due to the drought, including Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Seasonal rainfall-East African countries, including Sudan and South Sudan, have experienced exceptional seasonal rainfall that has caused death and devastation. Cyclones - Southern Africa has been impacted by cyclones like Cyclone Freddy and Cyclone Idai. The Sahara Desert turning green - The Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert, has been much greener than usual due to climate change.
Africa is disproportionately affected by climate change and the costs of adaptation. Seven of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa. Some of the longer-term impacts of climate change in Africa include: Changing rainfall patterns that affect agriculture and food security, Worsening water security, decreasing fish resources in large lakes and Rising sea levels affecting low-lying coastal areas
Recommendations
And we recommends that these important measures needs to be taken to avert climate change negative and devastating effects and impact causing Africa and the world at large looking into Climate change education the need to intensify awareness creation the needs to adapt to environmental and climate friendly practices as Kudus Research and Advocacy Center did with students creating awareness on climate change, climate change financing policies and programs targeting achievements of net zero and other climate change related issues should be funded and finally innovative ways of dealing with Climate Change and climate action either modern advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence or other innovative policies and programs that are climate change friendly enacted. Special funding established that seeks to address all forms of climate change practices NGO activists of climate change involved, incentives for countries who adapt to environmental friendly energy sources, Finally United Nation Climate Change Conference should make Africa climate action its centered area as a growing industrial market can easily be regulated to adapt to environmental or climate friendly energy and practices, by providing the needed expertise resources and funds towards Africa achieving a zero emission targets set by UNFCCC and COP should adapt Africa Climate change action as their own.
We duly acknowledge pro climate change sponsors and financiers including Green climate fund The Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) Bill Gates,Bezos Earth fund, Climate activists like Swedish Greta Thunberg NGO’s like Kudus Research and Advocacy Center and most importantly the academia and the research industrial but they needs to up their game in terms of funding and activism as US president Donald J Trump administration has no interest in Climate Change and its funding related matters and a global number one funding of programs and projects Climate change and its activists are bound to face hurdles without their support.
Sign By:
Yussif Abdul Kudus
Founder & Executive Director
Kudus Research and Advocacy Center
+233(0)245535151