Africa’s efforts to combat the climate crisis

Africa is often seen as the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change: high temperatures, arid conditions, heavy rainfall, and flooding. In addition, many African regions face severe poverty, increasing their susceptibility to these climate-related challenges. Many African regions rely heavily on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, fishing and hunting for their livelihoods. In these regions, the impacts of climate change are especially intertwined with questions of social justice and economic development, since global warming is exacerbating existing problems like food insecurity, water shortages, and threats to their livelihoods. Rising sea levels also pose a significant threat to coastal communities and ecosystems.

The central position of Africa in climate change dialogues is due to its fragile economies and reliance on agriculture, which make its populations – in particular, marginalised groups like the poor, women and indigenous peoples – suffer disproportionately from the effects of global warming. Africa’s infrastructure, above all in the areas of energy, transportation, and water management, is often not robust enough to withstand the effects of climate change. Political instability and competing development priorities in many African countries can impede effective climate action. Given African countries’ lower capacity to adapt in comparison to other regions, it’s critical that these vulnerabilities be taken into account when developing effective adaptation strategies on the basis of available local solutions.

The representation of countries in the context of international climate negotiations influences global regulations on climate protection. To date, the voices of developing and less developed countries have not been heard in climate negotiations. This reflects the marginalisation of vulnerable groups with regard to decision-making power, sensitisation, and negotiating power.

The lack of representation for developing countries in climate negotiations is indicative of power imbalances. To date, climate agreements have mainly benefited developed countries. Inclusive decision-making with diverse interest groups would be more just. Balancing inclusivity and fairness is crucial, particularly for countries facing severe impacts. In this regard, elected representatives can be a viable solution. Equal participation and global solidarity principles should guide climate change decision-making during international climate negotiations.

African countries nevertheless actively participate in these negotiations, advocate for fair and just solutions, and exert pressure on developed countries to support the adaptation and mitigation efforts pursued by the countries of the Global South. In particular, they underscore the need to bear in mind financial imbalances and injustices when it comes to financing climate protection.

With regard to the negotiations, African countries have prioritised adaptation to climate change, recognising its importance in reducing the impacts on vulnerable groups. They have engaged in key initiatives like the Adaptation Fund from the 2023 climate conference in Dubai (COP 28), the Cancún Agreements from 2010, and the “Nairobi Work Programme” on the impacts of, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, which was initiated in 2005. Despite numerous challenges and limited resources, Africa has demonstrated resilience in climate diplomacy, influencing decisions like the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund.

Governments, supranational companies, and international organisations have put forward various proposals to rapidly decarbonise the global economy and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree target. Yet this rhetoric does not represent a departure from the colonial legacy, which viewed nature and human beings as raw materials for economic extraction. Instead, the transition to a climate-neutral economy should imply a moral right and a commitment to establishing a just social framework through the equitable protection of the dignity and rights of all human beings. Although conceptions of understanding what equity and fairness involve will continue to evolve, they remain critical to developing a net-zero strategy. Net-zero strategies need to promote the socially just distribution of burdens and benefits, which in turn requires participatory decision-making processes that give a privileged position to unjustly burdened groups.

As a result of colonial and other structures, the majority of historical CO² emissions in countries of the Global North were not recorded, although the richest 20 percent (by income) are responsible for more than half of total CO² emissions. Studies conducted around the globe have demonstrated that local-level projects still tend to be shaped by the centralised control and steering of funding, which echoes the former authority of colonial powers. Efforts to address negative imbalances rooted in historical factors can pave the way for new procedures designed to promote social equity, justice, and inclusion around the world. The successful formulation and implementation of net-zero strategies will also greatly influence future efforts to stabilise the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level low enough to prevent unmanageable and catastrophic climate degradation. 

Climate justice aims to ensure the fair distribution of environmental resources and responsibilities, providing equal access to benefits like economic development and public health, while protecting vulnerable groups and holding polluters accountable. Key aspects of climate justice include sharing benefits and burdens equitably; protecting human rights and providing compensation for those affected; implementing relevant laws and frameworks; and supporting the right to development.

Climate protection and adaptation measures must be based on fair and inclusive processes and the equitable distribution of resources. But to meaningfully address vulnerabilities and marginalisation, we also need a sound grasp of how local governments can effectively and sensibly act on the lessons learned from community engagement and lived experience. Community engagement can be understood on a spectrum, ranging from little or no engagement to democratic participation and community-driven decision-making.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) offers valuable insights for stakeholders in the context of climate change. However, it is vital to avoid sidelining good practices by focusing solely on “net-zero” solutions that reinforce colonial legacies. We must address the capitalist and Western development discourse and consider the unique contexts, cultures and experiences of individual nations and peoples. Fair distribution of natural resources is essential. Smallholder farmers should benefit from agroecology, which promotes self-reliance and reduces greenhouse-gas emissions. Community structures are also effective in terms of sharing skills and knowledge and ensuring access to specific information.

A community-centred approach can support capacity-building and facilitate the management of climate change-related risks. A collaborative, place-based approach to climate justice can bring together local governments, community organisations, and local community members so as to make decision-making on complex and challenging issues mutual and partnership-based.

At the same time, integrating climate considerations into development plans is crucial for promoting sustainable pathways in Africa and developing countries elsewhere. Africa can benefit from international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and collaborative efforts to enhance climate resilience and develop context-specific strategies. 

The following measures could offer a wealth of opportunities for the Global South:

1. Leveraging climate justice initiatives: African governments can leverage climate justice initiatives to drive positive change,  emphasising the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and the need for equitable solutions.
2. Investments in its own energy mix and green technologies can stimulate economic growth for Africa’s growing population, create new jobs for young people, and reduce the continent’s dependence on fossil fuels, contributing to its sustainable development.
3. Implementing climate-resilient infrastructure and adaptation strategies can bolster community resilience to climate-related hazards and safeguard lives and livelihoods. This includes measures such as building flood-resistant infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Developing countries worry that international programmes like the Clean Development Mechanism and carbon trading could perpetuate ecological debt. If our goal is to achieve climate justice, a comprehensive approach is called for. This involves strengthening adaptation efforts, promoting renewable energy sources, empowering marginalised communities, advocating for equity in climate negotiations, and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders.

African humanists seek to curb the market’s excessive effects on the environment, challenge the dominance of material goods, and remind capitalists of the human origins of profit. These actions are crucial for building resilience, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, ensuring inclusive decision-making processes, and achieving global climate goals. By prioritising climate justice and sustainable development pathways, Africa can effectively mitigate the impacts of climate change, promote inclusive growth, and ensure prosperity for its people.

Adopting a decolonial perspective can reframe the climate justice discourse in the Global South, especially in Africa, challenge Eurocentric viewpoints, and highlight alternative pathways and imbalances in global power structures. This perspective envisions a new world order driven by policymakers and grassroots movements alike, with the aim of restoring balance.

About the author

Victoire Ghafi Kondi Akara is a planning expert in the field of energy efficiency policy for sustainable energy, and a Resident Researcher in Climate Change Science at AIMS RIC, and the gender and inclusion officer at AIMS in Rwanda. She is a member of the board of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) for the 2024-2026 term. She is also a 2024 Climate Ambassador for Africa. In 2022, she attended the Climate Academy of UNU-EHS and Munich Re Foundation.