Extreme Climate Events, Loss and Damage in Africa

This book highlights empirical evidence of how African continent is confronting extreme climate events, focusing on understanding and mitigating climate-induced Loss and Damage. The book examines the various impacts of climate change on Africa, emphasizes both economic and non-economic losses and damages. The book underscores the disproportionate impacts on African communities especially among the most vulnerable populations, and advocates for effective mitigation strategies and multidisciplinary methodologies. The book emphasizes the need for inter/intra-disciplinary approaches and multidisciplinary methodology that integrates climate science, social sciences, policy studies and local knowledge. The book argues that blending scientific research with local perspectives is essential to amplify the voices of affected communities and build climate resilience across the continent.

Africa is experiencing severe climate change impacts resulting from extreme climate events like droughts, floods and heat waves, which have been threatening livelihoods, ecosystems, and various economic sectors. These compound effects cause both immediate losses and long-term damage, perpetuating poverty and inequality. A credible body of evidence from multiple research studies has documented how these extreme events are affecting agriculture and other key sectors in Africa.

In many African countries, climate change is imposing severe stresses on agriculture, water resources, health, energy, biodiversity, fisheries, infrastructure, tourism, human settlements, forestry, among others. These stresses heighten the risks to food security, public health, economic stability, and ecosystem sustainability across the continent. As a result, extreme climate events inflict significant loss and damage and exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in Africa’s communities. Acknowledging that some impacts of climate change are unavoidable, assessing loss and damage becomes crucial. Loss and damage from extreme events has recently become a critical focus of climate change discussions in Africa. Addressing these challenges requires a proactive approach and research prioritization, investment in climate science, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and the integration of climate risk assessments in development planning across all African countries.