Climate change impacts, vulnerability, risks and adaptation in Africa

Africa has contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet key sectors of the region have experienced widespread loss and damage due to human-caused climate change.

Chapter 9 of the IPCC AR6 Working Group II report, released on 28 February 2022, assesses climate change impacts, risks, vulnerability, climate adaptation, climate resilience development, and barriers in Africa. 

Since 1990, the IPCC has published a series of Assessment Reports (AR), each one between 5 or 7 years apart, and Special Reports in addition to ARs. 

The IPCC is on its 6^th assessment cycle, hence the AR6 report, consisting of the Working Groups I, II, and III contributions and a Synthesis report.

Previous assessments of African countries show the following salient themes:

• Hot days and nights are becoming more frequent, and heatwaves have become longer. West and southwestern Africa will experience more drying.
• Climate change contributes to land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of invasive species and pests.
• Climate change reduces food crop yields, livestock, and fish, and deterioration in food nutritional quality. Risks to crop yields are significantly lower at 1.5C than a 2C temperature increase, and maise production will be affected.
• Increased health risks and deaths from diseases, hunger, heat, and pollution,
• Economic losses rise with increases in warming.

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