Global Warming Intensifies Flooding Crisis in Africa

Global warming is exacerbating deadly flooding in Africa, despite the continent contributing only a small fraction to global emissions, Al Jazeera reported yesterday.

In 2024, intensified rainy seasons have led to catastrophic floods across the Niger and Lake Chad basins, worsening seasonal downpours by 5-20%, according to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network.

Floods have claimed approximately 1,500 lives and displaced over one million people in West and Central Africa this year, with Nigeria and Sudan particularly affected. Researchers warn that such extreme weather could become annual if global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a scenario projected for the 2050s.

Experts highlight that Africa, while minimally responsible for carbon emissions, faces the most severe impacts of climate change. They urge improved dam maintenance and investment in early warning systems to mitigate future disasters. “This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels,” cautioned Clair Barnes from the Centre for Environmental Policy.