Across Africa, climate-related disasters intensified in 2024 — from record-breaking heat to prolonged droughts and catastrophic flooding — according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s latest findings.
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The new State of the Climate in Africa 2024 report paints a stark picture: human-driven climate change is disrupting the continent’s environment and economy at an alarming pace, with ripple effects across food systems, water access, energy supply, and public health.
According to the WMO, Africa experienced one of its hottest years on record — possibly the hottest, depending on the dataset. This caps off the continent’s warmest decade ever recorded. Sea surface temperatures also surged, particularly in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, compounding the climate stress.
Released Monday, the WMO report outlines how extreme weather events became more frequent and severe in 2024, largely due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. The impacts are being felt in agriculture, energy production, education, and health — hitting vulnerable communities hardest.
For instance, between March and May, East Africa saw devastating floods and landslides that left hundreds dead and displaced over 700,000 people in countries including Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi. May brought an unprecedented cyclone to the region, intensifying the damage and displacing thousands more.
Simultaneously, southern Africa battled extreme drought. Zambia faced the worst power outages in recent history as water levels at Lake Kariba — a key source of hydroelectric power — dropped to critical lows. This affected electricity supply in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, triggering economic turmoil and prolonged blackouts.
Africa’s climate displacement crisis is also worsening. The number of internally displaced people due to droughts and floods has grown sixfold over the past 15 years, as per a November report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.
Mozambique, Ethiopia, and other drought-stricken regions are seeing families walk for miles to find water or receive emergency aid, often losing entire harvests in the process.
A Bleak Forecast
The Center for Global Development (CGD) warned in February that as many as 200 million people across Africa could face chronic hunger due to climate-related crop failures. Droughts alone could push over 50 million people into severe water scarcity.
CGD’s research also projects agricultural losses of up to 2.9% by 2030 — and as high as 18% by 2050. Farmland value may plummet by as much as 61%, drastically affecting rural economies.
In addition to food insecurity, the economic toll is expected to be steep. Africa’s per capita GDP could decline by over 7%, with individual countries suffering even higher losses of 11% to 26%. Rural and farming communities will likely see the biggest income drops, possibly up to 30%, with poverty levels rising by as much as a third under these climate stress scenarios.
Adaptation and Technology Offer Hope
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo called for urgent investment in climate adaptation tools and early warning systems, noting that Africa’s climate crisis is intensifying and becoming more complex.
Despite the challenges, the report highlights signs of progress. National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) across the continent are embracing artificial intelligence and digital tools to enhance forecasting and communication.
Countries like Nigeria and Kenya are using mobile apps, SMS notifications, and community radio to deliver timely weather alerts — especially to farmers and fishermen. In South Africa, advanced radar and AI systems are helping authorities better predict and respond to weather threats.
With support from the WMO, 18 African NMHSs upgraded their digital platforms in 2024, improving access to forecasts and enhancing public warning systems — a crucial step in helping communities adapt and prepare.
Still, experts stress that without stronger global support and investment in Africa’s climate resilience, the toll on lives, livelihoods, and development will only deepen.
