Scientists confirmed recently that a “super” El Niño—one of the strongest on record—is forming as Pacific Ocean temperatures rise sharply. The pattern has raised concerns about severe droughts, floods, food insecurity, and health crises across Africa. While the continent remains highly vulnerable due to poverty and weak infrastructure, experts argue it also offers valuable lessons in climate resilience, developed over decades of adapting to extreme weather. Key recommendations include prioritizing preparedness over disaster response, embracing climate-resilient crops such as sorghum and millet rather than relying solely on maize and wheat, and treating water, energy, food, and health as interconnected systems. Experts also advocate for increasing climate adaptation financing and replacing one-way aid models with partnerships built on local expertise.
The Conversation