Funding needed to boost African cities’ resilience

THE issue of climate change and its associated impacts, especially on African cities, is a critical topic that demands urgent attention.

- DR MUHAMMAD GAMBO

Every day, Africa faces the consequences of something it did not cause. While 7 out of the 10 world’s most climate vulnerable countries are in the African region, Africa only emits about 4% of greenhouse gases, and in terms of historical contributions, the continent ranks even lower - according to the World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Global Climate report 2022.

Heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts, which are some of the effects of climate change, are having devastating impacts on communities and economies, with increasing numbers of people at risk across the continent. Africa’s rapidly expanding cities are hotspots of this vulnerability and impact.

According to the OECD report, Africa is one of the world’s least urbanised continents, yet hosts the most rapidly urbanising region - the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The region has an urban population of 500 million people, accounting for approximately 40% of the continent's population, and an urban growth rate double that of the global average at 4.1% per year, compared to the global average of 2.1%. By 2050, it is estimated that over 60% of Africans will be living in urban areas.