By Hillary Asemota
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has estimated that African nations may lose $50 billion annually to climate change impacts and other associated vulnerabilities by 2050.
WMO Media Officer, Clare Nullis, in a signed statement on Thursday, quoted the Secretary General of the organisation, Prof. Petteri Taalas, as saying: “More than 1000 flood-related disasters were reported involving more than 20 000 deaths in Africa over this period, adding that it is estimated that by 2050, climate impacts could cost African nations $50 billion annually.
Whole raising concerns over climate and weather vulnerabilities, the organisation, acknowledged that high water stress is estimated to affect about 250 million people in Africa and is expected to displace up to 700 million people by 2030.
4 out of 5 African countries are unlikely to have sustainably managed water resources by 2030, it added.
“Rainfall patterns are disrupted, glaciers are disappearing and key lakes are shrinking.
“Rising water demand combined with limited and unpredictable supplies threatens to aggravate conflict and displacement.” WMO, said.
According to WMO, Africa only accounts for about 2% to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers disproportionately from the results.
“The worsening crisis and looming famine in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa shows how climate change can exacerbate water shocks, threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and destabiliizing communities, countries and entire regions,” says WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.
“Africa’s climate has warmed more than the global average since pre-industrial times (1850-1900).
“In parallel, the sea level rise along African coastlines is faster than the global mean, contributing to increases in the frequency and severity of coastal flooding and erosion, and salinity in low-lying cities.
“Changes in continental water bodies have major impacts on the agriculture sector, ecosystems, biodiversity.
“Temperature increase, heat waves, extensive floods, tropical cyclones, prolonged droughts, and sea level rise resulting in loss of lives, property damage, and population displacement, undermine Africa’s ability to achieve its commitments to meet the targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.”
The report, which is the third in the series, is a joint initiative between WMO and the African Union Commission and includes input from a wide range of UN organizations, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, development partners and climate experts.
On access to weather and climate information, it said that currently only 40% of the African population have access to early warning systems to protect them against extreme weather and climate change impacts.