The Effects of Climate Change on the Economies of African Countries

Academic Paper , 2023 , 16 Pages

Politics - Environmental Policy

Climate change is a phenomenon that is affecting not only African countries, but also other nations across the globe. Although African countries are contributing less to those factors that lead to climate change, it is the most impacted by its menaces. The atmosphere of the earth contains 24 different greenhouse gases but only one, that is carbon dioxide is emitted by human activities in excess to the atmosphere leading to the imbalances of these gases by burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gases emit high carbon to the atmosphere and worst of all, cutting down of trees that regulate the presence of this gases by taking carbon and releasing oxygen makes matters worse. Carbon holds more heat in the atmosphere, thereby bringing climate change.

Africa relies heavily on natural resources for their economic well-being, and most of the agricultural activities across Africa rely much on rainwater and its distribution. Once the rainfall pattern is affected, many Africans would be affected and it will be economically disadvantageous. This paper aims to investigate the effect of these climate changes on the economies of African countries, and the impact, and the challenges that these countries faced due to it.

ABSTRACT

Climate change is a phenomenon that is affecting not only African countries but also other nations across the globe; Although African countries are contributing less to those factors that lead to climate change, it is the most impacted by its menaces. The atmosphere of the earth contains twenty-four different greenhouse gases but only one, that is carbon dioxide is emitted by human activities in excess to the atmosphere leading to the imbalances of these gases, burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gases emit high carbon to the atmosphere, worse of all cutting down of trees that regulate the presence of this gases by taking carbon and releasing oxygen makes matters worse. Carbon holds more heat in the atmosphere thereby bringing climate change.

Africa relies heavily on natural resources for their economic well-being, and most of the agricultural activities across Africa rely much on rainwater and its distribution. Once the rainfall pattern is affected, many Africans would be affected and it will be economically disadvantageous. This paper aims to investigate the effect of these climate changes on the economies of African countries, and the impact, and the challenges that these countries faced due to it.

Keywords: climate change, African countries, African economies, climate menaces, carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I praise and thank Almighty Allah for a help in working on this research paper under strain conditions; if it were not for Him I shouldn’t have able to write and produce my second writing.

Secondly, I thank the efforts of two individuals which cannot be quantified, a families and a friends for their full support throughout the research period, Halima Abdi Kareem, undergraduate student studying environmental science who at first place brought the idea of researching on the environmental issues affecting the African countries, and her moral and emotional support are beyond the bound throughout the research period. Boru Molu Guyo, Nutritionist, for his moral, emotional, academic and financial support throughout the research period.

INTRODUCTION

Climate change is a major threat to the economies of African countries since the change will impact the amount, intensity, and distribution of rainfall across the continent; it has greater damage to the livelihoods of 70 percent of Africans who directly depend on Agriculture thus will deepen the poverty in Africa. Besides, climate change also instigates the rising of sea levels along the coastal areas of Africa, thus resulting in coastal erosion; destruction of coral reefs which in turns affect tourism, fishing, and mining.

Hope (2008) mentions that in only sub-Saharan countries, Agriculture contributes 40 percent of export, 34 percent of GDP, almost 30 percent of foreign exchange earnings and contribute more than 70 percent of employment. Any threat to agriculture is a threat to the backbone of the African economy which once is affected, affects millions of people. For instance, with just an increase in global temperature from one degree Celsius to four degrees Celsius, the African continent’s overall GDP is expected to decline by 2.25 to 12.12 percent.

Parry et al. (2004) noted that by the year 2080’s, the climate change is estimated to put additional 80-120 million people at the risk of hunger and 70-80 percent of these people were in Africa. With a rising sea level, Mc Granahan et al. 2007 estimated the number of people at risk from a coastal flooding from one million people in 1990 to seventy million people by the year 2080. With almost forty percent of people in West Africa living along the coastal line, it damages their economic and emotional well-being thus affected greatly the economy of those West African countries. Roads, drains, pavement, and coconut plantation has disappeared due to the rise in sea levels in Cotonou, Benin. Dossou and Glehoenou (2007) estimated a shoreline retreat of 400 meters along the Cotonou coast that was swallowed by the sea.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The economies of Africa majorly depend on Agriculture, almost three-quarters of Africans directly depend on Agriculture which is mainly rain fed. Also, the number of people living along the African coast is increasing at an annual rate of 3.3 percent doubling the global average, US Dollar 300 billion was generated from the blue economy in 2018 which has created 49 million jobs in Africa. African economy that is majorly dependent on Agriculture and Blue economy is of no doubt that climate change will affect majorly the economies of the African countries.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

To determine the effect of the climate change on the economies of the African countries. Various relevant research materials were analyzed and their findings were recorded appropriately.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study was limited to only library research that rely heavily on the reports of major organizations and individuals. The accuracy of this report’s findings was based on the accuracy of the bibliography used.

SIGNIFICANCE

The reports and their findings will contribute to the existing bodies of environmental science research available; it will make it easy for the researchers, policymakers, and environmental science students access to its findings and most importantly for the policymakers to act on its recommendations.

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• Author: Guyo Huqa (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V1376637
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346913135
• ISBN (Book): 9783346913142
• Language: English
• Tags: effects, climate, change, economies, african, countries