African nations are experiencing GDP losses of 2-5% due to extreme weather events, with many diverting up to 9% of their budgets to address the consequences, according to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report.
Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, faces an estimated annual adaptation cost of US$30-50 billion over the next decade, representing 2-3% of the region's GDP, the report says.
“Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks arising from climate change-related weather events and patterns, which cause massive humanitarian crises with detrimental impacts on agriculture, and food security, education, energy, infrastructure, peace and security, public health, water resources, and overall socio-economic development,” said Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission.
According to the report, to save lives and livelihoods, African nations must urgently invest in their national meteorological and Hydrological Services and accelerate the implementation of the Early Warnings For All initiative, which was launched at the 2023 Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. This plan aims to provide all segments of African society, especially the most vulnerable, with timely and accurate information about impending natural disasters.