Climate Change

Climate change could cost Africa billions by 2030

Africa currently loses between $7 billion and $15 billion a year because of climate change. If that trend continues, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina tells the Zero podcast, that number could reach $50 billion by 2030. That’s why Adesina is focusing the bank’s efforts on financing climate adaptation, which he describes as the “forgotten cousin” of climate mitigation.

2 May, 2024

Environment

Over 2.4 billion workers face climate-related health risks

Bloomberg News reports that more than 2.4 billion workers — or 70% of the global workforce — are exposed to climate change-related health hazards. An International Labour Organisation’s report, published Monday, also estimates that 18,970 lives and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years are lost annually to 22.87 million occupational injuries attributable to excessive heat.

24 April, 2024

Africa

Africa’s megacities threatened by heat, floods and disease – urgent action is needed to start greening and adapt to climate change

By Meelan Thondoo, University of Cambridge Cities cover just 3% of the planet. But they emit 78% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, absorb 80% of final global energy (what consumers use) and consume 60% of clean drinking water. African megacities like Lagos, Nigeria (with 21 million residents) and Cairo, Egypt (with 10 million residents) are experiencing significant temperature increases due to the urban heat island effect […]

24 April, 2024

South Africa

Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility

By Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, University of Adelaide Ivan Vladislavić is Johannesburg’s literary linkman. He tells us, in the first pages of his new book, The Near North, that before cities were lit, first by gaslight and later electricity, people of means paid torchbearers to escort them through dark and perilous streets. “In Paris,” he observes, “these linkmen were often police spies or informers, while in London they were […]

24 April, 2024

Africa

History for sale: what does South Africa’s struggle heritage mean after 30 years of democracy?

By Duane Jethro, University of Cape Town One of my favourite statues is the one of Nelson Mandela at the Sandton City shopping centre in Johannesburg. Larger than life, its oversized bronze shoes shimmer in the evening light, polished by the hands of many passersby who crowd around to take pictures with it. At the entrance of a square in the mall, it’s a jovial image […]

24 April, 2024

Africa

Africa’s megacities threatened by heat, floods and disease – urgent action is needed to start greening and adapt to climate change

By Meelan Thondoo, University of Cambridge Cities cover just 3% of the planet. But they emit 78% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, absorb 80% of final global energy (what consumers use) and consume 60% of clean drinking water. African megacities like Lagos, Nigeria (with 21 million residents) and Cairo, Egypt (with 10 million residents) are experiencing significant temperature increases due to the urban heat island effect […]

24 April, 2024

Environment

Agriculture Ministry calls for national drought emergency

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has advised the government to declare a national drought emergency following its assessment of crop prospects and food security. According to Nampa, the recommendation was made after monitoring the situation in the seven major northern communal crop-producing regions from 12 February to 11 March 2024. Executive Director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata highlighted significant distress grazing in the southern, western, and eastern parts of the […]

23 April, 2024

World

Global coral bleaching caused by global warming demands a global response

Bleached coral at the Keppel Islands in the southern Great Barrier Reef in early March 2024. © AIMS | Eoghan Aston By Britta Schaffelke, Australian Institute of Marine Science; David Wachenfeld, Australian Institute of Marine Science, and Selina Stead, Newcastle University The fourth global coral bleaching event, announced this week, is an urgent wake-up call to the world. While the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s announcement is […]

19 April, 2024

Africa

How to end hunger in sub-Saharan Africa: fight inequality, gender imbalances and climate change

By Helen Onyeaka, University of Birmingham A greater part of Africa’s population can’t afford a healthy diet than any other regional population. Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa is caused by climate change, high levels of poverty, rapid population growth, low economic growth, inadequate infrastructure and conflicts. Women are the backbone of agricultural labour in the region. The problems of limited access to land, water and technology faced […]

18 April, 2024