In a sobering revelation, the inaugural edition of the State of Africa's Environment 2023 report, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya), has exposed the grim reality of Africa's ongoing hunger crisis.

With little hope for rainfall during the January to March dry season and forecasts suggesting below-average rainfall in the coming months, the report paints a bleak picture of a continent in distress.

“There is no end in sight for the hunger crisis and hope is slowly fizzling out as families enter the January to March dry season with little hope for rainfall. Estimates show that the March to May 2023 rainfall will also be below average, leading to a dramatic increase in the number of people in need of emergency food aid,” State of Africa’s Environment report has revealed.

The report, unveiled at a media briefing in Nairobi, highlights the devastating impact of climate change on Africa, where extreme weather events, droughts, and flooding have taken a disproportionate toll on its vulnerable population. Startling statistics from the report reveal that every third death caused by extreme weather or climate-related issues over the last 50 years occurred in Africa, accounting for a staggering 35 percent of global fatalities.

The climate crisis is not just a looming threat; it's already a harsh reality for millions of Africans. The "Provisional State of the Global Climate 2022" report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), cited in the document, emphasizes the severe impact of contrasting and deadly weather events across the continent. The climate crisis has become an existential threat, especially for those who have endured the wrath of nature for years without respite.

Agriculture-dependent nations like Ghana, Chad, and Mauritania are feeling the brunt of climate change as they witness the close connection between agricultural production and its impact on the environment. The report warns that the continent's youth is deeply concerned about the future of agriculture, while in Europe, climate change often remains an issue ignored until its repercussions are felt elsewhere.

One of the most alarming findings in the report is the significant increase in temperature across all five African regions. The rise in temperature is projected to worsen in the coming decades, exacerbating the decline in precipitation and further increasing food insecurity.

Desertification, affecting between 30 percent of land in western countries like Ghana and Nigeria to a staggering 80 percent in eastern nations like Ethiopia and Kenya, poses a significant threat to the continent's natural resources and food supply.

“Weather and climate extremes and their induced impacts are also exacerbated by rising global surface and sea temperatures. In East Africa, rainfall has been below average for four consecutive wet seasons, the longest sequence in 40 years. Across the region, under the effects of the drought and other shocks, an estimated 18.4-19.3 million people were facing acute food insecurity.”

Despite having 65 percent of the world's arable land left uncultivated, Africa imports a shocking 85 percent of its food from outside the continent. This trade imbalance further exposes the vulnerability of the continent's food security.

Air pollution is another major concern, with 1.1 million people in Africa dying annually due to its effects. Developed economies are contributing to this problem by using the continent as a dumping ground for used vehicles, worsening the air quality in African cities.

The report does offer some glimmers of hope, noting that Africa is making strides in the transition to renewable energy, with enormous untapped potential for generating clean energy. It also highlights the urgent need for providing clean cooking fuels to some 130 million Africans, as 0.7 million people lost their lives in 2019 due to the lack of access to clean cooking fuels.

Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) in Kenya, emphasized the collective responsibility to manage the environment properly and underscored the report's importance in guiding Africa's position in future climate negotiations.

“We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.”

Sunita Narain, Director General of CSE, reiterated the significance of the report, stating, the report will enable the continent to understand the different aspects of the environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development.
“Environment and development are two sides of the same coin,” she said.

The report, compiled by over 100 researchers and journalists from across the African continent, offers a comprehensive view of Africa's environmental challenges and emphasizes the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. As millions of Africans grapple with hunger, displacement, and despair, the report stands as a crucial call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to address the continent's pressing environmental issues.