1. What will the immediate effects of climate change be on people living there?
Africa is already experiencing the immediate effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones. These changes are damaging crops, reducing access to water, and increasing food insecurity. Many rural communities that depend on agriculture and natural resources are facing immediate threats to their way of life.
2. How is the region being affected by migration due to climate change, or how might it be in the future?
Climate change is a growing driver of internal migration across Africa. People are moving from rural areas affected by drought, flooding, and land degradation to cities in search of more stable living conditions. Urban areas are under increasing pressure as they absorb large numbers of displaced people, often without adequate housing or infrastructure. In some regions, especially in the Sahel, climate stress is contributing to cross-border migration and intensifying competition for resources, which can lead to conflict.
3. What impact will this have on the livelihoods of people living there, in terms of health, housing, community, and employment?
Health: Increased heat and poor water quality are contributing to the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera, and other waterborne illnesses. Malnutrition is also on the rise due to declining agricultural productivity.
Housing: Homes in low-lying and informal settlements are particularly vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and extreme weather.
Community: Displacement disrupts social structures and traditional ways of life. It also creates tension in areas receiving large numbers of migrants.
Employment: Climate change is reducing job opportunities in agriculture, fishing, and pastoralism—sectors that employ a large portion of the population. Many people are forced into informal or unstable jobs in overcrowded urban centers.
In short, climate change is not only an environmental issue in Africa—it is a growing humanitarian and socio-economic crisis that is reshaping lives, livelihoods, and entire communities.