Africa pays for West's climate mess, and it's bound to get worse

Eastern African countries are experiencing a severe drought that has decimated livelihoods in vulnerable regions, with millions in need of emergency support. Kenya is no exception, with all the 24 arid and semi-arid counties facing a harsh drought, and thousands facing famine. These are the adverse impacts of global climate change, for which Africa and other developing countries bear the brunt through decreased rainfall, increasing temperatures and water shortage that affect their very survival.

It is just the beginning, and will get pretty worse in coming decades. Africa’s limited adaptive capacity, grinding poverty and economic deprivation makes it more vulnerable than other regions of the world. Studies estimate that up to a quarter of Africa’s population is at risk of extinction in the next 50 years if nothing is done to limit effects of emissions and scale up adaptation measures.