Africa is not facing a climate crisis, it is living through one

A general view of building and an informal structure submerged in floodwater in Giyani on January 16, 2026.[AFP]

When floods overwhelm cities, drought destroys farmlands, and cyclones uproot families overnight, the urgent question remains: is the world prepared to act swiftly enough to save lives on the African continent?

Africa's experience of climate change reflects vulnerability in nearly every dimension: high exposure to risk, limited capacity to cope with impacts, and constrained fiscal space that restricts meaningful adaptation investment.