Righting the injustice of Africa’s water crisis

Johannesburg—Imagine that a crisis emerges in your home, workplace, or community. It was not your fault. Yet, you are the one who is suffering the most, while those who created and benefited from it continue to make matters worse. This egregious injustice is all too real for Africa.

Although Africa contributes less than 4 percent of global greenhouse gases emissions annually, it is still one of the most affected regions by climate change and climate variability. Already, climate disruptions, crises, and water-related disruptions are threatening human well-being, economic development, as well as human well-being.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2021 report confirmed that global warming intensifies and accelerates the water cycle. Climate change will continue to fuel destructive flooding and rain, but it will also increase the frequency and severity of droughts in many areas. This will result in less access to water in areas where one third of the population is already facing water shortages every day. This can also lead to more hunger, malnutrition and even famine.

Already, the first climate change-induced drought has occurred. Madagascar was hit hard by the worst drought in its history, resulting in a food crisis that saw 1.3 million people starved to death. Tens of thousands were also facing life-threatening circumstances. But the plight of Madagascar’s people received precious little attention in international media.

Madagascar isn’t the only one. A drought in the Horn of Africa is threatening crops and livestock in Kenya and Somalia. People will migrate to better conditions if they cannot get their basic needs met at home. This can potentially increase economic and political insecurity as well as impede future prosperity. Angola has seen this happen with its persistent drought, which forced thousands to seek refuge from Namibia.

However, while those who have received the least benefit from the activities that have caused climate change could lose their homes and livelihoods due to the consequences, those who are most responsible have not provided adequate funding to support Africa’s adaptation. In 2009, the rich pledged $100 billion per annum to help developing countries adapt to climate change. But they fell well short, and the lion’s share of the funding was allocated for mitigation, rather than urgently needed adaptation measures. Whereas African governments estimated that they needed $7.4 billion per year by 2020, Africa received less than $5.5 billion (roughly $5 per person) per year between 2014 and 2018, and funding for adaptation amounted to just $16.5 billion—barely half the total for mitigation.

Africa’s funding needs are now much larger—and growing fast. The United Nations Environment Programme’s latest Adaptation Gap Report estimates that adaptation in developing countries will cost some $70 billion each year, with costs potentially rising to $140-300 billion in 2030 and $280-500 billion in 2050.

Africa had some hope at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last Nov. The developed economies pledged to at least double their collective adaptation finance for developing countries by 2025 from current levels. But even if they fulfill these commitments—no sure thing—more must be done to deliver water security to Africa.

The African Development Bank estimates that $64 billion will be needed annually to meet the continent’s water-related needs. Yet, Africa is investing only $10-19 billion each year in water infrastructure.

Africa did not cause the climate crisis, but African leaders are taking the initiative in developing strategies for coping with it, including its impact on the continent’s water security and sanitation. It is unclear if those most responsible for climate change will make their money before it is too late. Project Syndicate

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Alex Simalabwi, executive secretary, is the global head of Climate Resilience at the Global Water Partnership.

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