GCA: Africa must harness climate-resilient solutions quickly

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has raised alarms, emphasizing the urgent need for Africa to swiftly adopt climate-resilient solutions to combat the looming threats posed by climate shocks. These shocks have the potential to impact millions of lives across the continent. Africa finds itself at the forefront of the climate crisis, facing increased occurrences of floods, droughts, storms, and heat stress. According to Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA, nine out of the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change are located in Africa. The economic costs are staggering, amounting to $15 billion annually, with projections to soar to $40 billion per year. What makes this situation even more challenging is that Africa only contributes a mere 3% to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet bears the brunt of the consequences. To compound the issue, Africa is still reeling from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent energy price inflation following the Ukraine conflict. Verkooijen stresses that Africa is standing at a crossroads and must make a critical choice – adapt or face dire consequences. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program has emerged as a beacon of hope to address this pressing issue. This program, initiated by African leaders, signifies the continent taking charge of its destiny rather than solely relying on external funding. The program underscores the importance of integrating climate adaptation into development strategies to foster job creation and sustainable growth. The pillars of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program revolve around investments in agriculture, urban infrastructure, job creation, and securing financial support to the tune of $25 billion. The agenda includes leveraging digital solutions to enhance agricultural productivity, building climate-resilient city infrastructure, creating new green economy jobs, and rallying global support for financing the program. The upcoming summit to be held in the Netherlands, co-hosted by Verkooijen and President Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank, marks a crucial juncture for world leaders and major stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to support Africa's climate adaptation efforts. The recent pledges by the global north to double their adaptation finance commitments must translate into tangible action. Verkooijen highlights that the urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate and decisive action from all parties involved. African leaders cannot afford to wait for incremental progress; they need substantial financial backing to implement the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program effectively. The success of this program hinges on the collective efforts of the international community in fulfilling their promises to safeguard Africa's future. The looming climate threats facing Africa necessitate a bold and unwavering response, and the time for action is now.