For the first time, the global average temperature has crossed the critical threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in 2024. This increase results in unprecedented upheavals which particularly hit the African continent, already vulnerable to climate change. . A milestone that sounds like a warning for the future of our planet.
The alarming figures of an extraordinary year
The global thermometer panicked in 2024, reaching an average of 15.10°C, reports the latest report from the European Copernicus Institute. This increase of 1.6°C compared to the pre-industrial era exceeds the record set in 2023 by 0.12°C. Even more worrying: eleven months out of twelve have exceeded the critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The oceans have not been spared, with an average surface temperature rising to 20.87°C, profoundly disrupting marine ecosystems. In July 2024, almost half of the Earth’s surface was suffocated by heat waves of unprecedented intensity.
The African continent is bearing the brunt of these climatic upheavals. In the Maghreb, the mercury reached peaks with temperatures exceeding 50°C, endangering the lives of populations. In the Sahel, persistent drought, combined with local conflicts, is pushing entire communities onto the roads of exile. East Africa is struggling with devastating floods that are engulfing villages and crops. In Central Africa, forests are burning at an alarming rate, destroying unique ecosystems and releasing even more carbon into the atmosphere.
Changing rainfall patterns are disrupting traditional agricultural cycles. Farmers, disoriented by these changes, are struggling to adapt their ancestral practices to these new climatic conditions. Sowing and harvest periods, once well established, become unpredictable. So many emergencies that must be addressed while the continent lacks funding.
The human and economic price of climate change
These climatic upheavals are widening inequalities on the continent. Fishermen are seeing their catches decline in overheated oceans, where the migration of fish to cooler waters disrupts the economies of coastal communities. Farmers watch helplessly as their fields dry up or flood, threatening the food security of entire regions.
In the growing number of climate-displaced camps, tensions are building around increasingly scarce resources. Health services are overwhelmed by increasing heat-related illnesses and contaminated water sources. Education systems are also disrupted, with many schools having to close during extreme heat events. The Copernicus report draws an alarming observation.
Towards concrete solutions
African ecosystems, already weakened by human activities, are under additional pressure. Endemic species, incapable of quickly adapting to these brutal changes, are seeing their populations decline dangerously. Large mammals, symbols of African wildlife, are particularly affected by the modification of their habitats and the scarcity of water points.
Faced with this situation, Africa is not remaining idle. Innovative initiatives are multiplying to develop infrastructures capable of resisting climatic hazards. Rural electrification using renewable energies is progressing, offering sustainable alternatives to populations. Reforestation and ecosystem restoration projects are emerging, combining traditional knowledge and modern technologies.
Many communities are developing early warning systems to anticipate climate disasters. Resilient agricultural techniques, such as agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture, are increasingly being adopted. However, these efforts remain insufficient without real international support. Industrialized countries, the main culprits of global warming, must honor their financial commitments to support the continent’s adaptation.
A wake-up call for humanity
Crossing the 1.5°C threshold in 2024 is a wake-up call. Africa, which has contributed only marginally to greenhouse gas emissions (less than 4% of global emissions), is paying a disproportionate price for the climate crisis. This injustice demands an immediate global response that meets the challenges.
The international community must not only respect its commitments to reduce emissions, but also accelerate the transfer of green technologies to Africa. Funding for climate adaptation, promised at the various COPs, must finally materialize. Because time is running out: 2024 is perhaps only a foretaste of the upheavals to come if nothing is done to reverse the trend.
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