Climate change in Africa News

[African Arguments] Chinese companies have invested billions in Zimbabwe's lithium. Now Harare wants to ensure some processing happens before export.

[The Conversation Africa] The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is the world's largest flying bird, with a wingspan reaching an incredible 3.5 metres. These birds are oceanic nomads: they spend most of their 60 years of life at sea and only come to land to breed approximately every two years once they have reached sexual maturity.

[SAnews.gov.za] Several flood-stricken parts of KwaZulu-Natal have been classified disaster areas by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng.

[New Times] Many parts of the country will continue to experience above normal rainfall amount, in the next 10 days, with south-western parts of the country set to record higher amount of rainfall than other parts of the country, according to Rwanda Meteorology Agency.

[New Times] Rwanda and Denmark, on January 21, signed an agreement of cooperation in fighting climate change and environmental conservation, as part of efforts to bolster bilateral ties.

[The Conversation Africa] The Agulhas long-billed lark (Certhilauda brevirostris) is only found in South Africa. It builds nests on the ground mainly in Renosterveld fynbos, a type of vegetation filled with grasses and wild spring flowers that is critically endangered by agricultural expansion. The University of Cape Town's FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology recently published the first study into the nesting practices of the lark. We talk to one of the researchers, Robert Thomson, about the future of this bird.

[Daily News] PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed all citizens to leave dangerous flood-prone areas as El Nino rains continue to wreak havoc in Dar es Salaam and other coastal areas.

[The Conversation Africa] The Congo Basin of central Africa is well known for its network of rivers that drain a variety of landscapes, from dense tropical forests to more arid and wooded savannas. Among the Congo River's large tributaries, the Ruki is unique in its extremely dark colour, which renders the water opaque below a few centimetres' depth.

[Africa Renewal] African Cup of Nations joy is marred by displacements and soaring sexual violence in the east as the World Food Programme makes tough decisions amid funding shortages

[The Conversation Africa] The devastation caused by the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa demonstrates again that the country is not moving fast enough to adopt appropriate urban planning. It should be integrating risk assessment and management in the design and development of cities. This is becoming more urgent as the frequency of floods increases.

[The Conversation Africa] South Africa's government conservation organisations have experienced substantial budget cuts. Even after steps to cut costs, South African National Parks reported a big shortfall (R223 million or about US$11.92 million) for 2021/22. So did the provincial body KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife (R89 million; about US$4.77 million).

[The Conversation Africa] Lake Retba, better known as Lac Rose (the Pink Lake), is located around 35km from the city of Dakar, Senegal. It sits in a depression with a shoreline 6.5 metres below sea level.

[Seychelles News Agency] A not-for-profit organisation focused on combatting land degradation and deforestation on Seychelles' Praslin Island has ventured into agroforestry. Terrestrial Restoration Action Society Seychelles (TRASS) recently opened a second nursery with a capacity of twelve thousand local and rare fruits.

[The Herald] Precious Manomamo Herald Reporter

[IPS] Bangkok -- As the world is still gearing up to welcome 2024, let us find a moment to reflect on some of the key trends of the past year and pursue now to embrace the path towards hope and promise for everyone, everywhere.

[The Conversation Africa] Anyone who watches the news will have seen the devastation that tropical cyclones can cause when they reach land, with very strong winds, high rainfall and flooding. A cyclone like this, Idai, moved over Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique in March 2019. At that time, it was the deadliest storm in Africa.

[Government of Mauritius] The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo, chaired, this morning, at the headquarters of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) in Port Louis, the Third National Crisis Committee as tropical cyclone Belal approaches Mauritius.

[Government of Mauritius] The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made a statement, this afternoon, at the headquarters of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) in Port Louis, after a review of the situation following the recent heavy rains associated with the Tropical Cyclone Belal, in the presence of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo.

[The Conversation Africa] Ghana has introduced some climate change policies and general environmental regulations but has yet to pass a Climate Change Act. This leaves the country without effective legal and regulatory instruments for addressing climate change. Climate change law expert Kikelomo Kila sets out her findings in a recent paper on why Ghana must not follow the "command and control" regulatory approach.

[Afrobarometer] Citizens aware of climate change say action is needed from government, developed countries, business and industry, and ordinary people.