Climate change in Africa News

[Daily Maverick] Cape Town came terrifyingly close to running dry, but 10 years on, is the city ready for the next climate-driven drought?

[Daily Maverick] Legal jurisdictions can no longer wring their hands in anguish and complain that they do not have enough authority or precedence to rule on matters relating to climate change.

[Vanguard] The Federal Government has issued yet another urgent warning about imminent floods that could endanger lives and property. The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, last week alerted that 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, must specially brace for the heavy rains expected between July 22 and August 5, 2025.

[Shabelle] Somalia's disaster agency (SoDMA) has raised alarm over a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by extreme drought and conflict-related displacement across multiple regions.

[New Times] Tea farmers in Gicumbi District say their agricultural planning has significantly improved thanks to more accurate, locally tailored weather forecasts made possible by a community-managed meteorological station.

[ENA] Addis Ababa -- Ethiopians along with the members of the international community based in the country will plant 700 million seedlings today as part of the Green Legacy Initiative of the country.

[Daily News] Dar es Salaam -- The Chief Research Officer of the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Philbert Luhunga, has warned of an increase in unpredictable climate change, including significant delays in rainfall.

[UN News] The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) raised the alarm on Wednesday over the rising toll of hunger, disease and displacement in various conflict-ridden parts of Sudan.

[The Conversation Africa] Many African countries are already struggling with heavy debt burdens. Climate change is making this worse. Africa contributes the least to global emissions but suffers the most from extreme weather, rising temperatures and drought. These disasters affect not just people's livelihoods but also national revenues, making debt repayment harder. Yet traditional debt contracts don't account for this.

[IPS] The Hague -- Legal minds in international law are trying to interpret the scope and impact of the landmark advisory opinion on climate change by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it said that states have a duty to prevent significant harm to the environment.

[Ethiopian Herald] Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative, a major environmental campaign, in 2019. Its principal purpose is to reduce deforestation, restore degraded land, and address the negative impacts of climate change across the country and beyond.

[Ethiopian Herald] ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia has called for stronger regional cooperation to combat food insecurity and promote sustainable food systems across Africa, using the platform of the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) to highlight its own national initiatives and leadership.

[allAfrica]

[Shabelle] Hargeisa, July 30 -- Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro on Tuesday appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance as a severe drought continues to impact tens of thousands across the self-declared republic.

[DW] The flooding began in the Yola area of Adamawa state, displacing 5,560 people so far, according to authorities. At least 11 others remain missing.

[Vanguard] The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted rainy and thundery weather conditions across the country from Monday to Wednesday, warning of possible flash floods in some areas.

[The Conversation Africa] The International Court of Justice, the world's highest court, handed down an advisory opinion on 23 July 2025 stating that climate change "imperils all forms of life". This followed a case brought by Vanuatu, a tiny South Pacific island nation threatened by rising sea levels, supported by 131 other countries - the biggest case the court had ever heard. The opinion sets out what all governments need to do to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further global warming. Climate law specialist Zunaida

[IPS] Srinagar, India & Kinshasa, DRC -- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) stands on the precipice of a profound environmental and social crisis, as the government prepares to auction 55 new oil blocks that cover more than half the country's landmass.

[Dabanga] Port Sudan -- At least three people have died, and more than 50 cases of sunstroke have been recorded in Port Sudan over recent days, as a severe heatwave and ongoing power outages push health services and residents to the brink. Medical professionals and civil society leaders are raising urgent concerns about the worsening situation, particularly as local hospitals report being overstretched and under-resourced.

[The Point] Climate change has become a global issue and affects various regions at different levels. The hydro-climatic conditions and the natural fragility of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) make it prone to floods. The review was intended to comprehensively explore the determinants of floods in the continent and their effects on public health.