Climate change in Africa News

[Daily Maverick] Though not El Niño-related, the Western Cape's dry spells in July are not helping South Africa as it prepares for the predicted monster El Niño, which is expected to be felt far and wide.

[ENA] Addis Ababa, August 2, 2026 (ENA--As the world grapples with intensifying climate change, accelerating environmental degradation, and the alarming loss of biodiversity, Ethiopia stands on the threshold of an extraordinary national moment. Only hours remain before millions of Ethiopians unite to plant 800 million seedlings in a single day--a scale of collective environmental action rarely witnessed anywhere in the world.

[UN News] As much of the world faces grapples with above normal temperatures and major rainfall changes, the UN Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned on Friday that El Niño, a powerful climate pattern shaping global weather, will intensify starting next month.

[RFI] Nsanje, Malawi - When Davie Kampira, 34, a farmer in Nsanje, southern Malawi, received 34 banana suckers in 2024, he did not envisage that the few dozen plants he tried out on a run-down piece of land, previously used for brickmaking, would transform into a small estate. Today, two years later, the land beside the river has produced nine hectares of different banana varieties, along with houses, a shop and a better life for his two children and wife.

[This Day] Residents and traditional leaders of the oil-producing Aiyetoro community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised fresh concerns over the worsening impact of climate change and coastal erosion, warning that the historic coastal settlement is on the verge of extinction unless the federal government urgently intervenes with a permanent sea embankment project.

[UN News] El Niño is putting millions of lives at risk in eastern and southern Africa but the UN is ensuring that communities are better prepared to deal with its impact.

[allAfrica] Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- Evidence is growing that the people most affected by HIV are also the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

[This Day] Port Harcourt -- The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has intensified efforts to restore oil-degraded mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland, announcing the successful restoration of 560 hectares of mangrove forest and the commencement of a second phase covering an additional 438 hectares across seven communities.

[Daily Maverick] The snow blanketing some areas in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Free State is expected to start melting soon, creating icy road conditions.

[The Conversation Africa] The world's governments will arrive in Addis Ababa in late 2027 for COP32, the first African-hosted climate summit in five years. Ethiopia's presidency is on behalf of the African Union, the continental body. Addis Ababa has the chance to show what a Conference of Parties (COP) can deliver. But for that to happen the work needs to begin now.

[This Day] · Oil prices slide as US, Iran pause hostilities over Strait of Hormuz

[Daily Maverick] Months after May's catastrophic Western Cape floods, news headlines have faded, residents describe what living in waist-deep water for three weeks felt like, while local government grapples with funding shortfalls and climate adaptation plans.

[Liberian Observer] When footage of flooding in Ghana surfaced on social media, Liberians were concerned and worried about possible occurrences in Liberia. Parts of the country were flooded after days of rain, submerging parts of the capital--Accra--and disrupting transportation.

[SAnews.gov.za] The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says typical winter conditions are expected across the country this week as a cold front moves through.

[The Conversation Africa] Climate change is affecting cities more and more. This creates major challenges, but it also gives fast-growing cities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the chance to adapt to global warming in new and better ways.

[This Day] · Average cost of a pot hits N29,578, up 14.6% in one year

[This Day] A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK, in partnership with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), will lead a consortium of stakeholders in a three-year research to identify the negative health risks of extreme heat across 10 selected settlements in Lagos.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured Kenyans that the government is implementing extensive measures to cushion farmers and safeguard national food security following below-average rainfall that has affected crop production in several key agricultural regions.

[Shabelle] Mogadishu, Somalia -- Somalia's disaster agency [SoDMA] convened government health officials, private hospitals and medical organizations Thursday to strengthen flood preparedness amid forecasts of potential Super El Niño rains.

[Daily Maverick] A historic El Niño is set to scorch commodity markets and hit consumers where it hurts, threatening to inflate global prices for essential commodities while creating challenges for agriculture and food security.