Environmental Challenges in Africa

Introduction

Current continental policies in Africa are focused on sustainability. From trade to transportation, energy to agriculture and investments, sustainability is at the forefront of African policy conversations. Both the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 23 highlight the importance of environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities.[1] Both goal propositions implicitly understand that presently, Africa’s environment is not managed in a sustainable manner, and this has made it susceptible to further socioeconomic and socio-political issues affecting the continent. For example, Africa is at the forefront of areas adversely impacted by climate change, despite its negligible addition to global carbon emissions.[2] The effects on climate change on land, agriculture, and urbanization has heightened latent security concerns, affected African economies and social structures and influenced global migration patterns. It is therefore important to understand some of the environmental challenges affecting Africa and why addressing them may prove difficult.

An Overview of Africa’s Environmental Challenges

Issues affecting the degradation of the environment generally fall under three major heads – pollution (air and water), climate change and land degradation.

Air Pollution

Household and ambient air pollution are major environmental concerns on the continent, with serious health implications.[3] According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental health risk.[4] In 2019, it accounted for 1.1 million deaths across the African continent.[5]

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[1] African Union, Linking Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://au.int/agenda2063/sdgs

[2] Adelle, C., (2016, February 10). How Africa can up its game to meet environmental challenges. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/how-africa-can-up-its-game-to-meet-environmental-challenges-54204

[3] Fisher, S, et. al, (2021). Air pollution and development in Africa: impacts on health, the economy and human capital. Lancet Planet Health Vol. 5, pp. e681-e688. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2542-5196%2821%2900201-1

[4] Roy, R. (2016, September). The cost of air pollution in Africa. OECD Development Center Working Paper No. 333. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.un.org/africarenewal/sites/www.un.org.africarenewal/files/The_cost_%20of_air%20pollution_in_%20Africa.pdf

[5] Fisher, S, et. al, (2021). Air pollution and development in Africa: impacts on health, the economy and human capital. Lancet Planet Health Vol. 5, pp. e681-e688. Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2542-5196%2821%2900201-1

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