The relentless effects of climate change have wreaked havoc across Africa in 2024, with intensified rainy seasons leading to devastating floods that have left thousands dead and millions displaced. According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network, human-induced global warming, primarily driven by fossil fuel emissions, has made heavy seasonal rainfall over the Niger and Lake Chad basins 5–20 percent more severe this year.
The floods, which have primarily impacted countries such as Sudan, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, have unleashed a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. “These findings are deeply alarming,” said Izidine Pinto, a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and co-author of the study. Pinto described how “spells of heavy summer rainfall” are becoming the norm in the region, warning that continued global warming will only exacerbate these extreme weather events.
A Humanitarian Toll
The human cost of this year’s flooding is profound. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that approximately 1,500 lives have been lost, and over a million people have been displaced across West and Central Africa. The downpours have overwhelmed critical infrastructure, including dams in Nigeria and Sudan, leaving communities vulnerable and exposed.
In Sudan, where millions are already displaced due to ongoing conflict, flood-prone areas have become the unintended refuge for those fleeing violence. Scientists analyzing the situation used climate modeling to compare recent weather patterns with a hypothetical world unaffected by human-induced warming. The results revealed that monthlong spells of heavy rain in Sudan are now significantly more intense because of climate change.
Disproportionate Impact on Africa
Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, Africa faces the brunt of climate-induced disasters. Joyce Kimutai, a researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, emphasized this cruel irony: “Africa has played a small role in driving global emissions but is paying the highest price in terms of extreme weather events.”
The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for both local and global solutions. While climate change is a driving force, scientists noted that human-made issues such as inadequate dam maintenance and the absence of effective early warning systems exacerbate the devastation.
Calls for Action
WWA researchers have urged world leaders to take decisive action to curb emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. With the United Nations COP29 climate summit scheduled to convene in Azerbaijan next month, Pinto stressed the importance of accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. “With every fraction of a degree of warming, the risk of extreme floods will keep increasing,” he said.
The network also warned that if global temperatures rise to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—potentially as early as the 2050s—such catastrophic flooding could become an annual occurrence.
“This is only going to keep getting worse if we continue burning fossil fuels,” said Clair Barnes, another researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy.
As African nations battle the dual crises of climate change and underdeveloped infrastructure, the global community is called upon to provide support and work collaboratively to address the root causes of these disasters. The time for action is now, as the lives of millions hang in the balance.
