Africa is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change, with the most vulnerable populations hit hardest. Rising temperatures, sea‑level rise, shifting precipitation patterns, and more severe weather are endangering human health, food and water security, and the region’s socio‑economic development, according to United Nations Climate Change reports. These changes are driving food insecurity, displacement, and water‑resource stress across the continent.
While climate change impacts everyone, marginalized groups are often excluded from the conversation. Women, youth, low‑income communities, children, indigenous peoples, the elderly, coastal residents, and small‑island states are disproportionately affected yet rarely have a seat at the table. The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) notes that women and youth are especially vulnerable, and their potential as powerful stakeholders and change agents is frequently overlooked in climate policies and decisions.
Africa is experiencing a cascade of devastating effects, including biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and more frequent floods and droughts. Human activities—particularly greenhouse‑gas emissions—are the primary drivers of these changes. To mitigate the negative impacts on vulnerable communities, it is essential to address the root causes by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices. In response, the ISS facilitated a virtual panel for young Africans to share experiences, engage policymakers, and develop recommendations for government leaders.
During the panel, Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, moderator and Head of Special Projects at ISS, highlighted the urgent need to act on climate change, citing Cyclone Freddy’s devastating damage and displacement in Southern Africa. She described the event as a stark reminder that vulnerable communities require immediate attention.
The link between gender and climate change was explored by Dr Tinuade Adekunbi Ojo, Senior Researcher and Head of the Pan‑African Women Studies Unit at the University of Johannesburg. She noted that women constitute 80 % of those displaced by climate change (UN Environment, 2020) and face heightened risks of violence (UN Human Rights Commission, 2022). Ojo argued that women’s limited resources, dependence on threatened natural assets, and restricted mobility increase their vulnerability, yet they are emerging as change agents. She called for gender‑responsive financing, targeted climate projects for women, and the integration of gender considerations into climate programmes.
Addressing mobility in climate‑affected communities, Aimée‑Noël Mbiyozo, Senior Research Consultant on Migration at ISS, emphasized the importance of viewing mobility—displacement, forced migration, and planned relocation—as an adaptation strategy rather than a failure to adapt. Recognized at the 2010 Cancun conference and enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement, mobility will become increasingly relevant as climate impacts intensify. Mbiyozo warned against common misconceptions and highlighted the personal, multifaceted nature of migration decisions.
Devyani Nighoskar, a researcher at Samuel Hall, raised the question of women’s contributions to climate solutions. Her study of climate‑adaptive measures in Somalia found that women who remain when men migrate possess a deeper understanding of long‑term adaptation. She advocated for strategic migration partnerships that give refugee‑led and community‑based organisations, especially women‑led groups, direct access to climate funding, enabling them to address urgent needs throughout all migration stages.
The role of young people in climate policy was championed by Adenike Oladosu, Director and Founder of I Lead Climate Action Initiative and Youth Delegate to COP25 and COP26. Oladosu highlighted the conflict in the Lake Chad region, exacerbated by climate‑driven livelihood loss, which fuels recruitment by armed groups such as Boko Haram. Citing the IPCC, she warned that without action, one in ten people could be displaced by 2044, threatening global security. She called for strengthened livelihood options, increased financing for adaptation and mitigation, and greater support for youth to develop skills, innovations, and funding for climate resilience.
Yan Roberts, co‑founder of a Johannesburg Leadership Institute, argued for prioritising community development and food production over a sole focus on climate change. Through the Africa Food Initiative, his team aims to boost local food production and reduce import dependence, anticipating a global food demand of $150 billion by 2030. Roberts stressed the need for investment in farming technologies, entrepreneurship, and the inclusion of Africa’s youthful population—60 % of whom are under 35—in these efforts.
Maunganidze responded that the ISS’s mission to advance human security in Africa integrates climate change as a central threat, especially given the continent’s reliance on subsistence farming. Extreme weather events jeopardise food security and livelihoods, making local food production and resilience‑building essential strategies.
Overall, addressing climate change in Africa cannot succeed without the perspectives and experiences of those most affected. Incorporating the knowledge of African communities, prioritising community development, and supporting food production are vital steps toward a sustainable future.
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