Weather-related disruptions to transport in Africa are expected to increase.The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says Africa bears an increasingly heavy burden from climate change and disproportionately high costs for essential climate adaptation.A report commissioned by the African Development Bank Group estimates that African governments will need between $259 billion ad $407bn between 2020 and 2030 to repair and maintain road and rail infrastructure damaged by f loods. The World Bank’s October “Africa’s Pulse” report confirms the risks, stating that extreme weather events are expected to continue as global climate change takes hold. It points out that the worst f loods in decades in central and western Africa, multi-year droughts and f loods in eastern Africa, and the rising impact of cyclones in southern Africa continue to weigh on economic a c t iv it y. In the first half of 2024, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe declared national disasters due to severe droughts. “Overall, climate change amplifies the impacts of conflict and global shocks on agricultural yields, food production, and trade, thus raising food security problems. “In 2023, more than one in five people faced hunger in sub-Saharan Africa, and more than 70% of the population was unable to afford a healthy diet,” the report states.The WMO estimates that, on average, African countries are losing 2–5% of gross domestic product (GDP) and many are diverting up to 9% of their budgets responding to climate extremes.“Over the past 60 years, Africa has observed a warming trend that has become more rapid than the global average. In 2023, the continent experienced deadly heatwaves, heavy rains, f loods, tropical cyclones, and prolonged droughts,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. Low-lying countries and port operators are also having to cope with sea levels rising at around 3.4 mm per year.More accurate weather forecasting will help save lives and allow logistics companies to plan more accurately. “Investments in national meteorological and hydrological services in Africa are needed to enhance data collection and improve forecasting capabilities in order to strengthen the ability of these institutions to issue early warnings and advisories for extreme events,” adds the WMO.The World Bank has developed several initiatives to help countries incorporate climate change into road asset management. It is also working with the Africa Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to set up the new Africa Climate Resilient Investment Facility, which will develop the region’s capacity to integrate climate change considerations into the planning and design of infrastructure investments. ER
