The 54 African countries account for 15% of the world’s population but contribute less than 4% of the CO2 heating the planet
RH Desk
November 09
With Cop27 discussing climate finance, a new study says that the climate crisis would have a huge impact on African countries, which have very little role as far as the global climate crisis is concerned.
The study says the GDP growth rate of these countries may fall by up to 64% by the end of the century even if the world succeeds in limiting global heating to 1.5C.
The 54 African countries account for 15% of the world’s population but contribute less than 4% of the CO2 heating the planet, in contrast to 27% from China, 15% from the US and 17% from the EU.
The study which has been commissioned by Christian Aid has found that burning fossil fuels at the current rate will have a huge impact on the finances of African countries.
” The average hit to GDP per capita could be as much as 34%, finds the report, while the effect on GDP growth will lead to an average 20% reduction in rates by 2050 and a huge 64% on average by 2100″, the research has found.
The study analysed the estimated GDP growth for 50 African countries if there was no global heating, compared with the best and worst case scenarios of 1.5C and 2.4C by 2100.
Under current climate policies, the GDP growth of eight countries – Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, and Nigeria – could be reduced by as much as 75%. The worst hit nations generate less than 0.43 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per person, in contrast to the US and Canada generating 14 and Saudi Arabia 18 tonnes per person.
The findings further underscore the need for tangible progress on climate finance for adaptation and loss and damage.
Incidentally, these are the key areas on which developing nations will push richer polluting countries in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday, which is finance day at Cop27.
The African nations contribute very less to the global climate crisis but it is the continent most affected by catastrophic climatic changes such as rising sea levels and melting glaciers, as well as increasingly erratic and destructive extreme weather events such as drought, wildfires, floods and heatwaves.
