The world is making steady progress toward climate action, driven by agreements at various high-level stakeholder meetings, such as the recently concluded UN Conference of Parties (COP 29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Although current efforts remain insufficient in the face of the ever-increasing climate change impacts, a further push this 2025 at all levels of action can yield tremendous results and ensure that we have protected planet Earth for the benefit of all or instance, the $300 billion finance commitment made at COP 29 last year aims to mitigate climate related impacts if effectively directed toward climate action.
Additionally, governments worldwide have implemented national strategies focusing on conservation, adaptation, and mitigation to address climate change.
Despite ongoing efforts, climate change’s impacts continue to worsen daily in most African countries.
Droughts are becoming more severe, floods are intensifying and becoming more frequent, diseases are increasing and numerous other challenges persist, leading to the loss of lives and livelihoods.
Moreover, cases of malnutrition have increased and food security is under a serious threat.
Further, poverty levels, conflicts and migration have steadily gone high.
For instance, malaria, a leading cause of illness in East Africa, is now being reported in cooler areas.
Rising temperatures have enabled malaria-carrying mosquitoes to expand to higher altitudes, putting millions at risk.
Data from various research centres indicate that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded, meaning climate risks will likely increase.
The situation will blow out of proportion if urgent strategies are not implemented.
Africa bears the heaviest burden of climate change and experiences high costs for climate adaptation.
According to the World Meteorological Report of 2023, African countries are losing around two to five per cent of their Gross Domestic Product to climate change-related responses, while the cost of adaptation will range between $30-50 billion annually.
Therefore, much must be done for a continent already burdened with debts, unstable economies, high illiteracy levels and other age-long problems.
We must double our efforts in 2025 to reduce greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, which are the significant causes of climate change.
To achieve this, all citizens must be involved, all stakeholders and key decision-makers must be approached and all government agencies must be held responsible for climate inaction.
Citizens must be informed and educated about how they can contribute to climate action through environmental conservation or sustainable consumption.
Comprehensive communication strategies that break down this complex scientific information and data to an easily understandable level would be the missing link to getting everyone involved.
Once this information is broken down to show the specific impact of climate change on ordinary people, such as farmers, it will be easy to influence action.
Effective communication will help create clear, impactful messages to turn science into stories everyone can relate to.
It will also help counter misinformation, especially in this age of social media, where scepticism and false claims are likely to delay action.
There is also a need to leverage effective communication to empower marginalised communities in the arid and semi-arid lands, especially women, children and persons with disabilities.
Research shows that a mix of communication channels can help spread messages further, but community radios are the most effective for those in ASAL areas with minimal internet connectivity.
With broadcasts in local dialects, community members are likely to benefit significantly from this.
Effective communication must ensure that everyone is involved in climate action.
As the effects of climate change continue to be evident in most African countries, we must increase our efforts to tackle this menace.
As nations prepare for COP 30, scheduled for November this year in Brazil, Africa must adequately prepare to demand more global financing to help curb this climate change menace.
MORRIS MAKABE
Communication specialist
