Climate change and hunger in Africa

Africa is continent where hunger is a very common thing for many of the Africans. In a modern world we like to believe that our society has reached certain civilization standards but one look at the Africa and thousands of children that starve to death is enough to see just how civilized our society really is.

And there's also the matter of climate change. Africa is the least responsible for global warming of our planet but will nonetheless pay the highest price. The industrialized countries of the developed world played major role in emitting massive amounts of greenhouse gases and Africa will sadly be first in line where climate change will show its scary face.

The latest report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says that spring rains in eastern Horn of Africa are projected to begin late this year and be substantially lower than normal. This is the area with some of the poorest countries in the world such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Lower amount of rainfall would have significant impacts on crop production and would lead to even bigger hunger in this area. Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya are already experiencing severe food crises and with less rainfall things could get only worse.

Droughts will also lead to severe water shortages and many African countries will be in need of large funds for aid refuges and drought-affected communities.

The scientists believe that there is a direct link between the rapid warming in Indian and Pacific oceans and decreased amount of rainfall in Africa. They say that the combination of warmer air and increased humidity over the Indian and Pacific oceans produces more frequent rainfall over the oceans. The air then rises over the equatorial Indian and Pacific oceans, and goes west, towards the Africa. Once it reaches Africa the air has already lost moisture from rainfall over the oceans, which leads to decreased rain amounts in many parts of the eastern Africa.

Since the warming trend is expected to continue Africa can expect more droughts  in years to come. With droughts there comes more hunger, and with more hunger there comes more deaths.

Why is climate change a major threat to Africa?

Africa is a continent most vulnerable to climate change. Already very hot and dry Africa will soon become even dryer and hotter due to climate change. More droughts will cause even more hunger in the Black Continent and Africa will find it extremely hard to cope with the climate change impact in years to come.

Africa's economy will take a massive hit by climate change, especially since Africa doesn't have enough money or the adequate policies to adapt to climate change. Without the help of rich countries Africa's future will look anything but bright.

African economy is still mostly based on agriculture despite the fact that there is a growing trend for industrialization in many African countries. The industrialization of Africa might worsen already serious climate change issue in Africa because most developing countries rely on coal as major fuel to boost their economies, which leads to more carbon emissions.

Africa needs to adopt green economy based on sustainable development and renewable energy but this is lot easier to said than done, especially with the high level of poverty in Africa.

The rich countries need to help Africa to come up with solutions that would ensure economic growth but at the same time avoid further harming the climate with more greenhouse gases.

Climate change issue will be among main topics at the African Economic Conference that starts on Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

Climate change impact in Africa

Climate change is already doing significant damage to Africa in forms of flooding and drought, and things will be likely much worse in years to come. Some top African officials are reporting that climate change is already causing growing internal population migrations and displacements in Africa because more and more people try to get away from areas hit by flooding, drought, and other natural disasters.

Africa will have tough time adapting to climate change because of its poverty, and without the help of the developed world, Africa will soon become even poorer than it is today, with more natural disasters, more hunger, and more diseases.

Current world efforts to tackle climate change are not enough, and if world fails to agree new climate deal, Africa will be the first in the line, experiencing the worst that climate change has to offer.

Climate change is already a reality for most of the Africa, and the best proof to this is the fact that in the last 20 years the number of recorded natural disasters has doubled from around 200 to over 400 per year, and scientists believe that 90% of these disasters were climate change related.

The temperatures in Africa will likely rise even further in years to come. This will lead to even bigger urbanization, and food and water will become even more scarcer than they are today, and thus much more expensive.

The rising temperatures are also the perfect breeding ground for many diseases. The combination of severe food and water shortages, uncontrolled urbanization and many diseases will probably lead to social and political conflicts, even wars.

World has to do something for Africa before it is too late.