Across many parts of Africa today, people are being forced to move because of slow-onset events caused by climate change, like droughts, desertification, deforestation, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion. These events have been happening more often and getting worse over the last few decades. 

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimates that at least 7.4 million people in sub-Saharan Africa found themselves internally displaced due to climate-related shocks at the end of 2022, this marks a substantial increase from the 2.6 million persons displaced by similar crises in 2021.

We are in a new era where climate change is a primary migration driver in Africa and if there is no efficient and sustained climate action, it’s predicted that up to 86 million people in sub-Saharan Africa could be forced to move within their own countries by 2050. The projected increase in climate migration will have serious implications for food, water, and security in the region. 

Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

It’s important to note that Africa only contributes a small amount, less than 5%, of the world’s greenhouse gases, but it’s experiencing a lot of climate-related disasters. According to the 2019 Africa Report on Internal Displacement published by the IDMC, 91% of internal displacement in Africa was triggered by floods. 

For example, Nigeria experienced severe flooding last year, which led to 2.4 million people being displaced from their homes. This made the country have the highest number of new displacements within sub-Saharan Africa. Similarly, during the same year, Somalia grappled with prolonged droughts that plunged nearly 39% of its population into severe hunger. This dire situation forced approximately 1.1 million people to endure internal displacements, marking the second-highest figure in sub-Saharan Africa. 

On the flip side, climate change is a threat multiplier for vulnerable populations as well. For instance, in Africa, 90% of people with albinism die before they reach the age of 40 because they lack melanin to protect them from sunlight which often leads to skin cancer in most cases. However, advocates and climate scientists confirm that  climate change is becoming an even larger factor in early death among this group. According to a recent report, 85 percent of people with albinism living in rural areas of Malawi are at high risk of developing skin cancer due to their exposure to extreme heat and direct sun caused by climate change. 

The mobility aid users also face difficulties when there are extreme weather events. Many of them get stuck in affected areas, and this has resulted in numerous deaths. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), the mortality rate of people with disabilities in climate-related disasters is up to four times higher than that of people without disabilities due to the inaccessibility of evacuation paths, absence of support, or social exclusion. 

Climate-induced migration in Africa is a multifaceted challenge with significant consequences for both the migrants and the host communities. When climate migrants move to new areas, they settle in regions with perceived safety or better economic opportunities, and this often leads to overpopulation, conflicts, and social unrest between migrants and the local population. 

Despite many efforts to address climate-induced mobility in Africa, there are still challenges.

• Inadequate Funding: Climate-induced mobility solutions remain underfunded, with Africa receiving only 3% of total climate finance. The majority of funding for mobility initiatives has stemmed from migration-related allocations, rather than the larger climate adaptation resources, preventing climate mobility interventions from scaling up.  

• Data Gaps: There is limited information on people internally displaced by climate disasters in Africa because climate-induced migration is often not captured in official statistics, leading to a lack of recognition as a distinct migration category. 

• Lack of climate mobility plans: Many governments lack comprehensive climate mobility plans, hindering the development and implementation of effective policies and strategies. 

In addition to these challenges, the social, economic, and political factors that influence human mobility, including issues like conflict, poverty, and inequality, make the situation even more complicated. 

Call to Action:  

• Collaboration: African countries, regional organizations, and international partners need to work together. Efforts should focus on building capacity, conducting evidence-based research, and developing policies that address the connection between migration, the environment, and climate change.  

• Intensify severe weather forecasting and prediction activities: Meteorological and hydrological agencies within African countries should intensify efforts and invest more resources in timely weather information dissemination to the public and sharing with emergency management organizations. 

• Inclusion: It’s also crucial to include local communities, especially vulnerable groups, in decision-making processes to ensure their needs and perspectives are considered. 

• Strategic Planning: There should be proper planning for each phase of climate migration; before, during, and after to ensure positive adaptation and development outcomes. 

• Effective Urban Planning: How we design and organize our cities plays a critical role in determining their susceptibility to the effects of climate change. Cities that lack proper planning are significantly more vulnerable to climate-related impacts compared to well-structured urban areas. Efforts must be directed towards the development of resilient cities capable of not only withstanding climate risks but also managing and mitigating them effectively.

To achieve this, urban planning regulations should encompass climate-conscious designs and standards, alongside provisions for open spaces and green environments. Through meticulous urban planning, cities can chart a course for sustainable growth, ultimately contributing to the global effort to combat climate change. 

Climate-induced migration in Africa has reached a critical point that requires immediate attention. The increased climate change migration predicted by the IDMC is indeed worrisome, but it can be averted if appropriate policies and measures are applied by national and subnational governments as well as other stakeholders.