Africa is left with no choice but to adapt to a crisis that continues to be fueled by the greed and ignorance of others. However, Africa’s strength has always been its resilience and despite the overwhelming challenges, the continent must build on this resilience to survive the climate onslaught. Enhancing Africa’s adaptive capacity is not an option; it is an urgent necessity and it must be done with fierce determination, ingenuity and a refusal to be victimised by a crisis of foreign making.
First and foremost, African countries must unite in their response to climate-induced challenges. Regional cooperation is needed to share knowledge, resources and strategies. There is no time for fragmented, isolated approaches when the stakes are this high. The African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) is a critical example, focusing on renewable energy, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration. The African Union must lead in galvanising a unified front against climate impacts, ensuring that adaptation efforts are coordinated, efficient and tailored to the specific vulnerabilities of each region. Cross-border collaborations are crucial, particularly for shared ecosystems like river basins, where coordinated management can prevent conflicts over water and other essential resources.
Investing in climate-smart infrastructure is non-negotiable. Africa must resist the temptation to rely on short-term fixes that leave it vulnerable to the next disaster. Instead, it needs to focus on long-term solutions - building infrastructure that can withstand floods, droughts and extreme weather events. A shining example is Ethiopia’s climate-resilient green economy strategy, which includes building water-resilient agricultural systems and climate-proof infrastructure. From resilient road networks to irrigation systems that can sustain agriculture in arid conditions, African nations need to prioritise infrastructure that secures livelihoods and sustains economic activities in the face of climate shocks.
Additionally, Africa must capitalise on its vast renewable energy potential. The continent has an abundance of solar, wind and geothermal energy sources, yet it continues to rely heavily on foreign fossil fuels. This is no longer acceptable. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Africa could create over 10 million jobs in renewable energy by 2030. African nations need to take control of their energy future, developing renewable energy industries that not only reduce dependence on imports but also generate jobs and promote economic growth. Renewable energy is Africa’s ticket to energy security and with it, the continent can build a more sustainable and resilient future - one that does not depend on the whims of external powers.
Equally important is the need to strengthen social safety nets. Vulnerable populations - women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities - are disproportionately affected by climate change and they need targeted support. Adaptive capacity isn’t just about physical infrastructure; it’s about ensuring that every person has the ability to survive and thrive in a changing climate. This means scaling up programs that provide financial assistance, healthcare and education, while also ensuring that communities have access to the resources they need to protect themselves from climate-related disasters. In Kenya, for example, cash transfer programs like the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) have proven effective in helping families recover from droughts and build resilience. The HSNP, launched in 2008, provides regular cash transfers to vulnerable households in drought-prone areas of northern Kenya. It is part of Kenya's broader National Safety Net Program (NSNP). The HSNP was designed to provide financial assistance during periods of extreme drought, helping households buy food, maintain livestock and sustain their livelihoods during climate-induced crises. It has been particularly successful in supporting communities to recover from droughts and in some cases, helping them build long-term resilience by investing in productive assets.
But Africa cannot do this alone, nor should it be expected to. The countries responsible for the climate crisis must be held to account. Adaptation funds, promised by wealthy nations, must actually materialise, not as charity, but as reparations for the damage caused. As of 2023, only $20 billion of the $100 billion annually pledged by wealthy nations has been delivered. Africa cannot be left to foot the bill for a crisis it did not create. Western countries must stop dragging their feet on climate finance and deliver the support they have pledged - no more delays, no more excuses.
In the end, Africa's survival depends on its ability to stand firm, demand justice and pursue its own path to climate resilience. The road will be difficult, but the continent has faced adversity before and emerged stronger. Africa’s story does not have to be one of victimhood - it can be one of empowerment, where the continent turns its trials into opportunities and refuses to be defined by yet another crisis that was forced upon it by the world’s biggest polluters.