To effectively tackle climate change, Africa must invest in developing its climate science and research capacity. This will enable the continent to better understand the unique climatic patterns affecting its regions and design tailored solutions that align with local needs and conditions. While much global climate research comes from the Global North, there is a significant gap in African-led research that captures the full diversity of the continent's ecosystems, economies and cultures. This lack of localised data and research limits Africa’s ability to anticipate climate impacts, design effective adaptation strategies and influence global climate discourse.
We need to invest in scientific education, data collection and technology development to create a new generation of climate scientists and researchers. Building local capacity in these areas will help the continent gain independence in climate-related decision-making, reducing reliance on external experts whose priorities may not reflect African realities. This will also enable African countries to better track climate impacts, measure progress and make informed decisions about investments in infrastructure, agriculture and natural resource management.
A robust African climate science network could lead to breakthroughs in climate adaptation techniques that are unique to the continent. African researchers and institutions can work collaboratively to discover innovative solutions, such as drought-resistant crops, water-efficient agricultural practices and renewable energy technologies suited for African environments. International collaboration should continue, but it must be structured as a partnership where African researchers play a lead role in shaping the research agenda.
African nations must also prioritise regional collaboration in climate science. Establishing networks that connect research institutions across the continent, will pool resources, knowledge and expertise to address shared climate challenges. A continent-wide approach to climate science will enable African researchers to tackle issues that cut across national borders, such as desertification, drought and coastal erosion, with solutions that reflect the diversity of Africa’s ecosystems. Regional collaboration will also help build resilience in African climate science, ensuring that smaller or less-developed nations benefit from research conducted in more scientifically advanced countries. Initiatives like the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) and the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme are good starting points, but more robust networks are needed to sustain long-term research capacity.
A key challenge in building climate research capacity is securing sustainable funding for African-led initiatives. Too often, climate research in Africa is funded by external donors with agendas that do not align with the continent’s long-term needs. African governments, along with private sector stakeholders, must allocate more funding to local climate research institutions. Investing in home-grown research will drive the development of policies that truly reflect the continent’s priorities. Partnerships with international institutions should include provisions for technology transfer and capacity-building, ensuring that Africa is not left dependent on external expertise. A long-term commitment to funding will enable African researchers to focus on high-priority areas such as food security, water management and renewable energy. Industrialised nations, which bear the greatest responsibility for historical emissions, pledged $100 billion annually to support climate action in developing countries, yet only a fraction has been delivered. Africa needs these funds to be fully realised and sustained over time to ensure it is adequately prepared for future climate challenges. Without this genuine commitment, African nations will struggle to build the research capacity and infrastructure necessary to address their unique vulnerabilities and lead in climate adaptation.