Climate change poses growing threats to vulnerable Africa, UN says

(Reuters, 26 Oct 2020) Droughts, floods and hotter temperatures are harming cereal crop yields, which could fuel hunger and push back economic growth.

Floods, droughts, hotter weather and a desert locust invasion - the impacts of climate change are hitting Africa hard, and worse is ahead for the region's food supplies, economy and health, the U.N. climate agency said on Monday.

Temperatures have been rising on the continent of 1.2 billion at a comparable rate to other regions, but Africa is exceptionally vulnerable to the shock, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Warming temperatures are slashing crop yields. Agriculture is the backbone of Africa's economy.

"By the middle of this century, major cereal crops grown across Africa will be adversely impacted," the WMO said in a report.

It projected a reduction in yields of 13% in West and Central Africa, 11% in North Africa and 8% in East and Southern Africa.

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Reuters, 26 Oct 2020: Climate change poses growing threats to vulnerable Africa, UN says