Africa Climate Week: Afrobarometer survey sheds light on increasing drought, low climate awareness; calls for urgent action 

The Africa Climate Week (ACW) kicked off on Monday in Nairobi, Kenya bringing together  governments, businesses, international organisations, and civil society. Afrobarometer led an  Action Hub event highlighting Africans’ views on climate change, including perceptions of  worsening drought and an urgent need for climate action.  

AWC takes place two months ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of  the Parties, COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, setting the stage for meaningful  conversations around climate action. 

At Monday’s TEDx-style event, representatives from the Institute for Development Studies at  the University of Nairobi, Afrobarometer’s core partner for East Africa, shared findings from  Round 9 surveys in 36 African countries in 2021-2022, shedding light on Africans’ perceptions  of climate change. Project Manager Sam Balongo revealed that citizens demand urgent  government action on climate change: Majorities in all 36 countries want their government  to take action now to limit climate change, even if it is costly, causes job losses, or takes a toll  on the economy. In 14 countries, 80% or more of citizens who are aware of climate change  share this view. 

The findings also show that only about half (52%) of citizens across 36 countries have heard of  climate change. Awareness is as high as 80% in Seychelles, 74% in Malawi, 73% in Mauritius,  and 70% in Gabon, but as low as 22% in Tunisia and 29% in Botswana. 

Fielding questions from the audience on climate-change awareness Balongo said, “The fact  that only half of Africans are aware of this very important issue underscores the urgent need  for enhanced education and decisive climate action.” 

Among citizens who are aware of climate change, most say it is making their lives worse. This perception is especially widespread in Madagascar (91%), Lesotho (88%), Mauritius (86%),  Malawi (86%), and Benin (85%). 

On the worsening impact of climate change on citizens’ lives, Afrobarometer Assistant  Project Manager Anne Okello noted that “about half of Africans say droughts have become  more severe over the past 10 years, while one-third say the same about floods.” 

This year’s ACW is organised around four dynamic systems-based tracks, energy systems and  industry; cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure and transport; Land, ocean, food,  and water; and Societies, health, livelihoods, and economies