#climate change

Climate prediction scientists announced in June 2026 that a super El Niño had formed, expected to be one of the strongest on record. This phenomenon occurs when the Pacific Ocean's surface warms unusually, impacting global weather patterns and potentially leading to extreme events like droughts and floods. In southern Africa, previous cycles have resulted in severe hot and dry conditions, affecting millions and threatening marine life such as seals and sea lions.

Women from various communities in Isiolo County have raised alarms about the adverse effects of climate change, which they claim are leading to non-economic losses that threaten indigenous cultures and traditional knowledge. The women, part of the Queen of Peace Community-Based Organisation, convened at Daaba Ya Juu to discuss these issues and call for action.

The Lagos State Government has asserted that its ongoing efforts to improve drainage channels, wetlands, and floodplains have notably mitigated the effects of heavy rainfall, despite challenges posed by climate change. The government has also advised critics not to politicize the issue of flooding, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the interventions being made.

Peter Kibeti's return to Nametsi village in Bududa District, after years in government resettlement in Kiryandongo, highlights the challenges of climate-induced migration in Uganda. He is returning to the same steep mountain slopes that were the site of a devastating landslide in March 2010, which resulted in numerous fatalities and destruction of homes. The situation raises questions about Uganda's preparedness for climate-related displacement.

In June, Europe experienced unprecedented temperature records, which scientists indicate may signal a continuing trend of rising temperatures. The situation is illustrated through seven charts that highlight the alarming changes in the climate across the continent.

The world’s food systems are facing significant challenges, including climate change, nutrition insecurity, food safety, and unequal market access. According to The Conversation Africa, research has developed practical solutions that could benefit millions, but these solutions are not being widely implemented. The development sector has often focused on pilot projects rather than scaling successful innovations to address these urgent issues.

Urban agriculture in Johannesburg is gaining recognition as a means to combat food insecurity and enhance urban greening in response to climate change. This practice includes various methods such as vertical farming, green roofs, and community gardens. However, there is a call for increased investment to support these initiatives, according to The Conversation Africa.

According to The Conversation Africa, climate-related disasters in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly affecting public perceptions of taxation. Events such as floods, droughts, and storms are not only environmental issues but also impact livelihoods, inequality, and the relationship between citizens and their governments. Effective taxation relies on citizens' trust in the state's capability and fairness, especially during crises, as governments depend on tax revenues to fund essential services and climate adaptation efforts.

In Tanzania, climate change significantly impacts the daily lives of millions of women and girls, affecting their access to water, food, and income. This reality highlights the need for empowerment and community strengthening to better cope with climate shocks, moving beyond statistical discussions to address the tangible effects on vulnerable populations, according to Daily News.

France is reconsidering its traditional hesitations regarding air conditioning as the country experiences record-high temperatures. This shift highlights a growing political divide over climate adaptation strategies in response to extreme weather conditions.

A study tracking 3,139 power plants in Africa reveals that fossil fuels continue to dominate the continent's electricity generation, with only about 57% of the population having access to electricity, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve the United Nations goal of universal access to affordable electricity by 2030, rapid expansion of electricity generation is necessary. However, this expansion poses challenges related to water resources and climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, particularly coal-fired ones.

The Global Environment Facility Assembly highlighted the importance of integration, blended finance, and comprehensive approaches involving government and society. It also called for increased support for Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, focusing on food, land, and water systems.

A study published in The Conversation Africa discusses how oxygen atoms found in 15-million-year-old giant eggshells from the Namib desert provide insights into how plants responded to a hotter Earth during the Miocene Epoch. The eggs, laid by extinct relatives of ostriches, serve as time capsules of ancient air, revealing climatic conditions of that era, which is considered an intermediate geological period between the age of dinosaurs and more recent times.

As global temperatures rise, surface water sources in Africa are becoming increasingly erratic, leading to concerns about water availability. Approximately 400 million people in Africa lack access to basic drinking water services. However, scientists are focusing on mapping and monitoring the continent's groundwater, which is estimated to be 0.66 million cubic kilometers, significantly more than the freshwater in all of Africa's lakes combined, to prepare for future climate challenges.