A recent study indicates that human-induced climate change has worsened flooding in African countries, resulting in significant fatalities and displacement. The World Weather Attribution network found that climate change intensified rainfall by 5% to 20% in affected regions. The researchers stress that without mitigating climate change, flooding events will likely become more frequent and severe. Key calls for action include a transition from fossil fuels and the establishment of a fund for impacted nations ahead of the COP29 climate summit.
A study released by scientists on Wednesday has indicated that human-induced climate change has aggravated the catastrophic flooding experienced this year in several African nations including Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. The severe rainy season has precipitated a humanitarian crisis throughout the Sahel region adjoining the Sahara Desert. The analysis conducted by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network revealed that climate change, primarily driven by fossil fuel emissions, has intensified flooding, particularly in Sudan. The researchers projected that climate change would have increased this year’s torrential rainfalls in the Niger and Lake Chad basins by approximately 5% to 20%, referencing a prior WWA study on comparable flooding incidents in 2022. Clair Barnes, from the Center for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London, stated, “This is only going to keep getting worse if we keep burning fossil fuels,” adding that such extreme rainfall events “could happen every year” should global temperatures rise by two degrees Celsius (35.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial levels. The phenomenon of global warming leads not only to elevated temperatures but also to significant atmospheric disturbances that cause increased frequency and intensity of severe downpours and storms. The research concentrated on impoverished and conflict-affected Sudan, where millions have been displaced into regions vulnerable to flooding. Through sophisticated modeling techniques that contrasted current weather patterns with a hypothetical scenario devoid of human-caused warming, scientists determined that prolonged episodes of intense rainfall in specific areas of Sudan have become more severe and more probable as a direct result of climate change. Currently, with global warming at 1.3 degrees Celsius, such rainfall events are anticipated to occur approximately once every three years, compounded by a 10% increase in intensity as attributed to climate change. Izidine Pinto, one of the study’s authors and a researcher at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, expressed grave concern regarding the findings, remarking, “These results are incredibly concerning.” He noted that with every minuscule increase in temperature, the likelihood of severe flooding continues to rise, urging that the upcoming UN COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan should prioritize the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels. Joyce Kimutai, a researcher at Imperial’s Center for Environmental Policy, emphasized the necessity for establishing a loss and damage fund to assist nations adversely affected by climate change, while highlighting that a recent key meeting prior to COP29 yielded minimal advancement in securing financial assistance for less affluent countries. Kimutai further asserted, “Africa has contributed a tiny amount of carbon emissions globally, but is being hit the hardest by extreme weather.” Furthermore, the researchers pointed out that the impact of climate change on these floods has been exacerbated by various anthropogenic factors, advocating for improved dam infrastructure and investments in early warning systems to mitigate future risks.
The ongoing challenges posed by climate change have become increasingly evident, especially in regions such as Africa that are disproportionately affected despite their minimal contributions to global carbon emissions. The continent has faced significant environmental threats, particularly in the Sahel region, where flooding and severe weather patterns have resulted in humanitarian crises. This study highlights the urgent need for global cooperation and action to address climate-related disasters and the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels to mitigate the worsening impacts of climate change.
In summary, the findings of the recent study underline the critical relationship between climate change and the intensification of flooding across several African countries. The attribution of increased rainfall to human activities reinforces the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate climate change effects. Urging global leaders to facilitate a transition away from fossil fuels and establish support mechanisms for affected regions will be essential in confronting these escalating challenges.
Original Source: phys.org
