Many African countries are under significant stress from climate change. Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases are putting the world on a path towards unacceptable warming and this has particularly serious implications for the continent. The projected changes in climate are likely to have devastating impacts on agriculture and food security, human health and water supplies.

Greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change. Human activities such as mining for fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Though Africa emits the least of these emissions, the continent is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

It is critical for countries to acknowledge pledges they made at the UN climate conference in Paris in 2015. Countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate adaptation and resilience and scale up financial support for climate action.

In today's episode of Pasha, Portia Adade Williams, a research scientist at the CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, and Victor Ongoma, an assistant professor at the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique, discuss what African countries must do to adapt and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Read more: COP26: Africa's challenges must steer the climate change conference

Photo: “A view of a submerged Roberts Camp after the unprecedented rise of water levels in Lake Baringo. The flooding situation in Rift Valley lakes, exacerbated by climate change, has led to displacement of thousands of people from their homes and work.” By James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1 .

“African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1 .

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