Climate Change, Inequality and Uneven Development in Africa by Etta-Nyoh Yvan Ayuk (Ph.D.) & Elangwe Gideon Eyakwe

This paper titled climate change, inequality and uneven development in Africa sets out to investigate the relationship between climate change, inequality and uneven development in Africa. Africa stands at the frontline of climate change despite being one of the lowest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. The continent is experiencing a surge in climate-related disasters like droughts, floods, heatwaves, desertification, and rising sea levels which are directly affecting agricultural productivity, human health, migration patterns, and general well-being. However, these impacts are not felt equally. The paper contends that climate change in Africa not only exposes environmental vulnerability but also exacerbates existing socio-economic inequalities and contributes to the continent’s uneven development. Using case studies from regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Southern Africa, this study shows how marginalized populations especially rural communities, women, and youth are disproportionately affected by climate-related shocks. A mixed-method approach is employed, drawing from climate vulnerability indices, socio-economic data, and field studies to illustrate how development disparities are being widened by ecological disruptions. The study adopts the lenses of climate justice, dependency theory, and sustainable development to examine the structure and consequence of inequality in the face of climate change. The findings suggest that African governments, in collaboration with regional and global partners, must address this crisis through strategic policy interventions that combine climate adaptation, equitable resource allocation, and inclusive development planning. Recommendations include investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring access to clean energy, and advocating for fair international climate financing mechanisms. Ultimately, this article highlights that without environmental justice and equality, sustainable development in Africa will remain elusive.

Climate Change; Inequality; Uneven Development; Resilience; Africa

1. African Centre for Technology Studies. (2022). Climate-smart agriculture in East Africa: Equity and effectiveness. ACTS. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. African Development Bank. (2022). African economic outlook 2022: Supporting climate resilience and a just energy transition in Africa. AfDB. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. African Union Commission. (2021). Africa’s green recovery action plan. African Union. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Barrett, S., Dellink, R., & Emmerling, J. (2022). Inequality and climate change: Evidence and policy implications. Environmental Research Letters, 17(3), 034013. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bond, P. (2012). Politics of climate justice: Paralysis above, movement below. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Carleton, T., & Hsiang, S. (2016). Social and economic impacts of climate. Science, 353(6304), aad9837. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Cramer, C., Sender, J., & Oqubay, A. (2020). African economic development: Evidence, theory, and policy. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2021). The state of food and agriculture: Making agrifood systems more resilient to shocks and stresses. FAO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2023). Drought in the Horn of Africa: Humanitarian needs and responses. FAO. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Frank, A. G. (1967). Capitalism and underdevelopment in Latin America. Monthly Review Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Global Carbon Atlas. (2023). CO₂ emissions by country. https://www.globalcarbonatlas.org [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Green Climate Fund. (2022). Annual results report 2022. GCF Secretariat. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Heinrich Böll Foundation. (2021). Climate finance for Africa: Justice and access. Heinrich Böll Stiftung. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2014). Fifth assessment report: Africa regional report. IPCC. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022). Sixth assessment report: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. IPCC. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. International Organization for Migration. (2022). Climate-induced migration in Africa: Policy gaps and challenges. IOM. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Leichenko, R. M., & Silva, J. A. (2014). Climate change and inequality: Social and economic impacts. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(4), 359–372. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. ND-GAIN Index. (2023). University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Oxfam International. (2022). Footing the bill: Fair finance for loss and damage in an era of climate crisis. Oxfam. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Pelling, M., & Wisner, B. (2009). Disaster risk reduction: Cases from urban Africa. Earthscan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Roberts, J. T., & Parks, B. C. (2007). A climate of injustice: Global inequality, North-South politics, and climate policy. MIT Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Rodney, W. (1972). How Europe underdeveloped Africa. Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Sachs, J. D. (2015). The age of sustainable development. Columbia University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Satterthwaite, D. (2020). Urban inequality and climate change. Environment and Urbanization, 32(1), 3–18. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. South Centre. (2021). Equity, climate justice and the global climate regime (Policy Brief No. 95). South Centre. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Tschakert, P., & Machado, M. (2012). Gender justice and rights in climate change adaptation. In Mearns, R., & Norton, A. (Eds.), Social dimensions of climate change (pp. 197–226). World Bank. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Ukeje, C., & Mvukiyehe, E. (2020). Youth, climate change, and conflict in the Sahel. West African Papers. OECD Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. UN-Habitat. (2020). Climate change and urban inequality in Africa. UN-Habitat. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. UN Women. (2020). Gender equality in climate action. UN Women. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. UN Women. (2022). Climate change and gender inequality: Voices from rural Africa. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. (2022). The Great Green Wall: Implementation status and way ahead to 2030. UNCCD. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2019). World population prospects: Youth demographics in Africa. United Nations. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Human development report 2023: Breaking the cycle of inequality. UNDP. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. United Nations Environment Programme. (2022). State of the climate in Africa 2022. UNEP. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Adaptation gap report 2023. UNEP. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. United States Agency for International Development. (2021). Resilient Africa Network: Community adaptation to climate risk. USAID. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. World Bank. (2021). Climate change and development: An economic framework. World Bank Group. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. World Bank. (2022). Gini index and income distribution dataset. https://data.worldbank.org [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. World Bank. (2023). Building climate resilience in Africa: Development in a warming world. World Bank Group. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Yaro, J. A., & Hesselberg, J. (2016). Adaptation to climate change and variability in rural West Africa. Springer. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste - Case Study in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, Vietnam
• Youth Activism, Intentional Integration of Policies to Raise Awareness on Climate Change Action among the Youth
• Breathing Spaces: Environmental & User Experience in Dhanmondi and Zigatola Multistoried Apartments, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Effects of Solid Waste Disposal on Soil Quality in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria
• Environmental Impact of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Borgu Local Government Area