By Olivia Adhiambo Ojwando.
In Kenya, floods and droughts are no longer rare disasters but are becoming predictable patterns, causing loss of life, destroyed homes, and damaged infrastructure.
This is the lived reality of climate change in a continent that has contributed the least to global emissions but bears some of the harshest consequences.
As the world observes this year’s Earth Day, a concerning reality becomes clear as the 1.5°C target is rapidly slipping out of reach, with no country on track to meet it. Adopted 11 years ago under the Paris Agreement, the goal was meant to establish a legally binding global effort to limit temperature rise above pre-industrial levels. However, today, that goal is quickly slipping away. The planet has already been heating by about 1.2°C since the late 1800s, and emissions continue to increase, bringing us closer to a threshold scientists warn we must avoid.
According to the latest State of the Global Climate Update from the World Meteorological Organization, the alarming streak of exceptional temperatures continued into 2025, making it one of the warmest years on record. The report released last November notes that this unprecedented heat, combined with record increases in greenhouse gas levels, makes it virtually impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C in the coming years without temporarily overshooting the target.
Africa, on the other hand, is warming at a rate slightly above the global average, with recent years ranking among the hottest on record. To stay within the set limit, global emissions must be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Achieving this feat by reducing emissions to levels that can be absorbed naturally or through technology, no doubt, remains one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Climate change is no longer an abstract scientific discourse but a lived crisis, as Sub-Saharan economies are being hammered, losing nearly 5 percent of GDP annually due to climate-related impacts. Over 100 million people are currently affected by hazards such as prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and intense heat waves, all of which threaten lives and livelihoods. Recent heavy rains and flash
floods in Kenya claimed over 100 lives, displaced thousands, with Nairobi experiencing the highest casualties and significant infrastructure damage.
Africa Is Acting, but the World is Falling Short
Yet even as it faces disproportionate risks, Africa is not standing still. It’s increasingly emerging as a leader in climate action, particularly through nature-based solutions. Initiatives like the African Carbon Markets Initiative aim to position the continent as a major player in global carbon markets by leveraging forests, soils, and ecosystems as carbon sinks. These efforts are attracting investment while offering benefits to local communities.
Encouragingly, several countries are already taking innovative approaches. Gabon has shown that large-scale forest conservation can generate substantial climate finance. The ambitious Great Green Wall across the Sahel to combat desertification is another example. Nigeria and Zimbabwe are turning carbon credits into economic opportunities.
Across the continent, from community-led conservation efforts in Madagascar to reforestation projects in Zambia, and initiatives in the Congo Basin such as the Mai Ndombe project, Africa is demonstrating that climate action can go hand in hand with development.
Projects such as the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project in Kenya highlight both the promise and complexity of this approach. While they demonstrate how conservation can generate carbon credits and income, they also underscore the need for careful implementation to ensure fairness and sustainability.
But the continent should not carry this burden alone. Global support remains far below what is needed. Last year's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil did not meet Africa’s expectations, especially in providing a clear, actionable plan for urgently needed climate finance to support adaptation and mitigation efforts
across the continent. Africa is acting, but the world is failing it.
The science is clear, and solutions exist, but global action is not keeping pace. Africa cannot afford to wait and must act urgently to scale up practical, homegrown solutions that reduce vulnerability while unlocking economic opportunities.
For Africa to fully realize the potential of climate and carbon finance, collaboration will be essential. Governments, private investors, communities, and international institutions must work together to build systems that are transparent, effective, and inclusive. Most importantly, these initiatives must ensure that benefits reach the
communities most affected by climate change.
Ultimately, scaling climate action in Africa will depend on getting partnerships right and building them on trust. Governments must establish clear and credible policies, while investors need to commit to the long term. Crucially, communities must be placed at the center, not as passive beneficiaries, but as active partners with a stake
in their future.
Without transparency, fair benefit-sharing, and strong accountability, the promise of carbon markets and nature-based solutions could fall short. But if these challenges are addressed, Africa has a unique opportunity to shape a model of climate action that is both effective and just, one that protects nature, drives economic growth, and
delivers meaningful benefits to those on the frontlines of climate change.
If the world continues to fall short, Africa will pay the price, but it will also redefine and shape its path in climate leadership.
