Climate change at the root of Africa’s extreme weather crisis

Extreme weather events hit Sudan and Nigeria, with torrential rains and floods, putting the lives of thousands of people at risk. The expert climatologist Antonello Pasini explains the causes and consequences of this phenomenon

Several regions across Africa, from Sudan to Nigeria, are facing severe challenges due to torrential rains and floods that are causing significant damage and loss of life.

Sudan is one of the hardest-hit countries. For weeks, intense rainfall has led to the collapse of the Arba’at Dam, located about 24 miles (38 kilometers) northwest of Port Sudan. The disaster has claimed at least 30 lives and affected around 50,000 homes. Meanwhile, Nigeria is also in a critical situation, with over 170 fatalities, more than 200,000 people displaced by flooding, and approximately 264,000 acres (107,000 hectares) of farmland destroyed.

Climate change at the root of the problem

These extreme weather events are not random occurrences; they are a direct consequence of climate change. As Antonello Pasini, a physicist and climatologist at the National Research Council (CNR), explained in an interview with Radio3Mondo:

“Climate change affects everywhere. However, the impact of these extreme events is amplified when they strike fragile territories and societies, particularly in Africa.”

Pasini highlights how global warming is causing a northward shift of the intertropical convergence zone, the area where the heaviest rainfall occurs. This shift is bringing exceptional precipitation to regions that are typically dry, such as the Sahara, with devastating consequences.

A domino effect on global climate

The shift in the intertropical convergence zone is not limited to Africa; it also has repercussions on the Mediterranean climate.

“The rise of the rain zones in Africa also impacts the Mediterranean climate because the more northern shift of the convergence zone encourages the entry of African anticyclones into our territory,” Pasini explains.

“The climate is a complex and globalized system, and therefore we are also affected, in different ways, by such phenomena.”

Human actions worsening the situation

Human activities, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, are exacerbating the effects of climate change.

“Can human actions on the environment increase the effects of climate change? Yes, both directly and indirectly,” says Pasini. “Directly, by making the land more vulnerable, and indirectly, because these activities produce large amounts of extremely strong greenhouse gas emissions.”

The consequences are particularly severe for the most vulnerable populations, who have fewer resources to adapt to climate changes. “It’s clear that the impacts are significant and increase international inequalities: climate change affects everyone, but those living in fragile societies with fewer resources have less ability to adapt, so the last strategy of adaptation becomes migration, including climate migration,” concludes Pasini. “An exacerbated climate creates conflicts and a lack of resources, leading to mass migrations.”