Dr Elizabeth Kimani-Murage, Alice Ritho and Dr Kanyiva Muindi from the African Population and Health Research Center, partners of the Pathfinder Initiative, share insights on challenges and opportunities for climate and health in Africa.
From 29-31 October, key stakeholders in climate and health will come together for the inaugural Climate and Health Africa conference, hosted by CeSHHAR Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and the Ministry of Health and Childcare.
As part of the second phase of the Pathfinder Initiative, project partners including the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), will be hosting a workshop on the sidelines of the Climate and Health Africa conference focusing on identifying gaps and needs in research and policy for capacity-strengthening work in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ahead of the conference and workshop, Dr Elizabeth Kimani-Murage, Alice Ritho and Dr Kanyiva Muindi from APHRC share insights on challenges and opportunities for climate and health in Africa.
What challenges are countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) facing with regard to addressing the climate crisis and its impacts on health?
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to human health directly or indirectly by impacting key determinants of health such as clean water, food security, disease vectors and air quality. Africa is disproportionately affected despite being one of the regions least responsible for global greenhouse gas emissions. Countries in SSA face multiple interlinked challenges in addressing the climate crisis and its health impacts. The region experiences frequent droughts, floods and extreme heat which affect food security in countries that are predominantly reliant on rainfed agriculture. These weather events also impact health by contributing to malnutrition, the spread of vector-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue and rift-valley fever, and respiratory infections exacerbated by air pollution and heatwaves. Other factors such as limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare services further worsen the vulnerability especially of rural and marginalized communities to impacts of climate change.
SSA countries often lack the financial resources and healthcare infrastructure necessary to effectively respond to climate-related health risks. Historical inequalities in carbon emissions, weak adaptation capacity and insufficient funding for climate and health research and programmes intensify impacts. Addressing these challenges requires capacity-building of various stakeholders in the climate space, international collaborations, effective allocation of resources and targeted investment in climate-sensitive and sustainable health systems. Agenda setting around climate and health is heavily funder-driven instead of drawing from local needs/priorities. This has led to skewed focus on certain climate-sensitive health outcomes such as vector-borne diseases while others such as non-communicable diseases receive little attention. SSA countries also face limited capacity for disaster preparedness and response to climate impacts due to weak primary health care systems and resilience of the health systems.
What opportunities are there for research and action on climate adaptation and mitigation in SSA and what benefits could they bring for health?
Globally, there has been growing interest in evidence generation on climate impacts, as well as mitigation and adaptation actions and their potential health co-benefits. However, there is a lack of evidence of these impacts in SSA countries, and attribution of health outcomes to climate change can be difficult due to the inadequacy of the availability of historical data on health outcomes. Evaluations of the impact of mitigation and adaptation interventions on climate and health are also limited.
There are several specific research opportunities. SSA’s dependence on agriculture presents a chance for research on climate resilient agriculture. This exploration would help develop climate-resilient crops and sustainable farming practices that could ensure food security despite changing climatic conditions, which would significantly improve health outcomes through reducing malnutrition.
Another opportunity for research and action is the renewable energy sector where the adoption of solar, wind, and other sources of clean energy can reduce air pollution, consequently lowering rates of respiratory illnesses while creating sustainable economic opportunities. Research to strengthen adaptation measures such as early warning systems for extreme weather events and enhanced urban planning, can also reduce health impacts of climate disasters. Additional actions such as investing in green infrastructure, proper water management and land restoration through reforestation can also improve air quality and reduce vector-borne diseases like malaria, benefiting both the environment and public health. Additionally, there is a need to leverage the rich local and Indigenous knowledge in developing and testing climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
What needs to happen next to accelerate low-carbon climate resilient development in SSA?
SSA countries have great potential to accelerate low-carbon, climate-resilient development through various mechanisms. First, SSA through efficient resource allocation should invest substantially in infrastructure for renewable energy. The region should harness its potential for solar, wind, and hydropower, which can help transition away from fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and expand access to clean energy while promoting health. This would require significant financial commitments from governments, international donors and private-sector actors, coupled with strong policy frameworks that incentivize innovation and adoption of clean energy.
Secondly, SSA governments need to integrate climate adaptation/mitigation into national development plans by mainstreaming climate resilience into sectors like agriculture, water management, urban planning, and public health. This includes investment into strengthening early warning systems, developing climate-resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable land management practices. Enhancing local expertise through capacity building is critical to improve data collection and strengthen institutions for effective planning and implementation of low-carbon development strategies. This also needs to bring on board communities affected by climate change (through rigorous engagement and awareness creation) to ensure implementation of decisions, ownership of programmes/interventions and sustained action by all.
In addition, SSA should establish stronger, accessible and context-specific climate finance mechanisms that are responsive to local needs. This can be achieved through collaborative efforts in resource mobilization and technology transfer enabling SSA countries to adopt climate resilient technologies. Climate-resilient developments should be more inclusive of vulnerable communities, often disproportionately affected by climate change, and ensure that they equally benefit.
How can we best share and strengthen research and policy capacity on climate and health in Africa?
Strengthening research and policy capacity on climate and health in Africa requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes collaboration, capacity building, and data sharing. Africa should invest in data infrastructure and research networks through establishing robust systems for data collection, analysis and sharing of climate and health data both across borders and sectors. This can be made more effective by fostering equitable regional and international research partnerships. Collaborations between African research and academic institutions and other global organizations can facilitate knowledge exchange which would enhance the quality of climate health research. These partnerships should focus on training and building the capacity of local scientists, expanding interdisciplinary research, and encouraging the co-production of knowledge that is contextually relevant for African health and climate challenges.
Supporting open-access databases would help policymakers and researchers make data-driven and evidence-informed decisions, enabling more effective policy design and implementation. Additionally, the capacity of government officials, health workers and climate experts should be strengthened with tools and knowledge to assimilate scientific research into national health and climate adaptation strategies, through targeted training, workshops, and platforms for dialogue between researchers and policymakers. By strengthening both research and policy capacity, which will be a key focus of the Pathfinder Initiative partners going forward, Africa can better address the intersection of climate change and health, ensuring effective, evidence-informed responses that are resilient and sustainable.
Further information:
Dr Elizabeth Kimani-Murage is a Public Health Nutrition Specialist and a Senior Research Scientist, leading the Nutrition and Food Systems Unit and the Health and Wellbeing Theme at APHRC, and spearheading work on the interlinkages between climate change, food systems, and health.
Alice Ritho is a Research Officer in the Nutrition and Food Systems Unit under the Health and Wellbeing theme at APHRC.
Dr Kanyiva Muindi is an Associate Research Scientist in the Population Dynamics and Urbanization Theme at APHRC.
Elizabeth, Alice and Kanyiva are part of the APHRC Pathfinder Initiative team, working with partners to strengthen capacity of stakeholders in SSA in climate action and health.