AGP Executive Report

Protected Areas: Kenya’s Environment and Land Court has halted construction of a car park and other potentially damaging work inside Nairobi National Park while a case proceeds. Climate Preparedness: A new five-year, US$11.7 million initiative will strengthen flood and drought monitoring and early warnings across five Lake Chad Basin countries, where more than 50 million people face growing risks. Efficient Cooling: African countries are being urged to harmonise appliance standards and block imports of inefficient, substandard cooling equipment that can drive up electricity demand. Renewable Energy: Nigeria and the UK are seeking private investment in three small hydropower projects aimed at expanding rural electricity access. Biodiversity: At COP17, African countries were reported to protect about 20% of land and 17% of marine areas—short of the 30-by-2030 goal. New marine protected areas off Pemba, Tanzania, show how community-led management can help close the gap, while the African Development Bank and partner lenders have issued guidance on building nature benefits into development projects. Forest Restoration: In Mozambique’s Zambézia province, fires destroyed 70% of replanted trees at one site, and infrequent monitoring is undermining restoration efforts.

Climate and Health: A Lancet Countdown report estimates global warming contributed to about 3 million deaths from 2016 to 2023, including 710,000 heat-related deaths in 2023. Researchers are urging the WHO to declare a global health emergency, as African countries push to put adaptation finance on the COP31 agenda. Heat, Floods and Water: Activists in water-stressed Cape Town are challenging the rush to build data centres, while South Africa faces heat and storm alerts. El Niño is also raising concerns about heavy rains and drought risks for East African communities. Land and Wildlife: Farmers, residents and conservationists are fighting plans for coal mines and industry in Limpopo’s biodiverse bushveld. Separately, WWF reports monitored wildlife populations in Africa fell 80% between 1970 and 2022. Environmental Protection: South African authorities blocked the export of five baobabs to Georgia over missing permits and opened a criminal investigation. Climate Solutions: Kenya attracted 51.3% of Africa’s ClimateTech funding from 2019 to 2025, while Uganda’s AirQo air-quality initiative was named an Earthshot Prize finalist.

Data Centre Pressure: Cape Town activists are challenging rezoning for a new data centre, warning that its water and power needs could deepen inequality in a city where some communities lack piped water and sanitation. Climate and Health: Nearly 150 researchers are urging the WHO to declare climate change a global health emergency, citing rising heat deaths, drought and threats to food and water supplies. Extreme Weather: South Africa’s weather service raised its KwaZulu-Natal warning to Level 4 for heavy rain, hail and lightning, with flooding and infrastructure damage possible. Food Security: The FAO says Africa must scale up climate-resilient crops, livestock technologies and digital tools so they reach farmers beyond pilot projects. Coastal Erosion: In Ayetoro, Nigeria, rising seas are eroding wetlands that shelter migratory birds and threaten community infrastructure.

Climate-smart farming: UN and AU officials urged wider adoption of science and technology to raise yields and help African farmers manage climate shocks. El Niño risks: East Africa faces a dual threat of drought and flooding, while South Africa’s strained water systems brace for added pressure. Water security: Rand Water says municipal water losses have risen to 47%, while debt owed to water boards has reached R23.7 billion. Climate finance: Ahead of COP31, African voices are pressing for funding and practical action, not more pledges. Resilient cocoa: Côte d’Ivoire researchers have developed 11 promising cocoa varieties better able to withstand water stress, as erratic rainfall threatens the world’s top producer. Wildlife protection: Nearly all lemur species are threatened with extinction, while countries have backed talks on a global protocol to tackle environmental crimes including wildlife trafficking and illegal deforestation.

El Niño and Food Security: A strengthening El Niño is bringing a dangerous split across East Africa: drought is damaging crops and livestock in Sudan, while heavier rains raise flood risks in parts of the Horn. Humanitarian needs are expected to grow into 2027. Southern Africa’s Water and Weather: South Africa faces a hotter, potentially drier summer, with water systems under pressure; severe thunderstorms also threaten flooding in KwaZulu-Natal. Polokwane says its supply is currently stable, but water experts urge municipalities to check resources and prepare contingency plans. Marine Impacts: In Cameroon’s Kribi region, fishermen say offshore oil platforms restrict access to fishing grounds, while pollution and threats to coastal biodiversity add to the costs for local communities. Efficient Cooling: African energy experts are urging common standards for refrigerators and air conditioners, warning that inefficient imports drive up household bills and strain electricity grids. Conservation and Livelihoods: Uganda has cut mountain gorilla tracking fees and plans a festival promoting tourism and community benefits, with the wildlife authority saying local livelihoods are key to conservation.

El Niño and Drought: A strengthening 2026–27 El Niño is expected to increase drought risks across Southern Africa, threatening crops and hydropower, especially in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nigeria is also preparing for hotter conditions and shifting rainfall. Extreme Weather: Severe storm and flood warnings across South Africa’s eastern provinces add to mounting pressure on communities and farmers. Environmental Crime: UN members voted 83–12 to begin negotiating a global protocol targeting illicit trade in timber, minerals, wildlife and waste. African countries backed the effort, but its impact will depend on which states ratify it. Health and Environment: Research flags pregnancy risks from rising heat and humidity in Nigeria. In South Africa, poor water quality has been linked to hundreds of gastrointestinal illness cases in Tshwane. Biodiversity: A first global fungal conservation strategy launched at COP17, aiming to bring this overlooked kingdom into biodiversity plans.

Climate preparedness: A Lagos meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development put investment in weather, water and climate services at the centre of resilience planning, with Nigeria pledging stronger support. UN warnings of an exceptional El Niño threatening millions with hunger underline the urgency; South Africa has set aside R10-billion for its response. Clean energy: Nigeria’s NSIA and Africa50 launched a $300-million fund to expand renewable energy access, while a new solar-home-system line aims to bring more reliable power to households and small businesses across Africa. Water security: South Sudan urged East African Community states to jointly manage the Lake Victoria Basin, as a new report says severe erosion affects 42% of its catchment and wetlands have shrunk by a third. Nature protection: New satellites are helping track forest loss in the Congo Basin, where deforestation pressures are mounting. Climate finance: With COP31 approaching, debate is shifting from funding pledges to delivering adaptation that protects lives and livelihoods.

Extreme Weather: The WMO warns El Niño could reach unprecedented strength, bringing more extreme weather and threatening food security. East Africa faces heightened flood risk, while drier conditions could hit southern Africa’s crops and water supplies; the UN also warns flooding could displace more than 874,000 people in Somalia. Severe-thunderstorm warnings are in place for parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. Water and Sanitation: Poor water quality has been linked to illness among more than 500 people in South Africa, while sewage pollution and failing municipal services deepen concerns over the country’s water crisis. Biodiversity: A survey of 300 Ethiopian homesteads found 45 woody plant species, most native, showing how farms can help conserve local diversity. Nigeria and France are also urging faster action to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. Land and Forests: Ghana has opened a rural service centre to help cocoa farmers improve climate resilience and protect forests. Meanwhile, 42% of the Lake Victoria catchment faces severe erosion as wetlands shrink.

Heat and Fire: Wildfires have affected 16% of Namibia’s Etosha National Park amid extreme heat, while El Niño warnings are prompting concern over hotter, drier conditions across southern Africa. South Africa has set aside R10 billion for an El Niño response, and Zimbabwean farmers are preparing for difficult growing conditions. Biodiversity and Rights: UN biodiversity talks have entered a tense phase, with delegates clashing over funding and Indigenous rights. Indigenous leaders are also protesting conservation projects that they say force communities off their land. Nature Finance: A report involving the African Development Bank says nature credits could help fund ecosystem restoration, but warns that clear rules, credible buyers and measurable conservation gains are needed. Pollution and Health: More than 500 people in South Africa fell ill in an outbreak linked to poor water quality, renewing concern about the health risks of unsafe drinking water.

Air Quality: Makerere University’s low-cost AirQo sensors are mapping pollution hotspots across African cities, but residents still need authorities to turn readings into cleaner air. Lake Victoria Basin: East African ministers warned that 42.6% of the basin’s catchment faces high erosion risk and wetlands have shrunk by about a third since the 1980s. They called for regional action as climate pressures threaten fisheries and raise flood risks. Climate and Food Security: El Niño-linked drought is affecting 3.5 million people across six regions of Ethiopia, while farmers in South Africa are preparing for hotter, drier conditions. Mining and Land: Ghana’s Gold Board is consulting on a programme to bring small-scale miners into a regulated system, with the stated aim of reducing environmental damage. Biodiversity: UN talks at COP17 reached a critical phase, with delegates divided over funding and Indigenous rights as they negotiated steps to protect nature.

El Niño Alert: South Africa is bracing for intense heat and below-normal rainfall, with a KwaZulu-Natal farmer already reporting heat-damaged crops. Forecasters warn the impacts could extend into next year; extreme fire danger is also forecast in parts of the country. Water Safety: Tshwane’s water crisis deepened as Parliament heard supplies were unsafe, while a water plant is expected to remain offline until 2027 because of sewage pollution. A separate contamination incident in Bronkhorstspruit left 408 people ill. Climate Action: The UN says current commitments leave the world on track for about 2.6°C of warming. African advocates are urging governments to speed up clean-energy investment, grids and climate finance to deliver jobs and reliable power. Nature and Livelihoods: Biodiversity talks are bringing calls for more nature finance, while deforestation in the Central African Republic threatens fish stocks and local livelihoods. New research also warns that most shallow coral reefs could collapse within 50 years. Early Warning: A study linking African Ebola outbreaks to large-scale climate patterns suggests weather data could help identify when and where outbreak risks may rise.

Climate and Culture: Accra’s inaugural Climate x Culture Summit brought creatives, researchers and policymakers together to explore how arts and storytelling can advance climate action in Africa. Extreme Heat: The WMO warns El Niño could become exceptionally strong; one estimate projects 31,400 additional heat-related deaths in Nigeria over the next six months. Water and Health: More than 500 people in South Africa fell ill in outbreaks linked to poor water quality, renewing scrutiny of Tshwane’s sewage pollution and water-treatment failures. Climate Finance: Liberia will host African climate negotiators ahead of COP31, as West African leaders call for stronger climate finance and young people seek a greater role in negotiations. Nature: COP17 discussions are pressing for more funding for biodiversity, while deforestation in the Central African Republic threatens fish stocks and local livelihoods. Emissions: UN projections warn the world is falling short of climate goals and faces warming of around 2.6°C.

Clean Energy: Côte d’Ivoire’s 66-megawatt Poro Power solar plant, expected to be the country’s largest when it opens in 2027, won international awards for its Africa Finance Corporation-led financing. It is projected to supply power to more than 100,000 households. Climate and Food Security: El Niño-linked drought is deepening famine risk in war-hit Sudan after the July–September rains were the lowest in more than 30 years. The WMO warns of flood risks in East Africa and drier conditions in Southern Africa, urging early action to protect lives and livelihoods. Water Safety: More than 500 people in South Africa have reportedly fallen ill in outbreaks linked to poor water quality, as sewage pollution and contamination fears raise fresh concerns about safe drinking water. Climate Diplomacy: Liberia will host African climate negotiators on October 27–29 to coordinate the continent’s position ahead of COP31.

Climate Outlook: The UN says current national pledges leave the world on track for about 2.6°C of warming by 2100, while the WMO warns a powerful El Niño could intensify weather risks. Water and Preparedness: More than 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill amid water-quality concerns; in Zambia, officials and the World Bank are reviewing plans for the expected 2026–27 El Niño. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank is putting nature at the centre of finance plans across 13 countries, while Kenya and The Nature Conservancy have unveiled a $160 million community conservation initiative. Pollution: Niger’s methane emergency is drawing attention to industrial emissions and climate risks in the Sahara.

Water Safety: More than 500 people in South Africa have fallen ill amid water-quality concerns. Tshwane’s water plant is expected to remain offline until 2027 because of upstream sewage pollution. Climate Risk: The UN warns the world is on track for about 2.6°C of warming, while the WMO says a powerful El Niño could bring severe weather risks. Southern African countries are stepping up preparations. Farming: A regional agriculture fair in Togo is focusing on protecting crops and livestock from drought, floods and land degradation, and promoting climate-resilient practices. Nature Finance: The African Development Bank is helping 13 countries include the value of natural resources in budgets and investment plans. Rwanda has also set biodiversity goals linking ecosystem restoration and conservation to local action. Waste and Mining: A South African mine reused material from an old haul road to build a new one, reducing the need for fresh materials and dust-control products.

El Niño Alert: The WMO warns Pacific temperatures could rise 3.8°C above normal, bringing more extreme heat, drought and floods. Eastern and southern Africa are among the regions at risk; South Africa has set aside R10 billion for preparedness. Water Safety: More than 500 people in South Africa fell ill amid water-quality failures. In Bronkhorstspruit, a treatment plant went without chlorination for about three weeks, while sewage pollution upstream contaminated its river source. Climate Action: The UN says the world is on track for 2.6°C of warming as climate pledges fall short, underscoring the need for deeper emissions cuts. Conservation: Kenya has secured a $160 million conservation finance deal. In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, researchers found that elephant remains can shape soil and food webs for at least eight years. Congo Basin: Rising fires across Africa’s tropical forests are raising concern for the basin’s forests and wildlife.