AGP Executive Report

Biodiversity: At COP17, countries face a stark funding gap: a UN review says they are off track on 22 of 23 global nature targets, though progress is still possible with faster action. Extreme Weather: El Niño threatens food supplies and hydropower in Malawi as South Africa endures severe heat; forecasters warn of wider drought risks. Land Restoration: A new US$78 million Great Green Wall programme aims to restore 270,000 hectares and improve livelihoods for five million people across nine countries. Forests and Oceans: Rising fires across Africa’s tropical forests are raising alarm for the Congo Basin, while Western Indian Ocean countries adopted 15 decisions to advance ocean protection and sustainable development.

Forest Fires: New analysis finds fire activity rising across more African tropical forests than it is declining, heightening fears for the Congo Basin’s carbon-storing forests and peatlands. Clean Air and Climate: African countries could save billions by cutting air pollution and greenhouse gases together. E-waste: IGAD is urging East African states to tackle discarded electronics as global e-waste mounts. Climate Risks: An intensifying El Niño threat is putting East African health systems on alert, while South African farmers face drought concerns. Extreme Weather: Severe storms and damaging winds are forecast in parts of South Africa, alongside heat and elevated fire danger. Food and Nature: Ivory Coast scientists are developing climate-tough cocoa as rains fail, while UN experts warn progress on global biodiversity targets remains slow ahead of COP17.

Severe Weather: South Africa’s weather service issued a warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms in western KwaZulu-Natal, with risks of flooding, hail and infrastructure damage. Forecasters also warn that El Niño could intensify water shortages, heatwaves and pressure on farms. Climate Pressure: East African health systems are urged to prepare for El Niño’s effects as the region faces growing food-security risks. In the Congo Basin, recovered weather records reveal a long-term warming trend. Pollution Watch: Sediment analysis has flagged pollution risks in Mozambique’s Bons Sinais Estuary. Energy and Environment: South Africa dismissed environmental appeals against TotalEnergies’ offshore exploration plans, while civil society is challenging a proposed 5GW gas procurement plan. Resilience: Kigali’s green infrastructure could deliver more than two dollars in benefits for every dollar invested, according to a new assessment.

Climate Displacement: Nearly 3.8 million people have fled their homes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—more than double the 2020 figure. UNHCR says climate shocks are compounding attacks and aid shortfalls. Extreme Weather: South Africa faces severe heat, fire danger and storms, while farmers are urged to prepare for El Niño. East African health systems are also being warned not to wait for the rains before preparing. Wildlife and Land: Nigeria’s military-backed operation cleared more than 4,000 illegal miners from Gashaka-Gumti National Park, but some miners have moved to other sites and officials warn they could return. Tanzania’s Kibaha district has also banned sand mining in the Mpiji River valley. Climate Resilience: New reporting highlights Kigali’s potential gains from green infrastructure and Rwanda’s climate-resilient farming. An ActionAid study says agroecology can improve yields, cut costs and strengthen resilience across Africa. Pollution: Global fashion brands are linked to textile waste in Accra, renewing concerns about waste management in African cities.

Food Security: FAO urged Nigeria to invest in farm innovation, while farmers called for better storage, processing and transport to cut waste and food imports. In Rwanda, climate resilience also means protecting harvests after crops leave the field, when rain and poor storage can spoil produce. Greener Cities: A Kigali assessment found nature-based projects such as tree planting and riverbank restoration could deliver more than $2 in benefits for every dollar invested over 25 years. Climate Risks: East Africa’s health systems are being urged to prepare as El Niño builds, while South African farmers face drought concerns for the 2026/27 season and heatwaves raise fire risks. Nature Under Pressure: The Congo Basin continues to lose trees even as global deforestation slows. Thai authorities seized more than 400 elephant tusks believed to have been smuggled from Zambia. Pollution and Energy: Ghana’s rivers are being stained by illegal mining, while South Africa has rejected environmental appeals against TotalEnergies’ offshore exploration. African women are also calling for dedicated climate finance to turn adaptation commitments into action.

Food Security: CAPPA urged Nigeria to make nutritious food affordable, warning that higher production alone cannot resolve hunger when post-harvest losses, insecurity and supply-chain gaps limit access. Weather Risks: Kenya’s meteorological service forecast rain across 40 counties through October 23, with possible flooding and landslides as El Niño conditions evolve. South Africa also faces extreme heat, while El Niño could put KwaZulu-Natal water supplies under pressure. Climate Finance: South Africa plans to push for a trebling of adaptation finance by 2035 at COP31, while African women are calling for dedicated funding to put gender commitments into action. Energy and Nature: South Africa rejected environmental appeals against TotalEnergies’ offshore exploration plans. A new ActionAid study says agroecology can improve yields, cut costs and strengthen climate resilience across Africa.

Offshore Drilling: South Africa has dismissed 47 appeals against TotalEnergies’ exploration plans off the West Coast, while adding conditions on food security and coastal livelihoods. Conservation groups may still seek a court review. Water Pollution: Lesotho residents report foamy water in the Sekoai River near the Polihali tunnel works. Observations also found wastewater flowing from the construction site towards the river; authorities are expected to investigate. Climate Finance: At a Kigali summit, African leaders urged carbon markets to deliver investment and benefits to local communities. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank also committed up to $100 million to a climate fund for emerging markets, with 30% earmarked for non-Asian markets. Drought Risk: Sudan is calling for urgent climate funding as drought compounds conflict, while South Africa is preparing for El Niño risks to the coming farming season.

Waste Management: A new GAIA report warns that 15 waste-to-energy incineration projects across 10 African countries could lock in costly, polluting solutions, with more than US$4 billion at stake. El Niño Risk: Forecast severe floods and droughts are already affecting vulnerable communities; heavy rains have flooded parts of Mogadishu as aid groups prepare for further shocks. Nature Protection: UN experts say countries’ biodiversity plans fall short of 2030 targets, raising pressure for stronger commitments at COP17. Climate and Food: Ivory Coast is seeking climate-tough cocoa varieties, while experts warn El Niño could deepen hunger across East and Southern Africa. Pollution and Health: WHO says lead exposure causes millions of deaths worldwide each year and is working with six sub-Saharan African countries to strengthen testing and prevention.

Forest Loss: Global forest loss eased 15% in 2025 but still topped 7 million hectares; the Congo Basin lost 2.4 million hectares, nearing Amazon-level losses. Uganda’s Climate Push: Speaker Jacob Oboth urged leaders to turn climate pledges into action as floods, landslides and drought threaten livelihoods. Pollution Watch: Springs residents report mine-dump dust and foul smells, while the local air-quality monitor remains offline. Climate Finance: The Green Climate Fund has committed US$7.6 billion to Africa, but says stronger, investment-ready projects are needed. Oil and Climate: Niger declared a severe environmental incident after an oil blowout, while activists at African Energy Week protested against expanding oil and gas exploration. Food Security: Experts warn that El Niño could deepen hunger in East and Southern Africa, raising pressure to prepare farmers and strengthen climate-resilient food systems.

Climate Finance: Tanzania is seeking $41.06 million from the Global Environment Facility’s next funding cycle for conservation and climate projects, after receiving $53.4 million in the previous round. Across Africa, climate promises face a funding test, with adaptation finance still falling short. Energy: Zambia’s push to expand power generation highlights a regional gap: transmission lines and grids must keep pace or new electricity may not reach users. Forests: Global deforestation slowed in 2025, but losses in the Congo Basin grew, leaving progress fragile. Climate Readiness: SADC is preparing for a possible El Niño in 2026/27, as South Africa warns farmers to plan for drought risks. Pollution: Niger declared a severe environmental incident after an oil blowout; a reported methane leak could also undermine Ireland’s emissions cuts. Regional Action: West African countries are aligning priorities ahead of COP31, seeking stronger climate commitments and support for adaptation.

Cocoa and Forest Rules: Up to 40% of African smallholder cocoa and coffee farmers could lose EU market access if they cannot afford the mapping and traceability required by the bloc’s deforestation rules. Forests: Global forest loss slowed in 2025 but remains far off the 2030 target, with destruction surging in the Congo Basin. Drought Preparedness: South Africa is using agricultural roundtable recommendations to prepare for a potentially strong El Niño in the 2026/27 farming season; key grain-producing provinces face particular risk. Oil Pollution: Niger has declared a severe environmental incident following an oil blowout. Climate Finance: Africa’s adaptation efforts face a multibillion-dollar funding shortfall, even as the Green Climate Fund commits $7.6 billion to the continent. Biodiversity: South Africa is heading to COP17 with a plan to help halt biodiversity loss.

Drought and Hunger: More than 13 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia face severe hunger after three failed rainy seasons, the WFP warns. A UN report also flags northern Ethiopia and Nigeria, South Sudan and the Sahel as hunger hotspots. Climate Readiness: With El Niño conditions raising risks for food production, Tanzania has ordered timely delivery of seeds, fertiliser and farm advice. Zimbabwe also faces a major grain deficit. Pollution and Energy: Niger has declared a severe environmental incident after an oil blowout. At African Energy Week in Cape Town, activists urged an end to new oil and gas exploration, while investors see scope for renewables to advance at COP31. Climate Finance: African climate leaders say funding shortfalls and high borrowing costs are holding back practical action on drought, floods and food insecurity. Biodiversity: A global report warns wildlife populations have fallen 73% in 52 years, even as conservation efforts report a recovery among southern African elephants.

Ethiopia’s Climate Pledge: The country says it will cut greenhouse gas emissions 74.3% by 2030 against business as usual, using renewable energy, tree planting and landscape restoration. The pledge comes as droughts, floods and erratic rainfall disrupt farming, water supplies and energy. Niger Oil Blowout: Authorities have declared an exceptionally severe environmental incident after a well spewed crude oil and gas, sending a slick across the desert. The spill is only partly contained. Ghana’s Water and Coast: Illegal gold mining is a major contributor to pollution affecting the country’s water bodies, a new analysis warns. Civil society groups welcomed the suspension of offshore gold activities but want the licences revoked, citing risks to marine life, fisheries and coastal livelihoods. El Niño Readiness: Forecasts and dry-weather concerns raise the stakes for food security across the region, including Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Marine Protection: Nigeria and Norway are planning satellite vessel-tracking to detect illegal fishing and protect local fisheries. Carbon Markets: New UN rules require cookstove projects to set aside credits against forest loss from fire, drought or logging. Biodiversity Finance: South Africa is pushing for more funding, technology and practical support ahead of COP17’s first review of global biodiversity goals. Pollution: Greenpeace’s Ghana textile-waste probe names H&M, Primark and M&S; in Nigeria, nine oil spills released nearly 130,000 litres of crude in the Delta. Climate Risk: El Niño is raising concerns over food security, while heatwave and severe-storm alerts continue in parts of South Africa. Wildlife: Research in Kruger National Park finds elephant carcass sites can remain nutrient-rich hotspots, drawing grazing animals for years.

Climate and Food: Warnings of a potentially record-strength El Niño are sharpening concern over heat, drought and harvest risks in Southern Africa. South African farmers are already adapting to extreme heat, while researchers map where drought-tolerant Bambara groundnuts could grow. Water and Weather: Storm and heat alerts cover parts of South Africa; pollution has also halted the Rietvlei water plant. A study urges stronger local institutions to protect rural water supplies from climate shocks. Nature: A new report says Africa’s monitored wildlife populations have plunged 80% in five decades. Namibia’s community-led conservation offers a recovery model, as South Africa opens a new Grasslands National Park in the Eastern Cape. Restoration: The UN has launched a $78 million programme to support Africa’s Great Green Wall.

El Niño Alert: A potentially record-breaking El Niño is raising fears of sharper weather, food and energy shocks. Southern African harvests are at risk, while forecasts are already prompting aid planning in the Horn of Africa. Weather Readiness: Lagos will host the first African meeting of the Alliance for Hydromet Development, bringing weather and climate leaders together to discuss investment, early warnings and stronger services. Clean Energy: World Bank Group financing has helped mobilise nearly $6.7 billion in private investment in Egypt since 2022, including funding for solar, wind and battery storage projects. Nature: The UN has launched a $78 million programme for Africa’s Great Green Wall, while a new WWF report warns monitored wildlife populations across Africa have fallen by 80% since 1970.