The State of Climate Change in Africa

The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Africa 2025 report confirms what many businesses on the continent are already experiencing first-hand: the climate is changing faster in Africa than the global average, and the economic consequences are accelerating alongside it.

Africa Is Warming Faster Than the Global Average

According to the WMO, the annual mean surface air temperature over African land areas in 2025 ranked among the third to seventh warmest on record, roughly 0.51°C above the 1991–2020 baseline. This continues a well-documented trend: Africa is warming at a faster rate than the global average, despite contributing the least to historical greenhouse gas emissions.

Extreme Weather Is Already Reshaping the Continent

Climate change in Africa is no longer an abstract future risk. In 2025 alone, extreme weather and climate events affected at least 13 million people across the continent and caused more than 3,000 reported fatalities.

  • Floods accounted for more than half of all reported climate hazards in 2025.
  • Nigeria’s May 2025 floods caused over 200 deaths.
  • Flooding in the Democratic Republic of Congo in April 2025 caused more than 160 deaths.
  • Drought affected an estimated 8.5 million people across East Africa.
  • The 2024–2025 tropical cyclone season was particularly active in the South Indian Ocean.

Disappearing Glaciers and Rising Seas

African glaciers have shrunk by more than 90% since the late 1800s. Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice cover, for example, has fallen from around 11.4 km² in 1900 to roughly 1 km² today. Along the coastline, sea levels are rising faster than the global average in several regions: 4.2 mm per year on the Atlantic coast, 5.2 mm per year in the Indian Ocean, and 5.6 mm per year in the Red Sea  all directly relevant to coastal infrastructure, ports and real estate.

The Early Warning Gap

Only around 40% of African countries currently have multi-hazard early warning systems in place. This gap represents both a vulnerability for communities and businesses, and a genuine opportunity for investment in climate services, resilience infrastructure and risk forecasting capability.

What This Means for African Businesses

The data points to a clear conclusion: physical climate risk is now a mainstream business risk across Africa, not a niche environmental concern. Agriculture, insurance, banking, infrastructure and logistics are all directly exposed to more frequent floods, droughts and storms. Companies that build climate risk assessment into their strategy  rather than treating it as an afterthought are better positioned to protect operations and identify resilience-related opportunities. Lybra’s Climate Risk and Opportunity Management service helps banks, insurers and corporates quantify and respond to exactly these risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Africa warming faster than the rest of the world?

Yes. WMO data shows Africa’s land surface is warming at a rate faster than the global average, even though the continent accounts for a small share of historical global emissions.

Which African regions are most affected by climate change?

East Africa has faced significant drought impacts, while West and Central Africa (including Nigeria and the DRC) experienced severe flooding in 2025. Coastal regions across the continent face accelerating sea-level rise.

How can businesses in Africa manage climate risk?

Businesses can start with a climate risk assessment covering physical and transition risks, followed by scenario analysis, resilience planning and, where relevant, alignment with disclosure frameworks such as TCFD or IFRS S2.

Understanding your exposure is the first step toward resilience. Contact Lybra to discuss a climate risk assessment for your organisation.

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advisory advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, regulatory frameworks and requirements referenced here may change. Organizations should seek tailored guidance from Lybra or a qualified professional before making decisions based on this content.