By Aminu Adamu
Africa is entering a dangerous new climate era, with extreme heat emerging as a silent but deadly threat. A groundbreaking report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, warns that the continent is warming nearly 1.5 times faster than the global average, leaving hundreds of millions vulnerable to life-threatening conditions .
Authored by Anumita Roychowdhury and Sharanjeet Kaur, the report details how rising temperatures, rapid urbanization, and surging cooling demand are reshaping lives across the continent. “Extreme heat is a silent disruptor, undermining productivity, threatening food systems, straining water and energy supplies, and driving mortality,” the authors stress.
According to the findings, about 300 million Africans roughly 75% of the world’s total exposure—experienced life-threatening heat stress in 2024 . Projections suggest that by 2050, nearly 35 African cities could face more than 150 days each year with temperatures above 40°C, particularly in West and North Africa .
The consequences are already visible:
- Labour productivity could fall by 5% in West Africa by 2030, translating into the loss of 9 million jobs .
- Food security is under threat, as rising heat reduces crop yields and worsens water stress.
- Migration pressures could displace up to 40 million people by 2050, with numbers rising to 86 million under higher warming scenarios .
Urban heat is a particular concern. Case studies of Lagos and Johannesburg show how poorly planned urban growth and loss of green cover have amplified local temperatures by up to 10°C over the past decade . Densely populated settlements built with metal and concrete trap heat, creating indoor conditions hotter than outdoors, with deadly consequences for the urban poor .
Despite its scale, extreme heat has been “under-prioritized” in Africa’s climate agenda, overshadowed by more visible disasters such as floods and droughts. The report calls for urgent action: investing in green infrastructure, heat-resilient housing, reliable cooling systems, and stronger early-warning networks, while ensuring international climate finance supports African adaptation .
“Heat is not just an occasional weather event it is a permanent stress that will influence how cities grow, how economies function, and how people live,” warn Roychowdhury and Kaur. “If left unaddressed, its silent and pervasive reach could make heat the most consequential climate hazard of the 21st century” .
