The Challenge of Tackling Climate Change in Africa

Abstract

The climate change phenomenon has occupied the attention of the world in the last decade as the world
has struggled to understand its full impact. Several international legal instruments and initiatives such as
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocols, the Paris Agreement, etc.,have been put in place to
deal with the problem. This paper examined the attitude of African countries towards climate change in
line with contemporary global efforts to contain the menace. It highlighted the efforts of African countries
and strategies in coping with the challenges posed by climate change. In carrying out the study, doctrinal
method of research was adopted. It was found, inter alia, that while most developed nations are proactive
in developing state-based legislations to contain the vagaries of climate change. as they appreciate the
consequence of inaction on climate change on the wellbeing of the planet earth, African countries (who
ironically are even more impacted by the phenomenon) appear to be indifferent to the challenge of
climate change, as they consider it a myth created to divert attention and stall their economic
development.The paper found that the underlying consideration for the near absence of climate change
laws and policies on the legal landscape of the African countries is the prioritisation of the economic
welfare of its people above climate change concerns.