By Abdullahi Lukman
African governments must take immediate and coordinated action to protect jobs and livelihoods as climate change threatens to disrupt 83 percent of employment across the continent.
Experts delivered this warning at a high-level session during the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD).
The session, organised by the UN Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Macroeconomic Policy, Finance and Governance Division, focused on the findings of the 2023–2024 Economic Report on Africa.
The report highlights how the continent’s labour market, especially the informal sector, is highly vulnerable to climate-induced shocks.
According to Ms. Nadia Ouedraogo, an Economic Affairs Officer at ECA, informal employment accounts for 83% of all jobs in Africa in 2024.
She noted that sectors such as agriculture, construction, and services are particularly exposed to environmental disruptions, with women and youth facing the greatest risks due to erratic weather patterns, land degradation, and seasonal instability.
Moderating the session, Ms. Zuzana Schwidrowski, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy Division at ECA, stressed that climate change not only jeopardises individual livelihoods but also undermines macroeconomic stability across African economies.
“These shocks are eroding fiscal buffers and growth, yet they also present opportunities for green innovation and inclusive investment,” she said.
In a call for collaborative solutions, Mr. Sam Koojo, Assistant Commissioner at Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, urged stronger partnerships between governments, the private sector, and development institutions.
“We must co-create solutions and prioritise climate actions that drive job creation,” he said.
Warning of the scale of the crisis, Mr. Andrew Allieu, a Senior Economist with the ILO Regional Office for Africa, noted that 1.2 billion workers whose livelihoods depend on natural resources are increasingly vulnerable.
“Heat stress alone is causing a 2.3 percent loss in working hours and could lead to 14 million job losses by 2030,” he added.
Echoing the urgency, Mr. Etienne Espagne, Senior Climate Economist at the World Bank, emphasized the importance of early investment in renewables and regional coordination to build resilient supply chains.
“Aligning supply chains with regional strengths and investing in green sectors can reduce climate risks and promote shared prosperity,” he said.
Ms. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, highlighted the importance of inclusive green growth.
“Public-private partnerships are vital to attracting climate finance, and women must be at the forefront, not just as beneficiaries, but as innovators and decision-makers in the green transition,” she stated.
Panelists also raised alarms about potential economic impacts, noting that a 1 percent increase in temperature could reduce Africa’s GDP by 2.2 percent by 2030, with West Africa expected to be among the hardest hit.
They warned that without targeted policies, the shift from fossil fuels could worsen social and regional inequalities, particularly in West and Central Africa.
Despite the risks, experts pointed to significant opportunities. The carbon market alone could generate up to 400 million jobs by 2050, along with millions more in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture sectors.
The session called on African countries to scale up reskilling initiatives for youth and informal workers, expand social protection programmes, and unlock innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate a just and inclusive green transition across the continent.