Africa is heating up faster than many other parts of the world, and the consequences are already being felt.
A new scientific study in communications, earth and environment , yet to be reviewed, warns that extreme heat and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting across the continent, putting millions of people at risk.
The research shows that climate change driven by human activity is the main reason behind this rising heat. As global temperatures increase, African countries–many of which already experience high temperatures–are being pushed into dangerous territory.
Heatwaves are not just uncomfortable. They can be deadly. Extreme heat affects the human body’s ability to cool itself, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. According to the study, children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors–such as farmers, construction workers, and street vendors–are especially vulnerable.
The paper explains that in many parts of Africa, temperatures are now reaching levels where it becomes unsafe to work outside for long periods. This threatens livelihoods, particularly in countries where most people depend on outdoor and manual labour. When workers cannot safely work, incomes fall, food production suffers, and poverty deepens.
Heat also affects food and water security. Crops fail under extreme temperatures, livestock suffer, and water sources dry up faster. This can worsen hunger and increase competition over scarce resources. In urban areas, heat is intensified by concrete, traffic, and poor housing, creating what scientists call “urban heat islands.”
Despite these growing risks, the study finds that Africa is largely unprepared for extreme heat. Many countries lack basic heat-response measures such as early warning systems, cooling centres, reliable electricity, or strong public health responses. Hospitals are often overwhelmed, and heat-related illnesses are underreported.
The researchers warn that without urgent action, the situation will get much worse. As global warming continues, some regions of Africa could face heat levels that make normal daily life extremely difficult, especially during the hottest months of the year.
However, the study also stresses that this crisis is not inevitable. Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions can slow the rise in temperatures. At the same time, African governments can take practical steps to protect people. These include improving weather forecasting, issuing heat alerts, redesigning cities to include more trees and green spaces, improving housing, and educating communities about how to stay safe during extreme heat.
The researchers also argue that Africa–despite contributing very little to global emissions–needs more international support to adapt to climate change. Funding for health systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and social protection will be critical.
In simple terms, the message of the study is clear: Africa is getting hotter, the heat is becoming dangerous, and action is urgently needed. Without strong global and local responses, extreme heat could quietly become one of the continent’s deadliest climate threats.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“African communities hold a wealth of knowledge from empirical lived experiences that remains untapped in addressing the growing health threats of climate change and building context-specific resilience,” The Lancet.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Social Life Shapes Sleep in Wild Chimpanzees: wild chimpanzees sleep depends strongly on their social lives. Using infrared cameras in forest nests, researchers found that chimpanzees generally slept longer and more soundly when sleeping near others than when alone, likely because groups feel safer. However, social rank mattered a lot, especially for males. High-ranking males slept less and had more disturbed sleep than lower-ranking males, probably due to social stress and competition.
The presence of other adult males or sexually receptive females also disrupted sleep, delaying bedtime and causing earlier waking. Females’ sleep was less affected by rank. Overall, the study shows that chimpanzee sleep is shaped by social pressures, not just biology, highlighting the importance of studying sleep in natural settings. [Reference, Cell Biology]
Climate Change and Innovation in Early Humans: a study which examined climate and environmental changes in southern Africa found that these factors influenced, but did not directly control, early human cultural innovation between about 300,000 and 40,000 years ago. By analysing ancient pollen preserved in ocean sediments, researchers reconstructed past vegetation and climate patterns. They discovered that colder periods were generally wetter, with more forests and shrublands, while warmer periods were drier and more open.
When compared with archaeological evidence, major innovations such as new stone tool traditions did not simply appear during favourable climates. Instead, innovation was linked to how changing environments shaped human movement, population connections, and social interaction. The study shows that early human culture developed through a complex interaction of climate change, landscapes, and social networks, rather than being driven by climate alone. [Reference, communications, earth and environment]
Better Understanding of Africa’s Cities and Villages: a new scientific study reveals that Africa’s towns, villages, and cities are far more extensive and complex than existing global maps suggest. Researchers found that widely used urban–rural datasets often fail to capture small settlements, informal communities, and fast-growing peri-urban areas that are common across the continent. Using high-resolution satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, the team produced a 10-metre resolution map of human settlements across Africa. The new dataset identifies cities, towns, villages, and dispersed rural housing far more accurately than previous mapping efforts. [Reference, Scientific Reports]
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