In a poignant gathering at the Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel in Bole, a sense of urgency filled the air as Sunita Narain, a prominent figure in the environmental movement, addressed a room packed with African journalists, scientists, and policymakers. With a gentle yet powerful demeanor, Narain conveyed a message that resonated deeply with her audience.
“Us, we are—I call us the ants of the world, okay. We are the ants, so we have to keep at it,” stated Narain, who serves as the Director General of India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Her call to action came on September 18 during the launch of “The State of Africa’s Environment 2025,” a comprehensive report detailing the dire environmental challenges facing the continent. This event, co-hosted by CSE in collaboration with the Alliance for Science–Ethiopia and Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) of Kenya, transformed into a rallying cry for climate action.
A Continent on the Frontline
The findings of the report revealed alarming statistics: Africa is warming faster than the global average, with 2024 marked as the hottest year on record for the continent. Narain emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that the past five years have seen over 200 million Africans affected by extreme weather, with nearly 70 percent of related fatalities occurring in this period.
“There is no death because of climate change,” she remarked, critiquing the euphemisms often found in national databases. “Every year, every month, extreme weather events are breaking new records. Every region is devastated. I call this the revenge of nature.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has consistently highlighted Africa’s vulnerability, but this report starkly illustrated the accelerating threat. According to Brookings Institution analysis, seven out of the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change are located in Africa, while the World Meteorological Organization estimates that one-third of all global deaths from extreme weather over the last 50 years have occurred on the continent.
“This Is a Matter of Existence”
Negus Lemma, Ethiopia’s Deputy Director General of the Environmental Protection Authority, articulated the gravity of the climate crisis: “Discussing and working on issues of climate and environmental protection is an extravagance, but it is a matter of existence and way of life.” He cited data from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), revealing that 16 of the world’s 19 hunger hotspots are situated in Eastern and Southern Africa, exacerbated by conflict and climate-related shocks.
“Over 115 million people faced acute food insecurity in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Sahel in 2025,” Lemma stated, highlighting the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including those in rural areas, informal settlements, women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), spearheaded by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, was presented as a beacon of hope, with the program achieving a record-breaking 714.7 million seedlings planted in a single day this July. “This is an African model of climate adaptation,” Lemma noted, emphasizing the importance of local solutions.
Food, Water, and Health on the Edge
Narain stressed that the climate crisis extends beyond environmental concerns to the core of livelihoods. “Water will be at the center of climate change,” she warned. The shifting patterns of rainfall could lead to increased flooding and drought, affecting agricultural productivity and threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
“Climate change will lead to more temperature spikes, more flooding, more rain, and more heat,” Narain explained, identifying health risks tied to climate impacts, including the resurgence of diseases like cholera and vector-borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue.
She also raised concerns about the infrastructure in Addis Ababa, questioning whether current architectural designs would withstand the intensifying heat. “Architecture for heat is going to require us to have more and more ventilation—the traditional architecture of our region,” she advised.
Climate Justice and Reparations
Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, Director for the Addis Liaison Office of UNESCO, framed the climate crisis as a matter of equity and dignity. “Africa is on the frontline of a climate emergency it did not create,” she asserted, emphasizing that the resulting economic losses are as much a humanitarian issue as they are an environmental one. Water scarcity currently affects 14 African countries, with projections indicating that nearly half of the continent’s 1.45 billion people could face severe water stress by 2025.
Bissoonauth called for a moral reckoning, linking environmental stress to broader issues such as food insecurity and migration. She urged journalists to humanize scientific data, asserting that “reports don’t change the world; people do,” and emphasized the need for innovative financing and public-private collaboration to address these challenges.
Holding the Rich World Accountable
Narain was unflinching in her critique of high-emitting nations, stating, “Africa is not responsible for the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Let’s be absolutely clear about it.” She highlighted the disproportionate share of the global carbon budget consumed by wealthy nations, calling for accountability and action from those who have historically contributed the most to climate change.
Migration and Social Fractures
Narain cautioned against oversimplifying the term “climate refugees,” explaining that extreme weather often becomes the tipping point for already vulnerable communities. The report indicated a dramatic increase in disaster-related displacements, surging from 1.1 million to 6.3 million in 2020, with projections suggesting even higher rates of migration without urgent intervention.
Chroniclers of Today
In her closing remarks, Narain underscored the importance of storytelling in the fight against climate change. “We are the chroniclers of today… if we don’t have that voice, if we don’t have that reality check, we will forget,” she warned, stressing the necessity of documenting Africa’s environmental struggles and triumphs.
Bissoonauth echoed this sentiment, invoking an African proverb: “Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” She called upon journalists to ensure that Africa’s environmental narrative is told by Africans, for Africans, and for the world.
Spotlighting African Solutions
Lemma urged the continent to amplify African solutions and adaptation strategies, particularly in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Narain echoed this, encouraging a focus on local innovations in water management and sustainable agriculture, reinforcing the notion that solutions to climate challenges are within reach.
A Call to Keep Going
As applause filled the hall, Narain’s closing words served as both a plea and a promise: “It is sometimes heartbreaking to say we have not got where we need to go—but we can’t give up. So, we have to keep at it.” While “The State of Africa’s Environment 2025” may not reverse the climate emergency, for Narain and her allies, documenting Africa’s crises and resilience remains a crucial act of defiance against the looming threats of climate change. “If we do not tell this story, no one else will,” she concluded, emphasizing the urgent need for ongoing advocacy and action.
