African countries, which are among the least responsible for the global climate crisis, could face a drop of up to 64% in gdp growth by the end of the century, even if the world manages to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

As world leaders discuss climate action at the UN summit in Egypt, a study commissioned by Christian Aid found that burning fossil fuels at the current pace will have a huge impact on the finances of African countries. The average impact on GDP per capita could reach 34%, according to the report, while the effect on GDP growth will lead to an average reduction of 20% in rates by 2050 and a whoa by a who averaging 64% by 2100.

The findings underscore the urgent need for tangible progress in climate finance for adaptation and loss and damage – key areas in which developing countries will put pressure on the wealthiest polluting countries in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday (9), which is finance day at COP27.

"Climate finance is not charity, it's climate justice," said Nabeel Munir, a Pakistani diplomat and chief negotiator for g77 developing countries, during the event.

Africa's 54 countries account for 15% of the world's population, but contribute less than 4% of the co2 that heats up the planet, compared to 27% in China, 15% from the U.S. and 17% from the EU, the Guardian reports. But it is the continent most affected by catastrophic climate change, such as rising sea levels and melting glaciers, as well as extreme and destructive weather events such as droughts, forest fires, floods and heat waves.

The study looked at estimated GDP growth for 50 African countries if there was no global warming, compared to the best and worst-case scenarios of 1.5°C and 2.4°C by 2100.

Under current climate policies, the GDP growth of eight countries – Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti and Nigeria – can be reduced by up to 75%. The hardest hit nations generate less than 0.43 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per person, in contrast to the U.S. and Canada, which generate 14 and Saudi Arabia, which totals 18 tons per person.

In Sudan, where heavy rains and floods have affected more than 250,000 people in 15 of the 18 provinces this year, economic growth can be reached by an impressive 84% under current global climate policies.

The study did not take into account new climate adaptation measures, so the fall in GDP may be less severe. But it also does not take into account the economic damage caused by extreme weather, so the fall can be even worse.

Source: Um só Planeta