We started off like we are a continent full of lovely people, fascinating natural resources and a superb culture. We lived with great safety safe from natural disasters like flood and drought as they had no reason to happen here. But things have changed. The reality of climate change has dawned on Africa in the harshest of ways.

 Africa contributes a measly 3 percent of global emissions with Nigeria leading the continent's emission contribution but she has suffered the effects of climate change the most. From the floods in Nigeria to the drought in Ethiopia, the continent is in for great danger if this trend continues unabated. As a kid growing up in Nigeria, I watched water sink into the earth when it rained but today, the water runs atop the earth as flood even after it had long stopped raining. It hurts me that Africa will be facing this danger occasioned by other continents of the world but the reality is that the situation is more dangerous than seem to believe. 2012 recorded arguably the most dreadful flooding in Nigeria as 2.1 million people were displaced and 363 people killed by the flood as it affected a total of 7 million people and caused an estimated damage of 2.6 trillion naira in the 30 affected states of Nigeria(Nigeria has 36 states).

Now, just three years later Nigeria suffered flood disaster again and this time, 53 persons died and 100,420 were displaced. This may not be up to the true figure though but it shows how much things have changed for our hitherto calm continent. We look at Lake Chad, a Lake which hitherto provides livelihood to many and served as a water source to 68 million people shrank from 33,000 square kilometers to only 300 square kilometers in the last two decades representing a quick decline. This has left many unemployed and without any form of livelihood. According an IPCC 2001 report, the gradual yet dramatic disappearance of the glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro is a result of climate change. The glaciers act as a water tower and several rivers are now drying up. It is estimated that 82% of the ice that capped the mountain, when it was first recorded in 1912, is now gone. According to Oxfam, ?12 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are in dire need of food. Rainfall has been below average with 2010/2011 being the driest year since 1950/1952". 

An Aljazeera report in 2014 went thus, ?South Sudan refugees residing in a UN camp are living in knee-deep, sewage- contaminated floodwater, forcing some families to sleep standing up so they can hold their children out of the water.?

Being aware of this realities and the facts that Ethiopia is facing its worst drought in 30 years and Nigeria currently topping the global deforestation chart, we have to step up our efforts in combating climate even though there's little we can do. But the Conference of Parties COP 21 that will hold this December in Paris presents us with a perfect opportunity to change the status quo. I take this time to commend African nations that have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC as it shows deep concern for the biggest threat to our existence but I make bold to say that the attention of Africa should be on the plans of the big emitting nations at the COP 21. It's important that we go to COP 21 aware that our efforts on combating climate change rests on countries like China, Germany, US, UK, India, Japan, France and Canada who are among the largest global emitters. There plans on climate change should be of utmost importance to us as what they do directly affects our continent. 

Two of the major issues that will come up at the COP 21 is for Africa to introduce carbon taxing system to help reduce emissions and secondly, for the continent to reduce her oil and gas exploration or to leave most of her oil resources in the ground to reduce emissions but that won't work.

The easy logic is this, the big economies polluted their way to the top and now Africa has the chance, why not? Nigeria for instance, contributes 75% of Africa's GHGs emission and this, is with her very small level of industrial development and oil explorations. Nigeria has no functional oil refinery as of three months ago which means her oil were not refined at home. Imagine then, what could be with a more industrialized Nigeria- which is very likely in a few years- and one which refines her oil at home. Considering a population that is currently at 170,000,000 people and ever-increasing, it will certainly skyrocket the level of her emissions in a couple of years. Because she has to develop with what she has oil. It?s the same with most African countries.

 Photocredit: aljazeera.com 

Again, while campaigns are on to breach the stark gender imbalance in almost sectors of Africa?s economy, the gender gap may further widen if climate change effects continue unabated especially its effects on Agriculture where most of Africa?s women earn their living from. According to an African Development Bank report in 2009, ?in almost half of African nations, women constitute the majority of the agricultural work force. Specifically, in 22 of Africa?s 53 countries, women account for at least 50% of the agricultural work force. The 46 countries in which 40% or more of agricultural workers are women represent 85% of the continent?s total population of 1.03 billion? and heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture will ensure that Africa women will be dealt a heavy blow by the increasing effects of climate change. Because women are less likely to migrate as the men, climate change effects including water stress may stretch their suffering.

At the recently concluded Global Youth Summit 2015 in Germany where I was Nigeria's youth representative, I made it clear at one of the plenary sessions that the developed economies must make great sacrifices if Africa and other emerging economies must develop in a green way and this position is yet to be disputed. But we have to lead the way, we have to box the G7 nations to our submission as this is our change to have a binding agreement that will make our continent safer. Imagine what will happen is half of Nigeria's 170 million population flees the country as climate refugees, imagine what will be the case if flood crisis affects 4 countries in Africa simultaneously? The migrant crisis in Europe should teach us a great lesson as that is likely in Africa if we fail to get a favourable agreement at the COP 21. The drought in Syria a few years ago reportedly displaced about 2 million people which contributed to the current crisis and that number are part those now knocking on the doors of the EU as refugees. The future of Africa is too spectacular to allow climate change to blight it. Our economy will soon take over the world if natural events occasioned by climate change doesn't get in the way. This generation of young African's are motivated, eager and set to move this continent to our rightful place in the world map, let's not allow climate change to scuttle the dreams of our youths for Africa. As a senior British political leader, Lord Ashdown recognized, ?Once the crisis is upon you, it?s too late to start working out your priorities". We recognize it now that there's little we can do ourselves but there is so much we can do to influence the big economies. We don't have to be in a hurry to agree to negotiations at the COP. It must favour us hence it will be unacceptable. We must be prepared to stage a work out too if decisions seem not to cover our interest which is one of the most crucial at this point. While I commend the African Union Commission especially her youth division for supporting continental actions against climate change specifically the recent AFRIYOCC that held in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, I urge the AU commission to look critical into this and brief AU member nations on the position of Africa to enable us get our wish.

 Long live Africa my land of riches and hope, joy and innovation. 

You're all I live for!