The issue of climate change has been an ongoing discuss for some time now. Climate change indeed has far reaching effects for the environment and human survival.

Global temperatures have been on the rise due to emission of greenhouse gases and the impacts of this warming on the oceans surrounding the continent is already being felt.

As the earth heats up, it alters rainfall and other weather and climate patterns, threatening human, animal and plant life. While certain parts are experiencing less rainfall, others are experiencing a recurrence of flooding. This situation presents a big problem for Agriculture which accounts for a lion share of employment in the region. The implication for the economy if millions of people mainly farmers and those that depend directly on their products for their livelihood are put out of job can be devastating.

In Nigeria, lives have been lost in recent times to incidence of flooding, properties worth millions destroyed, people displaced from their homes. In other parts of the country where drought and deforestation is prevalent, herders have also had to move to new shores to graze their flocks and this has created another challenge for the country as clashes between herders and farmers has become a security threat, a major concern for Government as lives have been lost to these clashes in various parts of the country in recent times.

African is the least responsible for climate change but the most vulnerable due to developmental challenges and wide spread poverty. It is therefore a challenge the continent leaders must pay proper attention to even though African leaders have always supported international efforts to combat climate change and global warming. More obviously needs to be done.

Combating climate change in Africa is not going to be easy, it is going to require the political will of our leaders, a lot of funding and expertise but it can be done. Now is the time for African leaders to develop one voice against climate change, make legislations to curb gas flaring and ensure those legislations are implemented, develop greater analytical ability and gather necessary data to take action.