The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report | What’s in it for Africa?

This executive summary distills the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report for African decision-makers, highlighting that Africa is already experiencing warming (0.5–2°C) and shifting rainfall patterns. It emphasizes that human activity is the dominant cause of this warming and warns of severe risks to food security, health, and economic growth, particularly in climate-sensitive primary sectors. The report advocates for integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies, noting that while further warming is inevitable in the coming decades, immediate adaptation can reduce risks and provide development benefits.

• The IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report concludes with 95% scientific certainty that human activity, specifically the increase of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, is the primary cause of global warming since the mid-20th century.
• Africa has experienced significant warming over the last 50–100 years, with surface temperatures increasing by 0.5–2°C. Rainfall patterns are also shifting: some parts of western Africa saw a decrease of approximately 25–50 mm per decade from 1951–2010, while parts of southern and eastern Africa likely saw increases of 5–50 mm per decade.
• Climate change is already impacting African health, food security, and ecosystems. Evidence includes an increased incidence of malaria in parts of eastern Africa, reduced productivity of fisheries in Lake Kariba and the Great Lakes, and impacts on wheat and maize production. Extreme weather events, such as the 2008 floods in the Zambezi River Valley which displaced 90,000 Mozambicans, highlight the region's vulnerability.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2014). The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report | What’s in it for Africa? https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/J1731_CDKN_FifthAssesmentReport_WEB.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report | What’s in it for Africa? 2014. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/J1731_CDKN_FifthAssesmentReport_WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report | What’s in it for Africa? |date=2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/J1731_CDKN_FifthAssesmentReport_WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2014ipccs, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report | What’s in it for Africa?}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/J1731_CDKN_FifthAssesmentReport_WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }