Africa's rare glaciers soon to disappear: Climate report

Context: World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other agency in its report warned that, Africa’s rare glaciers are going to disappear in next two decades because of climate change.

Key facts

• The report was released ahead of “U.N. climate conference” which is scheduled for October 31, 2021 in Scotland.
• As per report, 1.3 billion people of Africa remain extremely vulnerable as African continent warms more and at a faster rate than the global average, even though 54 countries in Africa contributes for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Report notes that, shrinking glaciers of Mount Kenya, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda are the symbol of rapid and widespread changes to come. 
• Present retreat rates of these glaciers are higher than global average. If this continues to happen, there will be total deglaciation by 2040s.
• By 2030, around 118 million extremely poor people, or people living on less than $1.90 a day, will be exposed to floods, drought and extreme heat in Africa.

Economic effects of climate change

• Estimates of economic effects of climate change vary in the African continent. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, climate change will decrease the gross domestic product by 3% by 2050.  
• Cost of adapting to climate change in Africa will increase to $50 billion per year by 2050.

Famine in Madagascar

• United Nations has warned that “climate change has resulted into famine-like conditions in Madagascar, located in Indian Ocean Island. 
• It also notes that, South Sudan are going through the worst flooding in about 60 years.

Road Ahead

Increasing African Representation: Despite the threats ahead to the African continent, the voices of Africans have been less represented than richer regions at global climate summits like in IPCC reports.

• Thus, there is a need to increase African participation in all multilateral climate change negotiations.

Mobilising Climate Finance: Overall, Africa will need investments of over $3 trillion in mitigation and adaptation by 2030 to implement its national climate plan.

• It will require significant, accessible and predictable inflows of green financing in Africa.

Additional Information
Melting of Himalayan glaciers 
A) Effect of Melting Himalayan Glaciers

• Frequent Flooding & Droughts: Himalayan glaciers provide for a vital regional lifeline to over two billion people through 10 main rivers that originate from the glaciers.
• Given that there are 8,790 glacial lakes in the region, rapid melting of glaciers could lead to floods from glacial lake outbursts. For example in Uttrakhand flash floods in 2013 and 2021.
• Glacial melt could result in more streamflow due to high glacial melt but for a short time, after which the flow would start reducing and result in conditions of droughts.

B) Impacting Moonsoon: The Himalayas exerts a significant influence on seasonal shifts in the monsoon circulation and the distribution of rainfall over India.

• The south-west monsoon accounts for 70% of the annual rainfall in India.
• According to IPCC projections, the melting of glaciers could indicate a likely increase in summer rainfall by 4-12% in the near term and 4-25% in the long term.
• Changing monsoon patterns, including increased severity and frequency of storms, could lead to mountain hazards that may destroy critical infrastructure.

C) Destabilize Flow of Indian Rivers: Increasing glacial melts could destabilize Indian rivers by changing their streamflow.

• The Indian rivers like Ganga and the Brahmaputra are partly fed by glacier melt and partly mainly monsoon-fed rivers
• With the impact on monsoon, this will hamper agriculture that accounts for the largest share of water usage.