Africa faces severe financial challenges in adapting to climate change.

This is the view expressed in a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) which was launched recently.

The report spells out the costs that will be faced if governments fail to close the greenhouse gas “emissions gap” between current 2020 emissions reduction pledges and what’s needed to keep warming below 2°C.

Due to current climate change caused by past emissions, Africa is already committed to adaptation costs in the range of US$7 to 15 billion per year by 2020.

These costs will rise rapidly after 2020, since higher levels of warming result in higher costs and damages.

What is needed for African governments to deal with the crisis is a clear pathway on long term finance, institutional mechanisms to address loss and damage, adaptation, mitigation technology and capacity building.