<\/p>\n
AU Commission (AUC) Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Harsen Nyambe Nyambe made the call at the Extraordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Speaking on behalf of AUC Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment Moses Vilakati, Nyambe said climate risks require coordinated, science-based and politically supported continental responses. \u201cThis meeting comes at a critical moment,\u201d Nyambe said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to Nyambe, global climate forecasting centres indicate a high probability that a strong El Ni\u00f1o episode will develop later this year, with peak intensity expected between November 2026 and January 2027.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nyambe said El Ni\u00f1o affects African regions differently, with some areas facing drought and prolonged dry spells while others experience floods, landslides and outbreaks of climate-sensitive diseases.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThese climate extremes have profound consequences for agriculture, food security, water resources, energy production, public health, education, infrastructure and ultimately the livelihoods of millions of Africans,\u201d Nyambe said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nyambe said the 2023\/24 El Ni\u00f1o offered painful lessons for the continent. Southern Africa recorded one of its worst droughts in decades, forcing six countries to declare national states of disaster. Crop failures, reduced hydropower output, rising food prices and worsening hunger left more than 60 million people requiring humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eastern Africa experienced severe flooding that displaced more than 480 000 people, damaged infrastructure and killed more than 500 people. \u201cThese events were not isolated natural disasters; they were stark reminders of how climate variability, compounded by climate change, threatens decades of socio-economic progress across our continent,\u201d Nyambe said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nyambe said Africa has strengthened climate observation systems, seasonal forecasting, climate services and early warning mechanisms through member states, regional economic communities, regional climate centres, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development and programmes such as ClimSA.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, Nyambe said climate data must translate into action for farmers, pastoralists, disaster management authorities, health workers and communities. \u201cClimate information only becomes valuable when it informs decisions, shapes public policy and reaches farmers preparing for the planting season,\u201d Nyambe said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nyambe said that there was a need to consider Africa\u2019s participation in COP31, preparations for COP32, disaster risk reduction, the AU Theme of the Year on Water and Sanitation, resource mobilisation and institutional coordination.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nyambe said resilience requires stronger institutions, empowered communities, investment in science and technology, protected ecosystems and effective early warning systems. \u201cOur citizens expect more than discussions. They expect preparedness. They expect coordination. They expect leadership. Above all, they expect action,\u201d Nyambe said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
–AU\/ChannelAfrica–<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[78,26],"class_list":["post-41191","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-type-featured","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"African Union (AU) officials say Africa must strengthen preparedness for the anticipated 2026 El Ni\u00f1o to protect lives, livelihoods and development gains.","published_date":"","news_description":"African Union (AU) officials say Africa must strengthen preparedness for the anticipated 2026 El Ni\u00f1o to protect lives, livelihoods and development gains.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41191\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41193,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/41191\/revisions\/41193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=41191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}