The political economy of the climate crisis in Southern Africa

ABSTRACT

This article maps out the dynamics of the climate crisis that is unfolding globally, but whose consequences have a disproportionate impact on countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the wider global South. Although these countries have contributed insignificant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions (compared to their industrialised counterparts), their populations are the major victims of climate change, whose disastrous impacts were recently witnessed in Zimbabwe during Cyclone Idai and in South Africa during the Durban floods. In addition, Southern Africa is experiencing climate change-induced droughts, depleting water in major dams and undermining hydroelectric power generation, especially in Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a result, the region is experiencing dangerous power outages affecting agriculture and other key industries. This article adopts a novel decolonial perspective to make sense of these extreme weather events, arguing that the climate crisis is already affecting the livelihoods of many people in Southern Africa and that it is often the poor and vulnerable who suffer most from the impacts of climate change. There is thus a need for industrialised countries to contribute towards the costs of climate change mitigation since they are historically responsible for most of the carbon emissions.

RÉSUMÉ

Cet article décrit les dynamiques de la crise climatique qui se déroule à l’échelle mondiale, mais dont les conséquences ont un impact disproportionné sur les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne et du Sud. Bien que ces pays aient contribué de manière insignifiante aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) (par rapport à leurs homologues industrialisés), leurs populations sont les principales victimes du changement climatique, dont les effets désastreux ont été récemment constatés au Zimbabwe lors du cyclone Idai et en Afrique du Sud lors des inondations de Durban. En outre, la sous-région de l’Afrique australe connaît des sécheresses induites par le changement climatique, entraînant l’épuisement de l’eau dans les principaux barrages, ce qui compromet la production d’énergie hydroélectrique, en particulier en Zambie et au Zimbabwe. En conséquence, la région subit des coupures de courant extrêmes, affectant ainsi l’agriculture et d’autres industries clés. Ces événements climatiques extrêmes ont démontré que ce sont souvent les pauvres et les vulnérables qui souffrent le plus de l’impact du changement climatique. Cet article adopte une nouvelle perspective décoloniale pour comprendre l’impact de ces phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes sur les communautés vulnérables. L’article affirme que la crise climatique affecte déjà les moyens de subsistance d’un grand nombre de personnes dans la sous-région de l’Afrique australe en raison des sécheresses, des inondations et des pannes d’électricité. Il est donc nécessaire que les pays industrialisés contribuent aux coûts de l’atténuation du changement climatique, puisqu’ils sont historiquement responsables de la plupart des émissions de carbone.

RESUMO

Este artigo mapeia a dinâmica da crise climática que está a desenrolar-se globalmente, mas cujas consequências têm um impacto desproporcionado nos países da África Subsariana e no sul global em geral. Embora estes países tenham contribuído com quantidades insignificantes de emissões de gases com efeito de estufa (GEE) em comparação com os seus homólogos industrializados, as suas populações são as principais vítimas das alterações climáticas, cujos impactos desastrosos foram recentemente testemunhados no Zimbabué durante o ciclone Idai e na África do Sul durante as inundações de Durban. Além do mais, a sub-região da África Austral está a sofrer secas induzidas pelas alterações climáticas, levando ao esgotamento da água nas principais barragens, prejudicando assim a produção de energia hidroelétrica, especialmente na Zâmbia e no Zimbabué. Como resultado, a região está a sofrer cortes extremos de energia, afetando a agricultura e outras indústrias importantes. Estes fenómenos meteorológicos extremos demonstraram que, muitas vezes, são os pobres e vulneráveis que mais sofrem com o impacto das alterações climáticas. Este artigo adota uma nova perspetiva decolonial para dar sentido a esses eventos climáticos extremos em termos do seu impacto nas comunidades vulneráveis. O artigo argumenta que a crise climática já está a afetar os meios de subsistência de um grande número de pessoas na sub-região da África Austral através de secas, inundações e cortes de energia. É, pois, necessário que os países industrializados contribuam para os custos da atenuação das alterações climáticas, uma vez que são historicamente responsáveis pela maior parte das emissões de carbono.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate crisis
• capitalist industrialisation
• Southern Africa
• carbon emissions
• climate justice

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Crise climatique
• industrialisation capitaliste
• Afrique australe
• émissions de carbone
• justice climatique

PALAVRAS-CHAVE:

• Crise climática
• industrialização capitalista
• África Austral
• emissões de carbono
• justiça climática

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Grasian Mkodzongi

Grasian Mkodzongi (PhD University of Edinburgh) is an Executive Director at Tropical Africa – Land and Natural Resources Research Institute based in Harare, Zimbabwe. He is currently the Southern African Regional Lead Consultant (Dala Institute Indonesia), evaluating the Ford Foundation’s Natural Resources and Climate Change International Program. He has published extensively on land and agrarian reform, rural livelihoods, extractives and local economic development, climate change and green minerals in Southern Africa. He is also a contributing editor of the Review of African Political Economy.