How Can Africa Manage The Transboundary Climate Risks It Faces?
ODI Global
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Abstract: This policy brief explores transboundary climate risks (TCARs) that affect African regions through interconnected systems such as trade, financial flows, migration, and shared ecosystems. It outlines how climate shocks and adaptation efforts in one country can reverberate across borders, threatening regional stability and development. Examples include drought-induced food insecurity in West Africa, hydropower vulnerabilities in Southern Africa, and transhumance pressures in East Africa?s Karamoja Cluster. The publication identifies pathways through which climate risks cascade?biophysical, geopolitical, socio-economic?and calls for improved regional governance responses. Recommendations include strengthening AU climate strategies, developing shared early-warning systems, and integrating TCARs into national adaptation plans. The report emphasizes the importance of cross-border cooperation, data sharing, and institutional capacity to manage these emerging challenges. Using illustrative graphics, interviews with regional experts, and practical policy roadmaps, the document supports awareness and capacity-building for collective climate security across the continent.