Effective Leadership as a Panacea for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Africa

Abstract

Addressing climate change has become a top priority for the entire world because without urgent action, calamitous consequences are inevitable. This will result in humans paying a heavy price in the areas of food security, water resources and public health. Although Africa as a continent contributes less to global emissions, evidence shows that it is one of the most severely affected regions of the world. It is predicted that climate change will produce both social and political problems for Africa, weakening states and societies in the process. This will inevitably threaten economic and political stability on the continent. Having said this, what is disheartening is that the current climate change agenda continues to fail Africa. Time has come for the continent to engender the leadership necessary to deal with climate change in a sustainable way. Although research has shown leadership as a significant component in the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, effective leadership continues to be elusive in Africa, more than six decades after the first country gained political independence. Despite the continent being blessed with both human and natural resources in abundance, it has unfortunately been plagued for a long time with poor, and ineffective leadership. There is need for transformational leaders who will advocate for substantial change in existing institutional and societal values in terms of ecologically sustainable practices. Mitigating climate change in Africa requires courageous leaders who are able to make decisions that maybe inconvenient in the short term. Innovative leaders should recognise and vigorously promote a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.