As world leaders convene for the COP 26 United Nations climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, shocking details that leave one with more questions than answers about Africa’s sincerity and ability to adapt to and fight the effects of climate change continue to emerge.

Considered as the biggest climate change event after Paris, the summit is expected to bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Convention on Climate Change.

With countries making pledges to end emissions and even giving timelines, focus will be on Africa and how the continent hopes to fight climate change.

With the use of coal, oil and gas, amongst other fossil fuels, being the order of the day in Africa, the major question is whether Africa is resourced enough and able to change.

According to a United Nations (UN) report ahead of the summit, over 100 million extremely poor people in Africa are threatened by accelerating climate change that could see a rise in food insecurity, poverty and population displacement.

The report estimated that up to 118 million poor people will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat in Africa, if adequate response measures are not put in place.

The UN defines the extremely poor as those who live on less than US$1,90 per day.

In Sub Saharan Africa in particular, according to the report, climate change could further lower gross domestic product by up to 3 percent by 2050.

The report leaves a lot to be desired in the way we live and survive as Africans.

Whilst other continents like Europe and the Americas can afford to change their way of living as they seek to reduce emissions, it is difficult for Africa which is dominated by “hunter gatherers and farmers” to adapt to, let alone understand climate change.

Cutting down trees for building, farming, burning tobacco and firewood purposes, is one good example of what Africa presently cannot do without.

At the end of the day, it boils down to changing the way of doing things and adapting to new ways which are “smart” and forgoing the use of fossil fuel.

Another report recently pointed out that Lake Victoria, the biggest in Africa, was under threat from pollution caused by fishing activities taking place in the lake.

Climate change is causing the lake to steadily dry up, while cities bordering nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are not helping matters as they are dumping plastic and waste into the lake.

If nothing is done, in the next 50 years, Lake Victoria will be a thing of the past.

Already, some leaders have raised concern about the ability of Africa to change the way of living as we fight climate change.

Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture in the Africa Union, Josefa Sacko said urgent action was needed in Africa.

“If adequate measures are not put in place, by 2030, about 118 million people will be exposed to drought. In Sub Saharan Africa climate change could further lower GDP by 3 percent. Not only are physical conditions getting worse, but also the number of people being affected is increasing,” said Sacko.

COP 26 is, therefore, expected to proffer solutions that will see Africa continue to develop and keep its economy growing while lowering and then eliminating net carbon emission, but the process requires a great deal of investment and access to technology.

In Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa has declared war against climate change, saying it has emerged as one of the greatest challenges of our time.

President Mnangagwa is among an array of African leaders scheduled to address the COP 26 including President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Hage Geingob of  Namibia, Joao Lourenco of Angola, and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The President believes discussions at COP26 will be an “important step in agreeing a collective way forward”.

President Mnangagwa recently joined hundreds of Heads of State and Government and ministers during the official opening of the COP 26 summit in the afternoon.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said fossil fuels were pushing humanity to the brink, adding that it was time to say enough of drilling, enough of mining fossil fuels “as the world is digging our own graves”.

“Climate change is happening before our own eyes. Oceans are now hotter than they were. We are moving towards a climate catastrophe,” said Mr Guterres.

President Mnangagwa said if the world doesn’t step up, jobs will be lost, livelihoods destroyed while people will lose lives.

“That is something we must avoid and why Zimbabwe is coming to the table with ambitious plans to tackle climate change,” said President Mnangagwa recently.

Local Engineer, Martin Manhuwa believes as Africa, we need to up our game in mitigating and adapting to climate smart activities, which is the new normal.

Environmentalist, Mr Washington Zhakata said: “We are not doing enough as Africans. It is more of reaction which needs to be mainstreamed in development planning. Africans are hit year in year out with destruction of infrastructure, properties, loss of lives but we deal with reconstruction without dealing with strengthening our resilience.”

Budgets, he said, should be mainstream climate change, adding that creation of dedicated funds for the fight and adaptation to climate change was imperative.

As the COP 26 progresses, it remains to be seen whether countries can showcase their issues of concern with respect to climate change and mobilise resources to stop further change, avoid disaster and start implementation of resilience projects and programmes. – @michaelmagorong1