Climate Change and Human Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Climate change has been referred to as a security threat that has weakened the ability of states to deal with severe weather patterns, droughts, land degradation, flooding, and other climate-related changes. Climate change has significantly affected poor communities in developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. The proneness of these sub-Saharan African communities to the scourge of climate change is exacerbated by low precipitation, high temperatures, and high poverty levels. If climate change issues are not addressed at the local level, sub-Saharan Africa is likely to become the epicentre of a global food crisis. This study focuses on the effects of climate change on human security in sub-Saharan Africa. The study extensively relied on secondary written sources such as reports, conference papers, books, journal articles, government publications, magazines, and bulletins to gather data. Data was analysed using thematic and content analysis. The study established that climate change affects human security through extreme weather elements, injuries and deaths due to flooding, water scarcity, and climate-induced migration. It also affects human health, food production and development, and food security, as well as triggering conflict. It is therefore imperative that strategies be adopted to address the adverse effects of climate change on human security in sub-Saharan Africa.