Abstract
This chapter explores the potential of RtoP as a framework for guiding and facilitating effective responses to climate change-related environmental crises in Africa. This chapter makes a case for the need to apply the ‘environmental RtoP’ principle to the traditional understanding of RtoP to include the protection of the environment as a critical component of safeguarding human well-being and sustainable development in Africa. The chapter draws on the need to examine the practical implementation of RtoP in addressing climate change-induced environmental challenges in Africa, the role African regional organisations, national governments and international actors play in integrating RtoP principles into environmental policies, strategies and interventions, the challenges and opportunities faced with aligning RtoP with climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, taking into account the unique social, economic, and political contexts of African countries. Additionally, the chapter explored the synergies between RtoP and other global environmental governance frameworks operating in Africa and the effectiveness of the frameworks in ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations. The study concludes that expanding RtoP into existing global environmental governance frameworks and aligning them with national and regional efforts can effectively mitigate environmental challenges in Africa. The study recommended that there is a need for action at various levels (national and regional) and extensive research and action to integrate RtoP principles into African environmental policies and strategies fully.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbass, K., Qasim, M. Z., Song, H. et al. (2022). A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 42539–42559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19718-6
AfDB. (2023). African Development Bank Group Report 2023: Africa Remains Resilient to New Shocks, but Progress and Financing Must Be Accelerated. https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-bank-group-report-2023-africa-remains-resilient-new-shocks-progress-and-financing-must-be-accelerated-61446
African Union. (2019). Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. https://au.int/en/agenda2063/overview
Ani, K. J., Anyika, V. O., & Mutambara, E. (2022). The Impact of Climate Change on Food and Human Security in Nigeria. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 14(2), 148–167. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-11-2020-0119
Atrocity Alert. (2019). https://www.globalr2p.org/
Bertamini, M. (2021). The Check, Please! Incentivising States to Pay for Climate Change. The European Journal of International Law.
Cabot, C. (2017). Climate Change and Farmer–Herder Conflicts in West Africa. In Climate Change, Security Risks and Conflict Reduction in Africa (pp. 11–44). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29237-8_2
Chu, E. W., & Karr, J. R. (2017). Environmental Impact: Concepts, Consequences, Measurement. PMCID: PMC7157458. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.02380-3
Cottier, F., & Salehyan, I. (2020). Climate variability and irregular migration to the European Union. Global Environmental Change. 69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102275
Cottier, T., Aerni, P., Karapinar, B., Matteotti, S., de Sepibus, J., & Shigal, A. (2014). The Principle of Common Concern and Climate Change (pp. 293–324). Mohr Siebeck GmbH & Co. KG
Denters, E., & Gazzini, T. (2017). The Role of African Regional Organisations in the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investment. Journal of World Investment and Trade. https://doi.org/10.1163/22119000-12340048
Durodola, A. (2022). Nigeria’s cities are at severe risk from climate change. Time to build resilience, and fast. https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/nigerias-cities-are-at-severe-risk-from-climate-change-time-to-build-resilienceand-fast/
Eriksen, S., Lisa, E., Schipper, F., Scoville-Simonds, M., Vincent, K., Adam, H. N., Brooks, N., Harding, B., Khatri, D., Lenaerts, L., Liverman, D., Mills-Novoa, L., Mosberg, L., Movik, S., Muok, B., Nightingale, A., Ojha, H., Sygna, L., Taylor, M., Vogel, C., & West, J. J. (2021). Adaptation Interventions and Their Effect on Vulnerability in Developing Countries: Help, Hindrance or Irrelevance? World Development, 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105383
Evans, J. P. (2009). 21st Century Climate Change in the Middle East. Climate Change, 92, 417–432.
Fishel, S. (2018). Is Climate Change a Threat Multiplier? R2P and Environmental Disasters. https://www.e-ir.info/2018/04/24/is-climate-change-a-threat-multiplier-r2p-and-environmental-disasters/
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. (2019). In their Atrocity Alert No. 173 on Climate change and Responsibility to Protect shows that. https://www.globalr2p.org/publications/atrocity-alert-no-173-climate-change-and-the-responsibility-to-protect/
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. (2022). UN General Assembly Resolutions Referencing R2P. https://www.globalr2p.org/resources/un-general-assembly-resolutions-referencing-r2p-2/
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. (2023). https://gaamac.org/2019/09/global-centre-for-r2p-climate-change-threat-multiplier-for-conflict-and-atrocities/
Hickel, J. (2020). Quantifying National Responsibility for Climate Breakdown: An Equality-Based Attribution Approach for Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Excess of the Planetary Boundary. The Lancet Planetary Health, 4(9), 399–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30196-0
IEP. (2022). Ecological Threat Report 2022: Analysing Ecological Threats, Resilience & Peace. http://www.economicsandpeace.org/
International Rescue. (2023a). 10 Countries at Risk of Climate Disaster. https://www.rescue.org/article/10-countries-risk-climate-disaster
International Rescue. (2023b). Democratic Republic of Congo: Decades-Long Conflicts Escalate. https://www.rescue.org/article/democratic-republic-congo-decades-long-conflicts-escalate
International Rescue. (2023c). South Sudan: Hunger, Conflict and Climate Crisis. https://www.rescue.org/article/south-sudan-hunger-conflict-and-climate-crisis
Kremer, D. (2022). Climate Change and Mass Violence—The Lethal Connection. https://www.hmd.org.uk/news/climate-change-and-mass-violence-the-lethal-connection/
Ndizera, V., & Muzee, H. (2018). A Critical Review of Agenda 2063: Business as Usual. Africa Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 12(8), 142–154. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJPSIR2018.1114
Notre Dame-Global Adaptation Initiative Index. (2023). https://gain.nd.edu/news-social/
O’Brien, K., & Barnett, J. (2013). Global Environmental Change and Human Security. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 38, 373–391. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-032112-100655
Oji, E. A., & Ozioko, M. V. C. (2011). Effect of Globalisation on Sovereignty of States.
Omoyajowo, K., Omoyajowo, K., Bakare, T., Ogunyebi, A., & Ukoh, S. N. B. (2022). Reflections on the Nexus Between Climate Change, Food Security and Violent Conflicts: A Tour through the Nigeria Experience. Ecological Safety and Balanced Use of Resources, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.31471/2415-3184-2022-1(25)-22-30
Osiander, A. (2001). Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth. International Organization, 55(2 (Spring)), 251–287.
Relief Web. (2021). Climate, Peace and Security: The Case of South Sudan. https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/climate-peace-and-security-case-south-sudan
Relief Web. (2022). https://reliefweb.int/report/world/global-warming-genocide-warning-climate-change-and-mass-atrocities
Relief Web. (2023, March 17). Central African Republic: Situation Report. https://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-situation-report-17-march-2023
Said, M., & Bashir, A. (2023). Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on Food Security in Somalia. Journal of Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.31579/2766-2314/087
Sambo, U., & Sule, B. (2023). Impact of Climate Change on Food Security in Northern Nigeria. Green and Low-Carbon Economy, 00(00), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewGLCE3202560
Schefer, K. R., & Cottier, T. (2021). Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Emerging Principle of Common Concern. In Die Schutzverantwortung (R2P) (pp. 123–142). https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004229983_005
Suman, D. O. (2019). Ramsar Convention. Mangrove Management. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/ramsar-convention
Szwedo, P. (2018). Principles and Institutions of International Law as Conditions of and Restrictions on Water Trade. In Cross-Border Water Trade: Legal and Interdisciplinary Perspectives (pp. 208–315). https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004382893_006
Tarif, K. (2022). Climate Change and Violent Conflict in West Africa: Assessing the Evidence. SIPRI. https://doi.org/10.55163/VHIY5372
Trisos, C. H., Adelekan, I. O., Totin, E., Ayanlade, A., Efitre, J., Gemeda, A., Kalaba, K., Lennard, C., Masao, C., Mgaya, Y., Ngaruiya, G., Olago, D., Simpson, N. P., & Zakieldeen, S. (2022). Africa. In H.-O. Pörtner, D. C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E. S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, & B. Rama (Eds.), Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (pp. 1285–1455). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009325844.011
Uduji, J. I., & Okolo-Obasi, N. E. N. (2022). Gender Sensitive Responses to Climate Change in Nigeria: The Role of Multinationals’ Corporate Social Responsibility in Oil Host Communities. Journal of Global Responsibility.
UN Convention on Biological Diversity. (2023). Convention on Biological Diversity. https://www.bmuv.de/en/topics/nature-species-protection/nature-and-biological-diversity/international-biological-diversity/the-united-nations-convention-on-biological-diversity
UNECA (2022). African Economic Conference opens with a strong call for adaptation measures to tackle the “looming climate change threat” to Africa. https://www.uneca.org/stories/african-economic-conference-opens-witha-strong-call-for-adaptation-measures-to-tackle-the-
UNEP. (2023). Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/basel-convention-control-transboundary-movements-hazardous-wastes
UNESCO. (2023). Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. https://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). (2022). https://catalogue.unccd.int/936_UNCCD_Convention_ENG.pdf
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2022).
World Food Programme (WFP). (2022). Global Operational Response Plan 2022. https://executiveboard.wfp.org/document_download/WFP-0000144406
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Obor, D.O., Ochogwu, J.P. (2024). Environmental Challenges, Climate Change and the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) in Africa. In: Erameh, N.I., Ojakorotu, V. (eds) Africa's Engagement with the Responsibility to Protect in the 21st Century. Africa's Global Engagement: Perspectives from Emerging Countries. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8163-2_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-8163-2_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-8162-5
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-8163-2
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)