CLIMATE JUSTICE AND AFRICA’S DEBT CRISIS

AFRICA faces a number of challenges, two of them being climate change and unsustainable debt. Countries like Eswatini, struggling under mounting debt, are being forced to choose between paying their debts or funding development and addressing the growing impacts of climate change. Yet, no nation should face this choice. For Africa, addressing both climate and the crises is essential for securing a sustainable and just future.

The Debt Trap: A Colonial Legacy
Africa’s debt crisis is rooted in a legacy of colonialism. For decades, African countries have been trapped in a global financial system that forces them to export raw materials and import finished goods at high costs. Today, this cycle continues as African nations are burdened with massive external debt, making it hard to invest in their people, public services or the environment.

Eswatini’s debt reached 41.3 per cent of its GDP in 2023, leaving the government with limited options to fund climate resilience or improve public services like healthcare and education. African nations are pressured to service their debts, often accumulated through loans from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or World Bank under strict conditions, before investing in vital projects, that would benefit their citizens. This debt-driven development model has left African countries even more vulnerable to climate disasters, such as droughts and floods.

The connection between debt and climate change is clear. Many African nations, already among the most vulnerable to climate impacts, are also the most heavily indebted. For instance, Eswatini faces rising costs from climate disasters like unpredictable weather systems that damage the agriculture sector, while also limiting funds for climate adaptation. As debt interest payments rise, nations are forced to divert money away from critical services.

Research shows that many climate-vulnerable countries are already spending more on debt repayments than on healthcare and education. The current government revenue in Africa is much lower than the gross government debt. This leaves governments ill-prepared to manage the impacts of climate change, which in turn forces them to borrow more money, often at high interest rates. The result? A vicious cycle where both the debt and climate crises feed into each other, trapping nations in perpetual economic and environmental vulnerability.
This burden is felt every day by ordinary people. In Eswatini, rising debt means fewer resources for schools, hospitals, and disaster preparedness. Farmers, already grappling with erratic weather, lack access to funds to protect their livelihoods. Families lose homes and face food insecurity, as climate disasters increase, with no financial safety net from the government.
The false choice: Climate

Action or development?
At the core of this issue is the false choice African nations are being forced to make: Address climate change or fund development. Eswatini and other African countries need both. Sustainable development, whether through clean energy, agriculture, or infrastructure can help nations build resilience to climate impacts, but this cannot happen while they are trapped in a cycle of debt. For Africa to meet its climate and development goals, the international community must step up. Debt restructuring and relief are critical. African nations need concessional financing and grants that do not add to their debt burdens. Without these, countries like Eswatini cannot invest in the green technologies and infrastructure necessary to adapt to climate change. Debt relief is not just a financial necessity; it is a moral imperative.

Africa cannot wait for small reforms to the global financial system. We need African governments, civil society, and regional organisations uniting to demand comprehensive debt restructuring. This must go hand-in-hand with reforms to the international financial system, moving away from loan-based climate finance and focusing on grants and fair financial mechanisms, that do not compromise national sovereignty. Tax justice also plays a critical role. By reforming global tax systems and ensuring that multinational corporations pay their fair share, African nations can generate the funds needed to tackle climate change and support development. This could free African nations from their dependence on loans and external aid, allowing them to fund their own climate and development priorities.

Why Debt Justice Matters
Addressing Africa’s debt crisis is not just about numbers and having fair economic growth, it is about people’s lives and human rights that get violated in countries with high debt. Without debt relief, countries like Eswatini cannot fully commit to climate action. The impacts are felt on the ground, where families struggle with failing crops, natural disasters, and a lack of basic essential services. If African nations are to secure a sustainable and just future, the global community must recognise that climate justice and debt justice are inseparable. Only through radical changes to the global financial system can Africa break free from the cycle of debt and lead in the fight against climate change. Now is the time for the world to act in solidarity with Africa, ensuring that no country has to choose between protecting its future and caring for its people.

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