Deep in the heart of Dandora, in Nairobi’s Eastlands area, John Mwangi stands over the rubble that used to be home. He picks up a stone and throws it into the fast-moving Mathare River, sighing in exasperation, a victim of climate change.

“When rains came heavily mid-last year, the city was flooded and lives were lost,” says Mwangi. “We had to demolish our homes following the government’s directive to evict those living by the riverbank.”

Mwangi is one of the many residents of Nairobi Slums who had their houses demolished following floods that devastated the city, claiming more than 200 lives countrywide. Ironically, homes further upstream in more affluent communities in the city remained standing, highlighting the reality of climate divide even in vulnerable nations of the global south.

A study by researchers from the University of Kansas, in jjokbang-chon, an extremely impoverished community in Seoul, South Korea, has discovered that while the calculation of the residents’ carbon footprints show that they contribute much less to climate change than their fellow citizens, they suffered more the effects of extreme heat and other climate issues.

While jjokbang-chon residents emit significantly less carbon than the national average in South Korea, their emissions still exceed those of billions in the Global South, highlighting the complex challenge of reducing emissions while ensuring social equity, according to the researchers.

The “Carbon Divide” in Africa

Africa, despite contributing just 4% of global carbon emissions while housing approximately 17% of the world’s population, suffers disproportionately from climate change impacts compared to regions that contribute significantly to global emissions.

The severe effects, including extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves poses have led to the destruction of infrastructure and affected sectors like health. The erratic rainfall patterns and desertification threaten food security. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, approximately 2.2 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity in Kenya.

Moreover, as of 2022, approximately 39.8% of Kenya’s population lived below the national poverty line, equating to around 20 million individuals, according to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics. The high poverty prevalence is associated with poor housing conditions, lack of access to energy-efficient systems, and exploitative living conditions, especially in informal settlements in the cities.

Despite minimal carbon footprint, the population is vulnerable and suffers maximum exposure.

“Higher-income countries and cities drive emissions through their lifestyles and consumption, yet it is poorer countries and marginalized communities that bear the brunt of climate disasters,” says Joonmo Kang, assistant professor of social welfare at KU.

He adds that this disparity highlights how the wealthiest 10% of the global population is responsible for nearly 50% of all emissions, while those with the smallest carbon footprints suffer the most.

The Role of Social Workers in Addressing Climate Crisis

In the study published in the journal Ethics and Social Welfare, Kang and his colleagues highlight the dilemmas social workers may face in advancing climate solutions that both reduce overall emissions and promote justice for marginalized communities.

Social workers play a vital role as facilitators and advocates for vulnerable groups in policy discussions, promoting collaboration and furthering community empowerment by creating just and equitable responses to climate change.

“When we go into communities through our volunteerism projects, Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approaches guide our services,” says Dr. Patricia Kingori-Mugendi, the Kenyan Director for CorpsAfrica.

She further highlights that to come up with efficient mitigation and adaptation strategies, social workers need to understand the needs of the community and let them take ownership of the project.

“Community-driven solutions guarantee success in reducing the disparity caused by the effects of climate change,” she adds.

For instance, amidst the humanitarian crisis caused by internal conflicts, Sudanese citizens organized over 600 Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) to provide essential services. These grassroots initiatives offered food, shelter, medical aid, and education to affected populations.

Vanessa Nakate, Climate Justice Activist during the Climate Vulnerable forum, said, “The climate crisis is not just about emissions. It’s about the people. It’s about the frontline communities who are living the reality of climate impacts every day.”

To ensure the future of the continent plagued by the effects of climate change, African policymakers need to bring the vulnerable population to the table to understand how best to employ adaptation strategies to address the carbon divide and ensure climate justice.