5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

The effects of climate change are severe in Africa partly because the continent generally lacks the capacity to respond adequately to climate challenges. Rising numbers of floods and droughts associated with extreme weather and changes in precipitation patterns have serious impacts which are redefining lifestyle for urban and rural residents. In rural areas for example, drought affects output, income, water supply, and livelihood of people, most of whom are small or peasant farmers depending on rainfed agriculture. Urban areas are not spared from floods (especially coastal cities), water, energy, and food crises, further fueled by rapid urbanization and the limited capacities of municipal authorities to respond. At countries and regional levels, some of these challenges have metamorphosed into civil wars and international conflicts over resources and opportunities, facilitating the rise of armed/terrorist groups that create an atmosphere of generalized insecurity. Faced with these multiple challenges, many African countries, especially after COVID-19 are overwhelmed, thus exacerbating their levels of poverty, rural exodus, and outmigration.

This session will focus on contributions (case studies or/and discourses) that help theorize, frame, and understand the experiences and responses of urban and rural dwellers (especially women) to climate crisis in Africa. We encourage contributions that apply a gender lens to interrogate policies and local responses to current climate crises and discuss some of the challenges and prospects for Africa. We particularly welcome contributions on Africa addressing:

• Climate change and water security.
• Climate change and energy security.
• Climate change and food security
• Climate change, security, and outmigration.