Africa could create millions of new jobs by investing in climate-resilient and low-carbon sectors, according to a new World Bank report.
The report, “Jobs in a Changing Climate,” draws on data from 93 countries and finds that without urgent action, up to 43 million jobs could be lost by 2050 in 49 climate-vulnerable economies, many of them in Africa. But it also says the same countries could generate up to 25 million new green jobs if they shift decisively toward climate-smart development.
Africa is warming faster than the global average. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, droughts and floods are intensifying pressure on farming, which employs most rural Africans.
The World Bank report warns that this instability threatens to push millions into poverty unless countries invest in more resilient economic systems.
According to the findings, Africa’s biggest opportunities for job creation lie in limate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, landscape and forest restoration and greener, more resilient cities: Investments in public transport, waste management, recycling, and green construction will be key as Africa’s urban population expands.
The report says these sectors do not only offer opportunities for employment but also for better-paid, more secure work.
Africa has the fastest-growing youth population in the world. The World Bank argues that aligning climate action with job creation could turn this demographic surge into an advantage rather than a source of unemployment and instability.
However, the report warns of a widening skills gap. Many young Africans lack the technical and digital skills needed for emerging green industries. It calls for large-scale investments in vocational training, school curriculum reforms, and community-based skills programmes to prepare workers for new roles.
As the green transition accelerates, some high-emission sectors including fossil fuels, outdated manufacturing and unsustainable logging will shrink. The World Bank urges African governments to design “just transition” policies that support affected workers with retraining, income protection and relocation assistance.
Without these measures, the report says, the shift to a cleaner economy could deepen inequalities rather than reduce them.
While the potential is large, Africa will need significant investment to unlock it. The report calls for stronger public-private partnerships, more climate finance, and better alignment between national development plans and climate strategies.
It also urges development banks and international partners to increase funding for adaptation, not just mitigation, noting that many of the green jobs Africa could create, especially in agriculture and land restoration, depend on climate-resilience.
Despite the risks, the World Bank says climate action could become “one of Africa’s greatest job creation engines” if governments respond with bold policy reforms and targeted investments.
“Climate change threatens Africa’s economic future, but with the right choices today, the continent can build a greener, more resilient job market for millions,” the report concludes.
