The Politics of Climate Change Management and Its Implications on The Green Revolution in Africa

Abstract

This study critically examines the politics of climate change management and its implications for the green revolution in Africa through a comparative analysis of Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria. The primary purpose is to assess how climate change management's politics affect Africa's green revolution. The study (i) examined whether the Global South and Global North engagement on climate change can bring relief (succor) to the world’s inhabitants, especially vulnerable African populations. It analyzes the nature of climate change engagement between the Global South and the Global North. It evaluates the challenges facing the implementation of climate change treaties and conventions in Africa, considering political, economic, and institutional barriers. Methodologically, the research uses a desktop, comparative case study approach, drawing from various secondary sources, including peer-reviewed journals, policy reports, and institutional publications. It integrates political economy analysis with climate governance frameworks to assess national capacities and performance in climate adaptation and agricultural reform. Findings reveal that while Kenya has made notable strides through devolved climate finance and localized adaptation initiatives, structural inequalities and limited farmer inclusion persist. South Africa faces significant policy fragmentation and a lack of political coherence, while Nigeria struggles with institutional weakness, climate-induced conflict, and inadequate rural infrastructure. Across all three cases, donor-driven models such as AGRA have largely failed to produce transformative outcomes due to their technocratic orientation and limited responsiveness to local contexts. The study concludes that a climate-resilient Green Revolution in Africa is politically feasible only if driven by inclusive, locally owned policies supported by strong institutional frameworks and sustained political commitment. It recommends enhanced treaty implementation, equitable policy frameworks, and assertive African engagement in global climate negotiations.

Keywords: Politics of Climate Change Management, Green Revolution, Climate Change           Treaties, North-South Relations, Sustainable Agriculture, and Africa.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/15-6-04

Publication date: July 28^th 2025