A substantial increase in population exposure to multiple environmental burden in sub-Saharan Africa (2000-2019)

Valerie Golaz, INED
Ankit Sikarwar, National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED)

Multiple environmental burden (MEB) can be defined as the coexistence of different environmental risk factors. Population exposure to MEB remains unexamined. Here, using open-access spatial data on the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, we quantify population exposure to four key environmental risk factors: hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels, extreme temperature increase, prolonged severe droughts, and green deficit. First, we explore exposures for 2000 and 2019 at pixel (1 km grid cell) level. Then we check how population change, environmental change, and their interaction contribute to total change in exposure. Our findings show substantial increases in population exposure from 2000 to 2019. Population exposure to at least three of these four environmental risk factors has increased by ~246 million, an increase mostly due to environmental change. There are striking disparities in population exposure, its change, and the contributing effects among countries and regions of sub-Saharan Africa.