Climate Change and Africa Climate change is a major threat to sustainable growth and development in Africa and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its overdependence on rain fed agriculture compounded by factors such as widespread poverty and weak capacity. The main longer term impacts include: changing rainfall patterns affecting agriculture and reducing food security; worsening water security; decreasing fish resources in large lakes due to rising temperature; shifting vectorborne diseases; rising sea level affecting low lying coastal areas with large populations; and rising water stress.