• The study finds that nearly half of Africans believe their own governments should take the lead in addressing climate change.
• Fewer place the blame on rich countries or big corporations, despite their historic emissions.
• The findings highlight a surprising view from a continent hit hardest by a crisis it barely caused.

A new study published on April 4, 2025, in Communications Earth & Environment showed that many Africans believe the fight against climate change is on them and their governments. This is despite the fact that rich countries and industrial companies have historically caused most of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The study, titled "Most Africans place primary responsibility for climate action on their own government", is based on surveys conducted by the pan-African research network Afrobarometer. It covered 26,735 adults across 39 African countries — all of whom had at least heard of climate change.

About 45% of respondents said their own national governments should take the lead on climate action. Another 30% pointed to “ordinary African citizens” as the ones who should act first. Only 13% said the biggest responsibility lies with rich countries. And just 8% believed industrial companies — despite their massive carbon footprints — should be held accountable.

Recent data showed that the world’s 20 largest economies (the G20) are responsible for 77% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Historically, rich nations have also contributed more to the problem. Between 1850 and 2022, the United States alone accounted for 20% of global carbon emissions. The European Union and China each contributed another 12%.

8% of respondents believed that industrial companies should play a major role in meeting global climate goals, even though they are among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

The study revealed that People in West Africa were especially likely to hold their own governments responsible. In countries like Nigeria, Liberia, Niger, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Mali, and Senegal, more than half of the respondents believed the fight against climate change should be led at home. In Nigeria, that figure climbed to 76%.

Meanwhile, some small island nations — including Cape Verde, Mauritius, Seychelles, and São Tomé and Príncipe — were among the few places where people mainly blamed rich, high-emission countries. That may reflect growing concern in these nations about rising sea levels and other climate threats.

The study also found that people who are more educated, have access to media (especially social media), and live in less poverty are more likely to see rich nations as the ones to blame.

The findings are all the more surprising given how hard Africa has been hit by climate change — despite contributing very little to it. Although the continent is home to about 17% of the world’s population, it produces less than 4% of global carbon emissions.

The World Meteorological Organization warns that African countries are already losing between 2% and 5% of their GDP due to climate risks. These include droughts, floods, cyclones, heat waves, desertification, and water shortages. The financial damage is expected to get worse in the coming years, threatening the continent’s stability and forcing governments to divert limited resources toward disaster response instead of long-term development.