Reforming African universities for climate action

Walter Leal Filho; Johannes M. Lutz; Newton Matandirotya; Jokastah W. Kalungu; Adama Boua Doumbia

doi:10.1007/s11625-025-01787-4

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Reforming African universities for climate action

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Reforming African universities for climate action

Walter Leal Filho, Johannes M. Lutz, Newton Matandirotya, Jokastah W. Kalungu and Adama Boua Doumbia

Sustainability Science, Vol.21, pp.893-898

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01787-4

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Abstract

climate change

Africa

universities

curriculum

innovation

adaptation

This Commentary explores the responses of African universities to the challenges posed by climate change, focusing on their roles as centers of research, education, and community engagement. Given the continent’s vulnerability to climate impacts, African universities are increasingly integrating climate change into their curricula, promoting sustainability initiatives, and conducting region-specific research. The Commentary identifies key strategies employed by these institutions, including interdisciplinary approaches to climate education, partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organisations, and initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience in local communities. It also addresses the barriers faced by universities, such as funding limitations and political instability, which hinder effective climate action. The article also highlights the innovative solutions and best practices adopted by African universities, offering insights into how they can further contribute to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. It concludes with recommendations for enhancing institutional capacities, fostering collaboration, and leveraging technology to advance climate action across the continent.

Details

Title: Reforming African universities for climate action
Authors: Walter Leal Filho - HAW Hamburg
Johannes M. Lutz (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Newton Matandirotya (Corresponding Author) - Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Centre (Zimbabwe)
Jokastah W. Kalungu - South Eastern Kenya University
Adama Boua Doumbia - West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use
Publication details: Sustainability Science, Vol.21, pp.893-898
Publisher: Springer Japan KK
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1007/s11625-025-01787-4
ISSN: 1862-4057
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Organisation Unit: Academic Support Unit; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991212980002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology