Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

This study analyses the linkages between climate change and ecosystem service degradation, and their implications for food security in African economies. With increasing climate variability manifesting through irregular rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events, the stability of ecosystem services that underpin agricultural systems is under significant threat. Drawing on ecological systems theory and climate resilience frameworks, the study investigates how disruptions in ecosystem services influence agricultural productivity and, ultimately, food security outcomes. Using panel data across 30 selected African countries (2000–2020), the study applies fixed effects and system Generalized Method of Moments estimators to account for endogeneity and cross-country heterogeneity. Climate variability is proxied through temperature and precipitation fluctuations, while ecosystem services are captured through soil fertility, land quality, and vegetation cover; agricultural productivity and food security are measured using crop yield indices and food availability metrics. The findings reveal that heightened climate variability significantly degrades ecosystem services, leading to declines in agricultural productivity and increased food insecurity, though resilience-enhancing mechanisms, including sustainable land management and climate-smart agricultural practices, moderate these adverse effects. The study contributes to the literature by integrating ecosystem service dynamics into the climate change-food security nexus within the African economy, and the policy implications assert the need for climateadaptive agricultural strategies, investment in ecosystem restoration, and institutional frameworks that support sustainable resource management. Achieving food security in Africa requires aligning climate resilience with the preservation of ecosystem services that sustain agricultural livelihoods.

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