Review article: Climate hazards in African cities – knowledge gaps and research needs

This study conducts a semi-systematic assessment of scientific literature published between 2015 and 2025 to examine the current state of knowledge on climate hazards in African cities. A broad literature search yielded 1832 records, which were conservatively screened to a final sample of 272 articles. The corpus was analysed using quantitative mapping and a qualitative hazard-based expert review. The analysis reveals a rapidly expanding but uneven knowledge base. Research is geographically concentrated, with Central Africa and small and fast-growing secondary cities underrepresented. Flooding and heat-related topics dominate the literature, whereas sea-level rise, windstorms and urban water stress receive comparatively limited attention. Consideration of multiple hazards remains limited and uneven, while explicit analysis of interactions between hazards is rare. Earth Observation is widely used, but its broader potential remains underexploited, while high-resolution urban climate modelling and observations remain limited. Most studies focus on historical or present-day conditions, and few combine future climate scenarios with projected urban growth. Overall, broader geographic and thematic coverage, improved high-resolution observations and urban-scale modelling, and stronger integration of future climate and urban development are needed to provide a more representative evidence base for adaptation and resilience planning in African cities.