By Kofi Adu Domfeh
People are praying for rain in Los Angeles, USA, due to the California’ dry climate and the need for precipitation to sustain the environment, agriculture, and daily life.
Raging fires in the area have killed at least 25, reduced thousands of structures to ash and rubble, and displaced thousands. The fires are among the deadliest in California’s modern history.
Prayers for rain are a common practice in many faiths, seeking divine intervention to end droughts, replenish water sources, and bring relief to those affected by disasters.
In Los Angeles, prayers for rain are particularly relevant during the periods of heatwaves, when the lack of rainfall has exacerbated wildfires, impacted crop yields, and strained local water resources.
By praying for rain, individuals are not only seeking a practical solution to these challenges but also expressing their dependence on a higher power and their trust in its provision.
Though complex, there is a relationship between praying for rain in LA and climate change. Climate change has exacerbated droughts and water scarcity in California, making prayers for rain more pertinent.
Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased evaporation due to warmer temperatures have contributed to droughts in the region.
The prayers for rain can be seen as a response to climate-related stressors; a call for relief from drought’s impacts and a recognition of human limitations in addressing climate change.
But there is the need not to divert attention from human actions contributing to climate change.
Ultimately, prayers for rain in LA reflect a desire for relief from climate-related challenges, while also highlighting the need for continued efforts to address the root causes of climate change.
The vulnerabilities of developing economies
Countries in Africa are currently experiencing varied weather conditions. In South Africa, there are warnings for veld fires in several regions due to high temperatures and dry conditions.
Temperatures are relatively mild in East Africa, but some areas like Mombasa, Kenya are experiencing warmer temperatures, reaching up to 81°F.
In West Africa, countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal are experiencing warm temperatures, ranging from 77°F to 91°F. For example, Lagos in Nigeria is at 82°F, while Kumasi in Ghana is currently at 91°F.
In Ghana, for instance, extreme weather events, like drought and flooding, are a significant concern. Though there is no such call for prayers as happening for LA, the impacts of the dry season are already telling.
Major fire incidents have been recorded in some major cities of the country in the first two weeks of 2025, and victims continue to count their losses.
Hot and dry conditions mean that if fires ignite, the chances of the blaze spreading are much higher and they are far harder to control.
Like other developing economies, Ghana is presently experiencing more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change, with serious impacts on agriculture, food security, and local livelihoods.
Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has observed “changes in climate conditions, increased population density in urban areas, and mass international travel are enabling existing viruses to spread and mutate at unprecedented rates”.
He believes “this is a serious issue”.
But Ghana’s climate change commitments have suffered the wanton destruction of forests and water bodies through unbridled illegal mining activities.
In 2020, Ghana faced direct economic losses from drought amounting to $95 million. Projections indicate that these losses could escalate to over $325 million annually by 2050 if climate and development actions are not taken.
The effects of droughts are far-reaching, from decreased crop yields and livestock productivity to increased competition for resources, social tensions, and violence. For instance, farmer-herder conflicts over arable land, water, and crop damage caused by trespassing livestock have led to destruction of property, armed robbery, and ethnic marginalization.
The effective implementation of the National Drought Plan will help achieve the goal of providing long-term solutions to land degradation problems and inform policymakers on drought situations.
Time for climate action
The realities of climate change stares in the face of people everywhere, but vulnerable people and communities are most at risk.
Scientists at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that climate-worsened disasters killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions in 2024, a year to be remembered as being the first in recording more than 1.5C hotter than pre-industrial times.
The researchers said climate change had intensified 26 of the 29 weather events they studied during the year. They also found that people around the world experienced, on average, 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to human-caused warming.
“The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer and more stable place,” said WWA’s lead Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London.
According to him, the “unrelenting suffering” could be alleviated by halting the burning of coal, oil and gas, but instead use renewable energy to power economies, and adapt to climate impacts.
Perhaps the prayers for LA will be backed by climate action: real action to cut emissions from fossils, real action to commit to climate finance for vulnerable countries; real action for adaptation mechanisms to contain risky heat, devastating floods, rising sea levels and powerful storms.
