This session examines the evidence for, and implications of, environmental change across Africa on multi-decadal to multi-millennial timescales. Spanning the equator and encompassing tropical, sub-tropical and temperate climate systems of both hemispheres, Africa provides a unique opportunity to study not only local and regional climate dynamics but also inter-hemispheric linkages in the global climate system. However, in comparison with much of the rest of the world, there is still surprisingly little known about how African climates have changed in the past and why. This inter-disciplinary session seeks to make connections between researchers working in Africa and highlight new records, proxies and syntheses that address existing knowledge gaps in this exciting region.