The countries of the Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have agreed on a regional strategy to deal with global warming. They have set themselves common mitigation and adaptation objectives for 2030, which fall within the framework of the Paris agreement. Mitigation, i.e. limiting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting forests and soils. With the help of donors and the European Union, they have planned to invest 278 billion euros over the next ten years to meet this challenge.
Africa is the continent that contributes the least to greenhouse gas emissions, but it is among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly in the Sahelian zone.
“It is important that we wake up because our environment is being destroyed. If we lose our forests and our lands then we will all migrate. So that is why we need to protect the environment .”
Sekou Sangare, Commissioner in charge of Agriculture and Environmentat AFP
The impact of climate change should in particular have an impact on food security and water resources, according to the UN: by 2050, the average agricultural yield should drop by 12% to 25% for millet, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, maize and rice.
River flows in the region are expected to decrease by 20-40% over the same period, impacting hydropower supply. Added to this is serious coastal erosion, while the coastal areas of West Africa are home to a third of the population and generate 56% of its economy.
By 2050, climatic factors could therefore weigh on the economy and force up to 32 million people to migrate within the region.
The low level of development of several countries in the ECOWAS zone, often seen as a weakness, can paradoxically be an opportunity to avoid the mistakes made elsewhere and to take advantage of the economic opportunities linked to climate transition, “so as to start now on resilient and low-carbon development trajectories”, says the West African organization. This vision requires a strong and long-term political commitment to improve regional policies, measures and programs by setting objectives in all sectors (energy, agriculture, livestock, water, infrastructure, health, disaster risk management).
“West Africa must seize the related economic opportunities in favor of long-term sustainable low-carbon development, to make the climate a priority for political action in the region”, concludes the ECOWAS report. We must act without delay because climate change is already impacting the daily lives of the population and the economic development of countries.
“It’s time to take action. It’s time to keep the promise of 100 billion dollars a year made in Paris”, said United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 1 in Dakar, during his West African tour. Developed countries are committed under the Paris Agreement to collectively grant this sum to countries in the South to help them finance their ecological transition and adapt to the consequences of global warming.