Climate Crisis Could Displace 32 Million West Africans, ECOWAS Warns
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that climate change could force nearly 32 million people across the region to leave their communities, as worsening environmental conditions threaten livelihoods, food security and economic stability.
The warning was issued by ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Kalilou Sylla, during a regional workshop on the proposed framework for a West African carbon market. He said the region could experience temperature increases of between 1.5°C and 3°C by 2050, intensifying the risks posed by drought, flooding, land degradation and other climate-related pressures.
ECOWAS estimates that the region will require about $294 billion in climate financing to meet its environmental commitments. Sylla said West Africa possesses significant resources that could attract climate investment, including more than 350 million hectares of agricultural land, forests, mangroves and degraded landscapes suitable for restoration. However, weak regulations, limited technical expertise and inadequate systems for monitoring and certifying carbon projects have restricted the region’s participation in international carbon markets.
The commission is therefore working on a harmonised regional carbon market framework that could help member states generate high-quality carbon credits and mobilise additional climate finance. Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Balarabe Lawal, backed the initiative, saying regional cooperation could turn the climate crisis into an opportunity for investment, environmental restoration and sustainable economic development.
