By Florence Joshua
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has called for stronger regional cooperation and coordinated action to address the growing impact of climate change on livelihoods, infrastructure and security across West Africa.
The call was made in Accra, Ghana, as the ECOWAS Parliament commenced its second Extraordinary Session and second seminar, with the theme, “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
The session brought together parliamentarians, climate experts and regional stakeholders to examine the links between climate pressures, environmental degradation, displacement, food insecurity and regional stability.
Experts at the meeting warned that rising temperatures, drought, unpredictable rainfall, flooding, rising sea levels and land degradation were placing increasing pressure on communities and critical infrastructure across the region.
Opening the proceedings, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, welcomed parliamentarians and participants to Accra and described the gathering as an opportunity for delegates to begin deliberations on issues affecting the region.
The Speaker also drew attention to Ghana’s Founder’s Day, which coincides with the birth of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
She recalled Nkrumah’s vision of a free and united Africa capable of determining its own destiny, calling on participants to honour his memory.
A minute of silence was observed in his honour.
Speaking on climate risks and their implications for regional stability, Senior Programme Officer, Climate Change and Ozone Directorate of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority, Dr Derek Sarfo-Yiadom, said climate hazards were already affecting communities across West Africa.
“Climate hazards are with us,” he said, identifying extreme heat, drought, heavy and unpredictable rainfall and rising sea levels among the growing threats.
According to his presentation, seasonal temperatures in the region have risen by between one and three degrees Celsius since 1970, contributing to hotter heatwaves and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
He said changing rainfall patterns were also increasing flood risks, while drought and heat were placing additional pressure on agriculture and livelihoods.
Sarfo-Yiadom identified farmers, low-income communities, coastal settlements and displaced populations among those particularly vulnerable to climate impacts.
He also highlighted threats to homes, irrigation systems, electricity, transport networks, ports, markets and other public services.
The climate expert said the effects of climate change could extend beyond environmental concerns, with implications for social and economic stability.
He noted that climate pressures could contribute to displacement and conflict, particularly in communities dependent on agriculture and natural resources.
He called for increased investment in climate adaptation, flood-proof zoning and climate-risk mapping, while urging governments to ensure that early-warning systems reach vulnerable communities.
He also stressed the need for greater accountability in the use of climate-related funds.
In another presentation, Principal Officer, Climate Change and Climate Services at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Raoul Kouame, called for stronger harmonisation of regional climate policies and standards and greater support for member states to implement their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
“The challenge is no longer just to define climate commitments,” Kouame said.
He identified institutional fragmentation, differences in national capacities and difficulties in accessing climate finance as some of the challenges limiting effective climate action in the region.
Kouame advocated stronger coordination between regional and national institutions and greater exchange of experience among ECOWAS member states.
He said regional cooperation should extend to climate services, early-warning systems, forest and ecosystem protection, carbon markets and access to climate finance.
He also called for innovative financing mechanisms to help countries implement climate commitments.
A climate, water and meteorology expert with the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), Dr Abdou Ali, stressed the importance of regional cooperation in addressing climate and resource pressures that transcend national boundaries.
Ali called for greater sharing of climate information, data, technical expertise and climate services among member states.
He identified agriculture, coastal communities, biodiversity, disaster risk management and human displacement as areas requiring coordinated adaptation measures.
He also urged governments to integrate climate action into policies covering agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, industrialisation and waste management.
The experts agreed that West Africa’s climate response would require stronger institutions, adequate financing, effective implementation and coordinated regional action.
They further stressed that adaptation measures should take account of the needs and livelihoods of affected communities to avoid creating new vulnerabilities.
The ECOWAS Parliament is expected to continue deliberations on the presentations and the wider implications of climate change for the region.
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