Climate change has had significant impacts on West Africa, affecting various aspects of the region’s environment, economy, and society. These changes pose significant challenges for West Africa, requiring adaptation measures to mitigate its impacts and build resilience in vulnerable communities. 

Choose one climate change impact focus to research. Identify the concern, a plan to address it by an African leader in the field and plan to present  this information to the audience of your choosing. The presentation should also include the goals of this plan and the change that it is expected to implement. Your presentation should include the impact as well as a proposal for investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable land management practices, or another measure to promote climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy sources. 

Note: This assignment intentionally focuses on the voices of African experts rather than putting the students in the role of the problem solver. This has been done in order to ensure that the voices of Africans are present and that we do not further the trend to posit external voices as the problem solvers which aligns them with the international development/aid industry that typically sends external “experts” to assist. A resource that may supports in this work is the Great Green Wall Initiative: https://www.unccd.int/our-work/ggwi

Climate Change Focus Options:

• Changes in Temperature and Precipitation Patterns: West Africa has experienced rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change. This has led to more frequent and intense heat waves, altered rainfall patterns, and increased variability in weather conditions, which can disrupt agricultural activities and water availability.
• Droughts and Water Scarcity: Climate change has contributed to an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts in West Africa, leading to water scarcity, crop failures, and food insecurity. Droughts can also exacerbate conflicts over water resources and displacement of populations.
• Loss of Biodiversity: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, along with habitat destruction and fragmentation, have led to loss of biodiversity in West Africa. This includes changes in the distribution and abundance of plant and animal species, as well as increased risk of extinction for vulnerable species.
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion: Rising sea levels and coastal erosion pose significant threats to coastal communities in West Africa. Coastal erosion can lead to loss of land, damage to infrastructure, and displacement of populations, particularly in low-lying areas and coastal cities.
• Impact on Agriculture and Food Security: Climate change has major implications for agriculture and food security in West Africa, where a large portion of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect crop yields, reduce agricultural productivity, and increase the risk of hunger and malnutrition.
• Health Risks: Climate change can exacerbate health risks in West Africa, including the spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, as well as heat-related illnesses. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can also affect water quality and availability, leading to increased risk of waterborne diseases.

Economic Impacts: The impacts of climate change on agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure can have significant economic consequences for West African countries, including loss of income, reduced gross domestic product (GDP) growth, and increased poverty and inequality.