West Africa bloc ECOWAS agrees climate strategy

The West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Friday approved a regional strategy to improve cooperation in the fight against climate change over the next decade.

Leaders of the bloc have agreed with the European Union to spend $294 billion in the next 10 years to address climate change problems such as land erosion.

"Between 2020 and 2030, we've estimated about $294 billion to address climate change issues," ECOWAS commissioner in charge of agriculture, environment and water resources Sekou Sangare told a press briefing in Ghana's capital Accra.

"It's important that we wake up because our environments are being destroyed. If we lose our forests and lands then we're all going to migrate. So, that is the reason why we need to protect the environment."

He said the strategy also aimed to sensitise people to changing lifestyles to help fight climate change.

The strategy details how regional institutions, member states, their partners and civil society actors will cooperate for its implementation.

It also aims to introduce a regional policy compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement and promote resilience in local communities.

Coastal degradation and erosion are major challenges, especially in West Africa, according to a State of the Climate in Africa 2019 report.

About 56 percent of the coastlines in Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Togo are eroding, a problem that is expected to worsen in the future.

Rising sea levels are currently not the dominant contributor but are expected to combine with other factors to exacerbate negative consequences of environmental changes, the report said.

A 2019 UN report identified West Africa as a climate change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with more impact on food security.

Related Links
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