African Ministers Ratify New Protocols on Integrated Ocean Management
The Abidjan Convention convened the second meeting of the plenipotentiaries for the adoption of new protocols to strengthen the management of marine and coastal areas.
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Breaking Down Barriers to Build Resilience for West Africa’s Coasts
Writers: Elikia Abraham and Melissa Landesz.
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Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire |
The Abidjan Convention convened the second meeting of the plenipotentiaries.
West Africa’s coastal areas host about one third of the region’s population.
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire |
The celebration of Earth Day this week should cause us to consider the state of our planet.
Dakar, Senegal |
Saint Louis’s coastal community is losing ground to the ocean each year.
The World Bank Group approved today a package of $210 million in financing for a regional project.
Key Facts & Figures
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56%
Coastline in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo subject to an average erosion of 1.8 m per year
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US$1.4 billion
Cost of air, water and waste pollution cost in 2017 to Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo
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13,000 deaths
Occur in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo primarily due to floods, air and water in 2017
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$3.8 billion
The cost of erosion, flooding and pollution cost to Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo
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56% GDP
Generated by West Africa Coastal Areas
COASTAL CHALLENGES IN WEST AFRICA
Coastal erosion and flooding in West Africa severely threaten people’s communities, livelihoods, safety and investments. About 56% of West Africa’s GDP is generated in coastal provinces, where one-third of the population resides. Stronger storms and rising seas are wiping out homes, roads and buildings that have served as landmarks for generations. Some beaches are deeply mined for sand, protective mangroves are deforested, and people are increasingly vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Some residents have no choice but to move away—a trend that is breaking up communities and changing the social fabric for future generations.
Rapid and often unplanned urbanization has devastated the natural landscape that once served as a buffer for erosion and flooding. These developments disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalized, and will intensify due to climate change. While countries have started to contain erosion and flooding, there is an urgent need for partners to mobilize financing through coordinated regional action. Collaboration at the policy and technical levels helps countries to manage erosion hotspots, and to maintain the livelihoods that a healthy coastal ecosystem provides to people and economies.
