Experts have called for stronger regional action to address the growing impacts of climate change across West Africa as the ECOWAS Parliament commenced its Second Extraordinary Session and Second Seminar in Accra, Ghana.
The session, themed “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region,” is focusing on the effects of climate change on livelihoods, infrastructure and regional stability.
The experts warned that rising temperatures, extreme weather events, drought, erratic rainfall, flooding, sea-level rise and land degradation are 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 underscored the significance of the gathering.
She also noted that the session coincided with Ghana’s Founder’s Day, celebrated in honour of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose vision of a united and self-determined Africa, she said, remains relevant today. Participants observed a minute of silence in his honour.
Delivering a presentation on climate change risks, vulnerabilities and implications for regional stability, Dr Derek Sarfo-Yiadom, Senior Programme Officer at the Climate Change and Ozone Directorate of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority, said climate hazards are already affecting communities across West Africa.
“Climate hazards are with us,” he said, citing extreme heat, drought, heavy and unpredictable rainfall, rising sea levels and other weather-related events as growing threats.
According to him, climate-related hazards become disasters when communities lack the capacity to cope with their impacts.
Dr Sarfo-Yiadom said seasonal temperatures in the region have risen by between one and three degrees Celsius since 1970, contributing to more intense heatwaves and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
He added that changing rainfall patterns are heightening flood risks, while droughts and extreme heat are undermining agriculture and livelihoods.
He identified farmers, low-income households, coastal communities and displaced populations as among the groups most vulnerable to climate impacts.
The expert also highlighted risks to homes, irrigation systems, electricity infrastructure, transport networks, ports, markets and public services.
He warned that climate change was not only an environmental challenge but also a social and economic issue that could fuel displacement and conflict, particularly in areas heavily dependent on agriculture and natural resources.
Dr Sarfo-Yiadom called for increased investment in climate adaptation measures, including flood-proof zoning, expanded climate-risk mapping and improved early-warning systems, while urging governments to ensure accountability in climate-related spending.
In a separate presentation, Raoul Kouame, Principal Officer for Climate Change and Climate Services at the ECOWAS Commission, stressed the need to translate climate commitments into concrete regional action.
He said ECOWAS should harmonise climate policies and standards across member states while supporting the implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement.
“The challenge is no longer just to define climate commitments,” Kouame said.
He identified institutional fragmentation, varying national capacities and limited access to climate finance as key obstacles to climate action in the region.
Kouame called for stronger coordination between regional and national institutions and greater sharing of experiences among member states. He also advocated the development of national climate frameworks linked to regional structures.
According to him, regional cooperation should include climate services, early-warning systems, forest and ecosystem protection, carbon markets and improved access to climate finance.
He further urged the region to strengthen its capacity to access available climate funds and develop innovative financing mechanisms to support climate programmes.
Also speaking, Dr Abdou Ali, a climate, water and meteorology expert with the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in addressing climate risks that transcend national borders.
He called on member states to deepen collaboration through the sharing of climate data, technical expertise and climate services.
Dr Ali highlighted agriculture, coastal zones, biodiversity, disaster risk management and human displacement as areas requiring coordinated adaptation measures.
He added that climate action should be integrated into policies covering agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, industrialisation and waste management.
According to him, regional climate strategies must be backed by adequate funding, stronger institutions and effective implementation mechanisms.
The experts were unanimous in calling for stronger climate adaptation measures across West Africa, stressing that interventions must be designed around the needs and livelihoods of affected communities to avoid creating new vulnerabilities.
Parliamentarians are continuing deliberations on the presentations and recommendations as the session progresses.
