Experts presenting to members of the ECOWAS Parliament have recommended stronger regional cooperation to address the menace of climate change.
They made the call on Monday, 21st September 2026, at the commencement of the weeklong engagement of the ECOWAS Parliament on climate change, underway in Accra, Ghana.
As part of the interface, Dr. Derek Sarfo-Yiadom, Senior Programme Officer at the Climate Change and Ozone Directorate of Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority, delivered a presentation focusing on climate change in West Africa, associated risks, vulnerabilities, and implications for regional stability.
He described climate hazards and threats affecting communities across the region as imminent, noting: “Climate hazards are with us, indicating extreme heat, drought, heavy and unpredictable rainfall, rising sea levels, and other weather-related events as growing concerns.”
Dr. Sarfo-Yiadom explained that the impact of climate hazards becomes a disaster when exposed communities lack the capacity to cope. He highlighted that seasonal temperatures have risen between one and three degrees Celsius since 1970, contributing to hotter heatwaves and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
He further noted changing rainfall patterns, increasing flood risks, and the pressure drought and heat place on farming and livelihoods. Vulnerable groups include farmers, low-income communities, coastal settlements, and displaced populations. He also cited risks to homes, irrigation, electricity, transport networks, ports, markets, and public services.
He warned that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also has social and economic consequences, adding: “Climate pressures could contribute to displacement and conflict, particularly where communities depend heavily on agriculture and natural resources.”
Dr. Sarfo-Yiadom recommended increased investment in adaptation, flood-proof zoning, and the expansion of climate-risk mapping. He urged governments to ensure early-warning systems reach vulnerable communities and that public authorities are held accountable for climate-related spending.
Meanwhile, the Principal Officer for Climate Change and Climate Services at the ECOWAS Commission emphasized the need to translate climate commitments into regional action. He stated that ECOWAS must harmonize regional climate policies and standards while supporting member states in implementing their Paris Agreement commitments.
He identified institutional fragmentation, differences in national capacities, and difficulties accessing climate finance as challenges affecting climate action. He called for stronger coordination between regional and national institutions, greater sharing of experiences among member states, and mechanisms to connect national frameworks to regional climate structures.
He stressed that regional cooperation should cover climate services, early-warning systems, forest and ecosystem protection, carbon markets, and access to climate finance. He added that ECOWAS has an important role to play in providing regional solidarity and helping member states implement their climate commitments more effectively.
Dr. Abdou Ali, a climate, water, and meteorology expert with the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), examined climate and resource pressures in West Africa, focusing on drought, land degradation, and food insecurity. He underscored that regional cooperation is pivotal in addressing climate risks that cross national borders.
He highlighted the need for member states to share climate information, data, technical expertise, and climate services. He stressed that regional cooperation is essential because climate risks do not stop at national borders, citing agriculture, coastal areas, biodiversity, disaster risk, and human displacement as areas requiring coordinated adaptation measures.
He also emphasized integrating climate action into agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, industrialization, and waste management policies. He reiterated that regional strategies must be supported by adequate financing, stronger institutions, and effective implementation mechanisms.
The presentations converged on the need for stronger climate adaptation measures across West Africa. Experts stressed that adaptation must consider the needs and livelihoods of affected communities to avoid creating new vulnerabilities.
At press time in The Gambia, regional lawmakers were deliberating on the presentations. It is hoped that they will make concrete resolutions to be tabled and debated by the ECOWAS Parliament in subsequent ordinary sessions. Once adopted, the resolutions are expected to be shared with relevant ECOWAS institutions for implementation and compliance, with the objective of addressing the menace of climate change in the region.
