Accra:The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised concerns that 32 million people in West Africa may face displacement due to the severe impacts of climate change affecting the region.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Gen. Birame Diop, shared these insights at the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament held in Accra, Ghana. The seminar, themed ‘Climate Change as A Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity,’ aims to address the nexus between climate change, displacement, and insecurity in the region.
Gen. Diop emphasized that the intertwined effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and insecurity could lead to a significant increase in Internally Displaced People (IDPs) across West Africa by 2050. He noted that women and children are projected to constitute about 80% of this displaced population, based on World Bank estimates.
Represented by Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari,
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Diop highlighted climate financing as a critical issue, with West Africa needing approximately 294 billion dollars to address the climate crisis effectively. He mentioned that since 2024, ECOWAS has been working on a regional carbon market platform under the Paris Agreement to boost investment in climate initiatives.
In 2024, climate-related natural disasters displaced around two million people in West Africa, with flooding alone affecting over seven million individuals and damaging vital infrastructure. Between 2025 and 2026, more than 12 million were internally displaced in West and Central Africa due to the compounded effects of climate change and insecurity.
Diop called for a unified regional strategy to enhance climate resilience and human security, warning that climate change is a multifaceted issue impacting development, humanitarian efforts, peace, security, and regional stability. He urged proactive investment in resilience, ecosystem pr
otection, and conflict prevention measures.
He also appealed to regional parliamentarians to bolster climate-responsive legislation and oversight, prioritize climate financing, improve early-warning systems, and promote sustainable resource management. Diop stressed the importance of focusing on women and youth in climate resilience efforts, recognizing their roles as innovators and community leaders.