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Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton
An abnormal change in the climate can affect the ecosystem posing a threat on the circle of life including human health and economic problems. Climate change is causing problems in West Africa by affecting resources, biodiversity, and agriculture.
This is making the region more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Over the next couple of decades, West Africa is expected to experience significant changes in temperature and rainfall. At the same time, conflicts are increasing and spreading across the region (Tarif, 2023).
In a recent swift analysis, it was discovered that the intense humid heat that swept through western Africa in mid-February was significantly amplified by human-driven climate change, making it 10 times more probable. This scorching heat wave saw temperatures surpassing 40C in various regions, prompting cautionary heat advisories from the meteorological services of Ghana and Nigeria (Tandon, 2024). The weather in West Africa is getting hotter and hotter, and it's starting to worry a lot of people. Definitely rising temperatures, rising concerns. The West African folks complaining of crops drying up, and the rivers running low. It's not like it used to be, and everyone is struggling to deal with these changes. And I'll say it again: "Rising Temperatures, Rising Concerns!"
From the ravaging food insecurity in Nigeria to severely affected migration patterns in Ghana not to forget the heat stress and droughts Senegal and Gambia respectively proving that climate change is real as well as global warming being more and more evident as the days go on. Due to this West Africa has been identified as a climate-change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security (Shepard, 2018). Climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in West African countries, is causing a serious problem with water scarcity and lack of clean drinking water. This region already has some of the world's most water-stressed countries, and the situation is getting worse as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change. Rivers, lakes, and other water sources are drying up, making it hard for communities to get the water they need for drinking, sanitation, and farming. Overusing groundwater and less rain are making it even harder to find clean water sources (Akinbade, 2024).
But who is at fault? Definitely mother nature wouldn't purposely hurt her inhabitants, but something abnormal must have driven the change. The cent deadly heatwave in West Africa, which led to hospitals and mortuaries being overwhelmed, was attributed to human-caused climate change by a group of international scientists. The scorching temperatures, exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit, are believed to have resulted in the deaths of hundreds or even thousands of people in various countries in the region (Akinwotu, 2024). As a West African living in West Africa, I can confirm that the increase in temperatures is indeed caused by human activities. We are experiencing firsthand the devastating impacts of these rising temperatures, as seen in the recent deadly heatwave that affected our communities. It is clear that urgent action is needed to address the root causes of climate change and mitigate its harmful effects on our lives and livelihoods.
References
Tarif, K. (2023, April 6). Climate change and security in West Africa: Regional perspectives on addressing climate-related security risks - Mali. ReliefWeb. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/climate-change-and-security-west-africa-regional-perspectives-addressing-climate-related-security-risks
Tandon, A. (2024, March 21). Climate change made West Africa’s “dangerous humid heatwave” 10 times more likely. Carbon Brief. Retrieved from https://www.carbonbrief.org/climate-change-made-west-africas-dangerous-humid-heatwave-10-times-more-likely/
Shepard, D. (2018). Global warming: Severe consequences for Africa. Africa Renewal. United Nations. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2018-march-2019/global-warming-severe-consequences-africa
Akinbade, O. O. (2024, May 9). Considering effect of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa. Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable. Retrieved from https://greensavannahdiplomaticcable.com/2024/05/considering-effect-of-climate-change-in-sub-saharan-africa/
Akinwotu, E. (2024, April 18). Lethal heat in West Africa is driven by human-caused climate change. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2024/04/18/1245524216/west-africa-heatwave-climate-change
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