The Economic Community of West African States has warned that climate change, environmental degradation and insecurity could displace nearly 32 million people in West Africa by 2050.
The alarm was raised at the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, where lawmakers are examining the link between climate change, displacement and insecurity.
Representing the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari, said over two million people were displaced in 2024 alone by climate-related disasters, while over seven million were affected by flooding that destroyed homes, roads, schools, health centres and farms.
He said the combined effects of climate change, insecurity and other vulnerabilities between 2025 and 2026 left over 12 million internally displaced persons across West and Central Africa, with women and children making up about 80 percent.
“Climate change is not simply an environmental issue. It is a development issue, a humanitarian issue, a peace and security issue, and ultimately an issue of human survival and regional stability,” he said.
He cited World Bank projections that IDPs in the sub-region could hit 32 million by 2050 if coordinated action is not taken.
He urged member states to replace fragmented interventions with a comprehensive regional approach to climate resilience and human security.
“We must be proactive and invest in resilience before crises occur,” he said, stressing the need to protect ecosystems, create sustainable livelihoods and address grievances before they escalate into conflict.
The ECOWAS Commission also identified climate financing as a major challenge confronting the region, estimating that about $294 billion would be required to meet its climate financing needs.
It disclosed that ECOWAS had, since 2024, been working towards establishing a regional carbon market platform under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to help mobilise investments for climate action.
The Commission advised parliamentarians to strengthen climate-responsive legislation and oversight, prioritise climate financing and improve early-warning and early-action mechanisms.
It further urged governments to promote sustainable management of land, water, forests and fisheries while placing women and young people at the centre of climate resilience initiatives.
The Commission described women and young people as key innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders and agents of resilience whose participation would be critical to addressing the region’s climate and security challenges.
The parliamentary seminar is being held under the theme, “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
