Vulnerability Assessment of West African Countries to Climate Change and Variability

Ayodotun, Bobadoye; S, Bamba; Adio, Aderonke

doi:10.4236/gep.2019.76002

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Agriculture employs over 60% of the labor force and provides food supplies to over 70% of the West African population [ 85 ]. The fact that a large share of households are self-sufficient based on their rain-fed agriculture and smallholder farming explains why climate variations such as rainfall and drought have severe impacts on West African populations’ livelihoods [ 86 ]. SDPs enumerated that, although essential, adaptation is embraced and implemented at a slow pace.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change, Health Risks, and Vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of National Policymakers

Sorgho

Jungmann

Souares

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Climate change (CC) constitutes one of the greatest threats to human health, and requires political awareness for effective and efficient adaptation planning. This study identified the perceptions of climate change and health adaptation (CC&H) among relevant stakeholders, decision-makers, and policymakers (SDPs) in Burkina Faso (BF) by determining their perceptions of CC, of related health risks and vulnerabilities, and of CC impacts on agriculture and food security. We carried out 35 semi-structured, qualitative in-depth interviews with SDPs, representing national governmental institutions, international organizations, and civil society organizations. The interviews were analyzed using content analysis. SDPs shared similar perceptions of CC and concurred with three ideas (1) CC is a real and lived experience in BF; (2) the population is aware of climatic changes in their environment; (3) CC is intertwined with the agricultural and economic development of the country. SDPs identified biodiversity loss, floods, droughts, and extreme heat as posing the highest risk to health. They elaborated five exposure pathways that are and will be affected by CC: water quality and quantity, heat stress, food supply and safety, vector borne diseases, and air quality. In conclusion, SDPs in Burkina Faso are highly aware of CC hazards, relevant health exposure pathways, and their corresponding health outcomes. Mental health and the interplay between social factors and complex health risks constitute perception gaps. SDPs perceived CC&H risks and vulnerabilities align with current evidence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate Change, Health Risks, and Vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of National Policymakers

Sorgho

Jungmann

Souares

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…West Africa needs to catch up with other regions in taking responsible action towards climate change. Ayodotun, Bamba, and Adio (2019) reiterated that the West African region is one of the most vulnerable regions in terms of climate change hazards and little is being done to combat the grave consequences of climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Media Advocacy in Climate Action: Showcasing Best Practices in West Africa

Binuyo

Bamgboye

Adeola³

2022

J. Stabil. Environ. Mgt

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Despite the level of threat climate change poses to humanity, climate action is poorly advocated for using one of the most powerful and easily accessible tools, the media. This stands particularly true in West Africa, the part of the planet factually concluded to be most severely affected in the case of possible climate crises. Using desktop review, this research was carried out to comb through existing literature for evidence of Africa's active advocacy for climate action through the utilization of the media. In its aim to do so, the researchers examined a total of 144 sources. 52 sources were seen to achieve best practices, based on the authors’ conceptualization of media advocacy (a measure that incorporates sustainability). Out of the sources examined, the best practices were found most in Southern Africa and least in Western Africa. Furthermore, the best media practices to carry out climate advocacy in West Africa were highlighted and explained in detail. The study contributes to the scarce literature showcasing best media practices in advocating for sustainable actions in climate adaptation with West Africa. It has the potential to open new themes and spark media discourse surrounding the drivers of sustainable climate actions in West Africa, a region with the lowest enthusiasm for climate action amongst other regions in Africa. The paper acts as a wake-up call for countries in West Africa to emulate the showcased practices in tackling climate challenges.

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Benefits and barriers to the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture practices in West Africa: A systematic review

Agyekum,

Antwi‐Agyei,

Dougill

et al. 2024

Climate Resilience

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Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) serves as a credible mechanism to simultaneously address food security, climate change, and agricultural productivity. Despite the widespread adoption of CSA approaches across West Africa, many countries have still not been able to resolve the problems of food insecurity and rural poverty. This systematic review evaluates published evidence on the types of CSA practices, the determinants and benefits of adoption, and the barriers confronting the adoption of CSA practices across West Africa, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses statement checklist. Articles published in English from January 2010 to March 2023 investigating the benefits of and barriers to the adoption of CSA practices in West Africa were retrieved from ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools for use in systematic reviews. The themes emerging from the articles were extracted, and a summary was provided to illustrate each theme. After applying the eligibility criteria, 12 articles were included in the final review. The studies reviewed revealed that farmers used more knowledge‐, water‐, carbon‐, and nitrogen‐smart practices, compared to weather‐ and energy‐smart practices. Across the reviewed papers, factors such as the education level of farmers, age, gender, household size, membership of a social group, agricultural extension services, and access to credit/financial resources influenced CSA adoption. The reviewed studies identified that farmers who used CSA practices reported benefits such as improved soil fertility, higher yield, improved household income, climate resilience (such as overcoming the effects of drought and extreme temperatures), and food security. Some farmers adopted CSA practices to reduce the effect of droughts and high temperatures on their crops, and thus increase their resilience to climate variability and change. However, farmers’ adoption is confronted with challenges related to the technicality of some CSA practices, high cost of labor for CSA implementation, lack of credit and government support, limited access to weather and climate information, limited information about CSA options, high illiteracy level of smallholder farmers, and incompatibility of some practices with farmers’ crop of interest. Our findings show that most CSA practices in the studies we reviewed are not well targeted to meet farmers’ crop of interest, and that governments should provide more practical training to enhance farmers’ understanding of CSA practices, especially those related to weather‐ and energy‐smart initiatives. There should also be more robust financial and institutional support to improve the adoption and usage of CSA practices at all levels. Additionally, socio‐cultural factors such as values, customs, and beliefs should be properly integrated into CSA plans as they influence the adoption of CSA practices.

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Vulnerability Assessment of West African Countries to Climate Change and Variability

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Climate Change, Health Risks, and Vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of National Policymakers

Climate Change, Health Risks, and Vulnerabilities in Burkina Faso: A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of National Policymakers

Media Advocacy in Climate Action: Showcasing Best Practices in West Africa

Benefits and barriers to the adoption of climate‐smart agriculture practices in West Africa: A systematic review

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