The ECOWAS Parliament has urged for immediate action to address the devastating impacts of climate change across West Africa. Speaker Mémounatou Ibrahima made the appeal during the Parliament's 2026 Second Extraordinary Session Seminar in Accra, Ghana. The seminar's theme, "Focusing on Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region," highlights the growing concerns over climate change. Ibrahima emphasized that climate change is no longer just a statistical or scientific issue, but a harsh reality affecting communities and livelihoods.
Climate change has led to increased displacement and insecurity in West Africa, with environmental disruptions affecting populations across the region. Ibrahima stressed that the effects of climate change can no longer be ignored, as communities are already experiencing its consequences. She called for practical and people-centered responses to address the growing impacts of climate change. The Speaker emphasized that it is essential to connect technical knowledge with the realities experienced by constituents.
Ibrahima questioned how to protect the living conditions, dignity, and security of populations when their environment is changing faster than their capacity to adapt. She emphasized that climate disruption can no longer be measured only in degrees, statistics, or projections. Instead, it is reflected in land that yields less, coastlines that retreat, flooded neighborhoods, and families losing their livelihoods.
The ECOWAS Parliament aims to examine how climate change and environmental degradation contribute to population movements and insecurity. The seminar brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss regional responses to these challenges. Ibrahima emphasized the importance of combining technical knowledge with the experiences of lawmakers who remain closely connected to their communities.
Ibrahima highlighted the responsibility of regional parliamentarians to connect technical knowledge with the realities experienced by their constituents. She stressed that the expertise shared during the seminar must be combined with the experiences of lawmakers. This dialogue between technical knowledge and lived realities can lead to truly useful proposals.
The seminar provides a platform for parliamentarians to better understand the stakes in their territories and consider the most appropriate responses to climate change. Ibrahima emphasized that the expertise shared during the seminar should inform discussions, but also meet the experience of parliamentarians who remain in close contact with their territories and people.
The ECOWAS Parliament's call for urgent action on climate change highlights the growing concerns over the devastating impacts of climate change in West Africa. The seminar's outcomes are expected to contribute to regional responses to address the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement, and growing insecurity in the ECOWAS region.
Key points
- ECOWAS Parliament calls for urgent action on climate change in West Africa
- Climate change leads to increased displacement and insecurity in West Africa
- ECOWAS Parliament aims to examine regional responses to climate change and environmental degradation
