Regional Context and Challenges

West Africa is facing increasing extreme weather events: heatwaves, recurring droughts, floods, and desertification are impacting populations and local economies. For example, a heatwave in February 2024 raised temperatures by 4°C and increased the probability of extreme events tenfold, especially affecting cocoa production and public health.
The region contributes little to global CO₂ emissions (2–3%), but suffers greatly: food security is at risk, biodiversity is lost, and infrastructure is weakened.

Observed Impacts

• Agriculture: Cereal yields may fall by 10–20% depending on the warming scenario.
• Food Security: In Nigeria, more than 31 million people face food insecurity, worsened by drought and costly groundwater access.
• Biodiversity: Agroecological and agroforestry practices in the region are restoring soils, preserving species, and boosting resilience.

Adapted Solutions and Innovations

🔹 Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)

• Use of drought-resistant seeds, soil cover, agroforestry, "zaï" or half-moon techniques, and tailored climate services.
• Concrete projects: climate-smart farming villages in the Sahel promote seeds, solar irrigation, compost, and youth/women involvement.

🔹 Water Management

• Rainwater harvesting, reservoirs, and solar micro-irrigation improve water retention and combat desertification.

🔹 Renewable Energies

• The continent has 60% of global solar potential but only 1% installed capacity; the AREI program targets 300 GW of renewables by 2030.
• The APRA initiative, launched at COP28, supports this goal, growing from 56 GW in 2022 to 300 GW by 2030.

🔹 Financing and Institutional Strengthening

• Finance gap: only $10 billion/year is allocated to climate adaptation, while $100 billion is needed.
• Projects like the Great Green Wall (World Bank: $5.6B 2020–2025) and innovative financing through BOAD (ECOWAS) enhance coordination and scalability.

Delta Green Consultancy's Role

As a European and African player, DGC brings expertise to support:

• Carbon assessments & environmental footprint evaluations
• Impact studies integrating biodiversity, climate, and local priorities
• Implementation of CSA and innovative approaches (seeds, agroforestry, water, renewables)
• Strategic financing support, stakeholder training, and improved governance (ECOWAS, BOAD…)

Conclusion

West Africa faces major climate challenges: drought, extreme heat, food insecurity, and ecosystem degradation. However, practical solutions exist: climate-smart agriculture, efficient water management, renewables, institutional innovation, and financial tools. With Delta Green Consultancy, companies and territories can seize these opportunities to develop sustainable, resilient, and impactful long-term projects.