Featuring Emmanuel Akyeampong, Harvard University; Nana Ama Klutse, Ghana EPA; and Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State, Nigeria.

A Harvard-based faculty climate research cluster has been examining the multidimensional impacts of sea-level rise, urban flooding, and coastal erosion in West Africa Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. These environmental threats intersect critically with socio-economic issues such as rapid urbanization, informal settlement growth, and the vulnerability of rain-fed agriculture—conditions that together create an urgent need for coordinated adaptation and resilience strategies. West Africa's coastal zone, particularly along the Gulf of Guinea, is a region of acute concern. The region experiences some of the world’s highest rates of urban growth, with coastal megacities such as Abidjan, Accra, and Lagos witnessing exponential population increases since the mid-20th century. This population boom has intensified the pressure on land, housing, and infrastructure — further exacerbated by rising sea levels and climate-induced environmental changes. This panel will focus on solutions - developing actionable strategies, building transnational collaborations, and informing policy pathways that strengthen the resilience of coastal communities across West Africa.

Additional Readings and Resources:

Salata Institute Climate Adaptation in the Gulf of Guinea Research Cluster

Fishers on the Gulf of Guinea: Climate, and the Income Diversification Imperitive

Harvard-West Africa collaboration probes climate adaptation in Gulf of Guinea