ECOWAS Warns of 32 Million Displaced by Climate Change

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a warning that the combined effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and insecurity could result in nearly 32 million internally displaced people in the sub-region by 2050. This warning was made during the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana.

Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari, the Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, represented General Birame Diop, the President of the ECOWAS Commission. He noted that over two million people were displaced in West Africa in 2024 due to natural disasters linked to climate change, with more than seven million affected by flooding.

The ECOWAS Commission reported that between 2025 and 2026, over 12 million people were internally displaced in West and Central Africa, with women and children making up about 80 percent of this figure. Bako-Arifari emphasized the need for a comprehensive regional approach to climate resilience and human security, urging member states to invest proactively in resilience and address grievances before they escalate into conflict.