African Environmental Geography (Environmental/Earth Science) | 08 October 2008
Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Communities of West Africa: A Review
K, a, h, e, n, g, o, M, w, a, m, b, a, ,, M, p, o, n, d, o, N, s, h, o, l, e
Abstract
Climate change impacts are increasingly evident in coastal communities across West Africa, posing significant challenges to their sustainability. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented using multiple databases including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies published between and were included, with data analysed through thematic synthesis to identify common themes, variations in strategies, and gaps in knowledge. The review identified a significant proportion (65%) of coastal communities have developed climate change adaptation plans that incorporate traditional practices alongside modern interventions such as early warning systems and community education programmes. However, there is marked variation in the efficacy of these strategies across different regions. Despite variability, all reviewed studies emphasise the importance of integrating multiple adaptive measures to enhance resilience against climate-induced hazards. Policy makers should prioritise funding for research into adaptation effectiveness and consider implementing a standardised monitoring system to track progress towards climate change mitigation goals. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.