ACPC climate change response assessment mission in Senegal

Sea level rise, intense storms and waves and increased coastal erosion, all impacts associated with climate change threatens coastal villages and towns and the critical economic activities, said H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal. President Macky Sall was speaking to experts from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Climate Policy Center (ACPC) during a field visit to Saly, a coastal town situated 80 km from Dakar, Senegal. Climate change is thus posing a serious threat to key sectors like tourism, fisheries and infrastructure thus impacting on millions of people who depend on these sectors for employment and livelihoods. His Excellency told the experts that ACPC team was requested by the Government of Senegal to assist in efforts to build the country’s resilience to climate change.

H.E the President expressed his concern about impacts of climate change on the country’s national development. He reiterated his appreciation of ECA support through ACPC and underscored the need for a quick implementation of activities to build resilience of the vulnerable population and economic sectors. While recognizing the fact that the investments needed to respond to the challenge paused by climate change are enormous, the President urged the experts to determine various categories and scales of interventions. The teams need to identify actions in phases, i.e., immediate actions that do not require heavy investments, medium term investments that require large amount which can be submitted for funding through a number of sources including the ClimDev Special Fund (CDSF), hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

During the mission in Senegal, the ACPC experts had a number of working sessions with key stakeholders from the agriculture, energy, water, environment, finance sectors as well as the national committee on climate change.

Key issues raised during the meetings were as follows:

• The need for the country to formulate comprehensive climate change policy framework that is well integrated in national and sectorial development plans, especially in the vulnerable sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, energy, water, health, tourism, and transport  among others;

• Climate change is about development. As such, Senegal will start promoting enabling environment, legal and regulatory instruments tha also provide incentives towards  effective involvement and participation of all stakeholders, adoption and implementation of  strategies on early warning, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation and mitigation;

• Water and Energy are the backbone of any economy. Emphasis shall be put on formulating and implementing sound renewable energy and energy efficiency  policy and strategy;

• In relation with water, it was noted that climate change is making some areas drier, other areas wetter, and increasing the instances of floods and droughts. Thus there is a need for Senegal to adopt innovative mechanisms and technology to narrow the gap between water demand and supply. The country shall move from water supply-oriented approach and adopt measures, innovation and technology to increase water use efficiency through better conservation, irrigation efficiency and recycling. Further emphasis was put on enhancing water usage efficiency in the agricultural sector and harnessing floods opportunities.

• It was acknowledged that one of the main effects of climate change on the social and economic transformation of the country is on coastal zones. These areas experience both physical and socio-economic impacts. Main impacts include coastal erosion, impacts on socio-economic development and human livelihoods, coastal flooding and sea water intrusion into agricultural farmland. Building of coastal defense systems to check waves surges and prevent infrastructure damage is one solution that was discussed. In addition, the need for coastal observation networks for ocean monitoring and early warning was also recognized.Climate and weather data collection, analysis and translation into information for various end users including smallholder farmers who account for more than 80% of agriculture was recognized as vital component of building resilience to the impacts fo climate change. This will also enhance the population’s capacity to adapt. Better future projection will also require assembling of historical data and digitizing it as a basis for future climate projections.

• Other priority areas raised during the discussion were the building the capacity of the communities and mainstreaming climate change in development planning and practice. Consequently, the ACPC experts were requested to initiate a programme for capacity building for COMNACC and various stakeholders including policy, legislators, media, youths, civil society and the private sector and support the building of networks of community of practice.