Climate Security and Human Security Nexus in West Africa

Abstract

Climate security has emerged as a critical discourse focusing on the multifaceted consequences of climate change on various security aspects. While the impact of climate change in West Africa has widely been researched, the same cannot be said about climate security. This paper uses a systematic review approach to explore the nexus between climate security and human security in the West African region. The process adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guide approach, and applying thematic analyses, the review established varied climate security threats with consequences on human security in West Africa. The threats emanate from rainfall variability, increased temperature, rising sea levels, and storms. The threats manifest in various forms, including floods, drought and heat waves, among others, affecting natural resources and magnifying human security threats such as displacements, food insecurity and, in some instances, fueling ethnic/community conflict and violent extremism with devastating consequences. High temperatures and varied rainfall patterns have reduced water availability, increasing user competition and tension. The heat waves experienced in the region in recent times have resulted in deaths and the destruction of socio-economic activities, affecting productivity in general. The rising sea level and frequent torrential rainfalls have increased displacements and adversely affected the functionality of some security installations and existing infrastructure, impacting the quality of intelligence gathering and the swiftness of response of security service providers to disasters. I conclude that climate security in West Africa is complicating security threats, negatively impacting sustainable development. Addressing the challenges requires broader cooperation and comprehensive strategies that could help improve resilience and climate-tolerant infrastructure that can withstand climate crises and enhance security response during climate disasters.