Sea level rise due to climate change could submerge Gambian capital city Banjul, the country’s minister for works Francis Leity Mboge has warned.
The minister was addressing a UNDP workshop held in Banjul on enhancing adaptive capacities and defences of coastal settlements.
Gambia is one of Africa’s most vulnerable countries to climate change.
“Gambia’s climate change vulnerability is likely to increase. Droughts, floods and storms are likely to increase in frequency and intensity.
In coastal areas, sea level rise and rising sea temperatures will lead to saltwater intrusion, floods and coastal erosion,’’ the minister said.
The minister said a one-meter sea level rise might wipe out Gambia’s human settlements, 60 per cent of mangrove forest cover, 33 per cent swampy areas and 20 per cent of rice fields.
According to him, unfavourable climatic conditions will lead to a decrease in rice production impeding the county’s objective of producing 70,000 metric tonnes of rice annually.
He added that climate change presents a serious threat to the country’s economic life-line such as tourism and fishing.
“Studies both in Gambia and abroad show that climate change will have significant consequences on coastal regions, especially low-lying coasts with their mangrove ecosystems,” said Izumi Morota-Alakija, a UNDP representative.
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