Guinea-Bissau is experiencing severe impacts from rising sea levels, particularly in coastal communities like Djobel. These changes are driving residents into poverty, damaging agriculture, and contaminating drinking water. Despite their minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, these communities are disproportionately affected, highlighting the urgent need for international climate justice efforts.
Rising sea levels due to climate change are severely impacting Guinea-Bissau, particularly in coastal villages such as Djobel. The encroaching seawater degrades farmland, renders drinking water undrinkable and results in the destruction of homes. Despite contributing insignificantly to greenhouse gas emissions, these communities are among the first to suffer from climate catastrophes, underscoring the urgent call for climate justice globally. Villager Aghoti Sanhan expressed the emotional toll of these changes, stating, “The sea keeps coming towards us… One day, I will have to make a decision to abandon this house too.”
Guinea-Bissau, classified as one of West Africa’s poorest nations, faces critical challenges due to global warming and rising sea levels. Approximately 70% of its 2.1 million inhabitants live on less than $1.90 a day, many engaged in semi-farming and fishing near vulnerable coastal areas. Increased rainfall, stronger storms, and encroaching seawater have devastated their agriculture and freshwater supplies, forcing local populations into extreme poverty.
The plight of the villagers in Guinea-Bissau serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate justice. As rising sea levels continue to threaten their existence, the inequity of the climate crisis becomes more apparent. Global efforts must focus on funding and technologies to aid vulnerable populations, ensuring they receive the support needed to combat these environmental challenges.
Original Source: www.weforum.org
