Climate Change and Conflict in West African Cities: Findings from Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana

This technical report, part of a series of studies analyzing how climate change contributes to conflict, seeks to shed light on whether the effects of climate change will lead to chaotic and conflictive scenarios in Lagos, Accra, or other West African Cities and if so, under what circumstances and time frames these scenarios might take place, and whether there are preventative actions that governments, communities, and donors should undertake. 

The report includes an overview of social, political, economic, environmental, and other factors affecting development in Lagos and Accra, as well as the specific climate change vulnerabilities each city faces.

The report's section on Lagos reviews challenges of governance and potential seeds of conflict. For example, many Lagos residents live in slums located on floodplains or wetlands, presenting a challenge to municipal authorities who are concerned about climate-related disasters. A primary question emerges: can these communities be made more resilient or should they be relocated? As for Accra, the report outlines environmental governance and social vulnerability challenges in the city. Many residents in Accra feel the city is plagued by weak and politicized land use management and that environmental enforcement is inconsistent. 

The report concludes with a summary of key findings and recommendations for promoting resilience. It suggests that USAID and other donors can help to promote climate resilience and reduce the likelihood of conflict in Lagos, Accra, and other flood-prone West African cities by taking actions in five issue areas: (1) land use and housing, (2) environmental and climate awareness, (3) drainage and solid waste management, (4) upgrading of slums to reduce severe weather vulnerabilities, and (5) cross-ethnic dialogue. 

Access other documents in this series:

• Climate Change and Conflict in West African Cities: A Policy Brief on Findings from Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana
• Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel: Findings from Niger and Burkina Faso
• Climate Change and Conflict in the Sahel: A Policy Brief on Findings from Niger and Burkina Faso