Leaders across West and Central Africa are urging greater funding to help communities cope with the impacts of climate change, as floods, droughts, and environmental degradation increasingly drive displacement and reshape migration patterns. At a regional conference in Lagos, Nigeria, held on 12–13 May, governments and partners developed a roadmap to protect livelihoods and strengthen adaptation measures for vulnerable populations.
Climate shocks are already altering settlement patterns across the region, damaging homes, infrastructure, and essential services. By the end of 2024, around 2 million people in West and Central Africa had been displaced by disasters, representing one‑fifth of the global total. Environmental pressures such as desertification and rising sea levels are expected to intensify, with the World Bank projecting that up to 32 million people could be forced to move within their countries by 2050 due to climate change.
The conference highlighted growing policy action, with most countries now including migration and displacement in updated national climate plans. Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania also joined the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, bringing the number of supporting African countries to 33. Leaders emphasized that climate‑related human mobility must be treated as a priority for adaptation and resilience, requiring credible data and accessible financing to support solutions that reduce risk and expand safe options for affected communities.
Participants called for stronger early warning systems, greater support for local adaptation initiatives, and improved access to climate funding for vulnerable communities. These recommendations will feed into upcoming global climate negotiations, including the UNFCCC and COP31 in Türkiye later this year.
The Lagos Conference was co‑hosted by the Government of Nigeria with support from Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Climate Change and Migration Data Programme, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in addressing the intersection of climate change, migration, and displacement.
