The Dire Impact of Rising Sea Levels on Guinea-Bissau’s Coastal Communities
In Guinea-Bissau, rising sea levels threaten coastal villages, pushing residents into poverty as seawater contaminates water sources and destroys crops. Villagers in Djobel face dire choices about abandonment due to the effects of climate change. Despite minimal emissions, Guinea-Bissau’s communities suffer disproportionately, underscoring the call for global climate justice. Efforts to relocate affected populations have met with conflict, reflecting the urgent need for international support and justice.
Rising sea levels in Guinea-Bissau pose a severe threat to coastal communities, particularly in villages like Djobel. These changes result in extensive poverty, as seawater has deteriorated agriculture, contaminated drinking water, and obliterated homes. The situation underscores the disproportionate impact of climate change on Guinea-Bissau, despite its minimal greenhouse gas emissions, calling for urgent global climate justice initiatives.
Aghoti Sanhan, a 70-year-old villager, expresses despair over the advancing sea: “The sea keeps coming towards us… I will have to make a decision to abandon this house too.” Her account highlights the distressing reality of living in a village rapidly succumbing to the effects of climate change.
This March, during a visit to Guinea-Bissau, the severe implications of climate change on coastal residents were evident. Poverty prevails, as many earn less than $1.90 a day. The coastal village of Djobel exemplifies the peril faced by locals, where rising sea levels compromise their traditional livelihoods of farming and fishing.
Village head Baciro Nango notes significant changes over the past two decades, stating, “During the rainy season, the whole village sinks underwater… There is no hope for us.” With detrimental floods recurrently destroying cropland, the village’s survival remains uncertain.
Freshwater scarcity has intensified due to rising sea levels, with the village well becoming contaminated by seawater, complicating daily life for villagers, particularly children and women who must travel four hours for potable water. The remnants of abandoned homes in their vicinity serve as stark reminders of the ongoing crisis.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports an average global sea-level rise of about 20 centimeters since 1900, which is expected to accelerate. Even stringent emission reductions may result in a further rise of about 50 centimeters by the century’s end, with potential increases exceeding one meter under high emissions scenarios.
Joao Tchedna from the National Environment Institute remarks on their lack of resources, stating, “The damage is already irreversible.” He emphasizes the urgent need for developed countries to support climate initiatives in poorer nations, underscoring the unequal burden they bear despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions.
Potential resettlement plans supported by the UN have faced challenges due to local opposition and conflicts among neighboring villages. Facilities built to aid the relocation lie in ruins, emphasizing the deteriorating hope for Djobel residents.
Recognizing this, calls for climate justice have emerged. As Guinea-Bissau contributes only 0.09% of global greenhouse gases, the stark reality of injustice exists for its inhabitants. They become the first victims of the climate crises created largely by developed nations, stressing the need for immediate climate justice actions.
Rising sea levels are emerging as a critical global issue, particularly affecting low-lying coastal regions like Guinea-Bissau. The situation is exacerbated by climate change factors, including increased rainfall and storm surges, and the area is known for its impoverished population, many of whom depend on agriculture and fishing. The implications of sea-level rise not only threaten the livelihoods of residents but also highlight the broader context of global climate injustice, where the least responsible nations are disproportionately affected.
The situation in Guinea-Bissau starkly illustrates the devastating effects of climate change on vulnerable communities, particularly in coastal areas like Djobel. The consequences of rising waters lead to poverty, resource scarcity, and displacement. The plight of the Djobel villagers emphasizes the need for urgent global climate justice efforts, advocating for accountability and support from developed nations to mitigate the impacts of climate change on those who have contributed the least to the crisis.
Original Source: www.weforum.org
