Banjul Faces Threat of Submersion Amidst Climate Change Challenges

Banjul, The Gambia, faces severe risks of becoming an underwater ghost town due to rising sea levels linked to climate change. Recent flooding has profoundly impacted the community, which has been exacerbated by factors such as sand mining. Although many residents plan to leave, efforts are underway to protect and revitalize the city through environmental projects.

A city in West Africa is facing imminent transformation into an underwater ghost town due to rising sea levels associated with climate change. This phenomenon, identified to have escalated since the onset of industrialization in the 1800s, has led to increasingly alarming global temperature rises. As sea levels continue to rise, cities like Banjul, The Gambia, are now under serious threat, with dire consequences already evident in the region.

In July 2022, Banjul experienced a severe storm that inundated the city with over ten inches of rain in a mere 20 hours, affecting more than 50,000 residents through devastating flash floods, as reported by The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. These events exemplify the immediate challenges posed by climate change.

The rising sea levels are a pressing issue for Banjul. James F.P. Gomez, The Gambia’s minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, has indicated that a rise of just one meter could submerge Greater Banjul. The city’s vulnerability, exacerbated by commercial sand mining, undermines its natural defenses against the sea.

Many residents have reached a point of desperation. Aminata Jatta, a 60-year-old gardener from Banjul, remarked on the detrimental impacts of sand mining, stating, “The sand mining has devastated our lives. I depend on this [work] for survival, but that survival is being destroyed, and nothing is being done about it” – Dialogue Earth.

The ongoing effects of climate change have resulted in significant population decline in Banjul, which had approximately 45,000 residents in 1983, but is projected to drop to 26,000 by 2024. Furthermore, a study by Nfamara K. Dampha indicates that 64% of current residents intend to leave by 2050, illustrating a growing trend of urban exodus.

Despite the challenges, there remains a sliver of hope for Banjul’s future. In November 2024, The Gambia received a $12 million investment from the Global Environment Facility aimed at facilitating landscape-level changes for climate resilience. Additionally, the EU’s City-link Ostend Banjul project is actively planting coconut trees and vegetation along the coastline, aiming to restore natural barriers against the sea.

Banjul is not an isolated case; other cities, such as those in British Columbia, Canada, also face similar threats from climate change. Transitioning away from fossil fuel reliance and embracing cleaner energy sources may indeed provide an effective preliminary solution to combat these pressing environmental challenges.

In summary, rising sea levels due to climate change pose a grave threat to Banjul, The Gambia, as evidenced by recent natural disasters and population decline. The situation underscores the urgent need for effective mitigation efforts to regain the city’s resilience. While initiatives are being implemented to address these challenges, the community’s future remains precarious, emphasizing the worldwide necessity for collective action against climate change.

Original Source: www.thecooldown.com