The Dire Consequences of Rising Sea Levels in Guinea-Bissau

Rising sea levels in Guinea-Bissau are displacing communities like Djobel, exacerbating poverty and contaminating water supplies. With virtually no contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, these villagers face extreme vulnerabilities from climate impacts. Conflict over resettlement plans threatens potential solutions, underscoring a pressing need for international climate justice and support.

Rising sea levels are significantly impacting Guinea-Bissau, particularly affecting coastal communities like Djobel. This phenomenon has driven many residents into severe poverty as saltwater intrudes on farmland, contaminates drinking water, and destroys homes. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Guinea-Bissau’s communities face disproportionate effects from climate change, underscoring the urgency for global climate justice.

The plight of the inhabitants of Djobel is illustrated through the words of Aghoti Sanhan, a 70-year-old villager, who expressed a profound sense of loss as she observes her community’s gradual disappearance. During a recent visit to Guinea-Bissau, I explored the extent of the climate crisis and the challenges faced by those living in low-lying coastal areas. Currently, approximately 70% of Guinea-Bissau’s 2.1 million residents live on less than $1.90 daily, struggling to survive amid deteriorating conditions.

Owning to severe flooding and agricultural ruin, Djobel is now at risk of extinction due to rising sea levels. The village head, Baciro Nango, lamented how the changes in climate over the past two decades have devastated their livelihood, noting that most of the farmland is no longer useful and that further flooding is inevitable.

Access to fresh drinking water has also become critical as seawater has contaminated the only nearby well. Consequently, villagers must endure a grueling four-hour boat journey to obtain potable water, with the brunt of this burden falling upon women and children. The evidence of past habitation, such as abandoned houses and remnants of daily lives, starkly illustrate the ongoing crisis.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports a significant rise in global sea levels, accelerated by melted glaciers and warming temperatures. Despite potential measures to reduce emissions, projections indicate a continued rise in sea levels, potentially reaching over a meter by century’s end. The scenario could worsen significantly, suggesting future rises could exceed seven meters by 2300 unless decisive action is taken.

Hope for the villagers of Djobel lies in the possibility of relocation. However, tensions arose when neighboring villagers opposed resettlement plans, leading to conflicts that hindered this vital initiative. Facilities intended for the relocated villagers were vandalized, leaving them with little prospect of a secure future.

Joao Tchedna, the primary director general of Guinea-Bissau’s National Environment Institute, emphasized the severe lack of resources to combat the climate crisis. The focus on funding from developed countries to support the Fund for Loss and Damages has become essential. Despite having negligible emissions, communities such as Djobel face the reality of being the first casualties of a crisis they did not create, highlighting a critical need for international climate justice.

Guinea-Bissau, located in West Africa, is facing the dire consequences of rising sea levels due to climate change. Coastal communities like Djobel depend on a combination of agriculture and fishing, with many residents living in poverty conditions. The impact of climate change is made worse by low income and limited adaptability, making it imperative to analyze the root causes of these injustices and advocate for global solutions.

The situation in Guinea-Bissau, particularly the village of Djobel, exemplifies the urgent need for global climate action and justice. Rising sea levels threaten the livelihood and existence of communities that contribute minimally to climate change. Strategies for relocation have encountered significant opposition, highlighting the complexities involved in addressing climate crisis-related challenges. Achieving climate justice is essential to support vulnerable populations facing irreversible consequences of climate variability and stresses the moral obligation of developed nations.

Original Source: www.weforum.org