K N O W L E D G E S H E E T 8 B | P R I VAT E  A D A PTATI ON TO RISK KNOWLEDGE SHEET 8B | PRIVATE Safeguarding the Resilience of West African Coasts to Climate Change – the role for the private sector Engaging the Private Sector on safeguarding West African Coasts from Climate Change can affect local coastal communities as well as having a serious impact on the projected economic growth. There are ways in which the private sector can grow in a sustainable manner while ensuring the protection of the environment and safeguarding the resilience of West African coasts to climate change. • Economic growth at the coastal zones in West Africa will be related to hydrocarbons, fishing and tourism resulting in continued population Example of hard engineering solutions, a concrete and wooden groyne, growth at the coastal region (Akubia, 2016). Photo Credit: Nigel Chadwick • Continued bad practices at the coastal regions Local businesses have an important role to play in (for example, sand mining) will result in future preventing and managing natural and human induced economic loss greater than that of the benefits hazards to safeguard the West African coasts from climate currently gained. change effects. Countries in West Africa are expected • Adaptation and resilience costs for climate to have a continued accelerated economic growth with change in coastal regions are much lower than rates exceeding 5% over the long term (UEMOA–IUCN compensating for damages. It makes more 2011). This growth will support the pace of urbanisation economic sense to adapt the coastal areas throughout the region, which will see a reinforcement to be more resilient than to rebuild after a of the concentration of economic activity along the devastating weather event. coast, with the building of heavy industrial plant and the • Economic benefits can be gained from imple- development of agro-industrial production. However, menting climate sensitive businesses. these activities, if not well planned and managed, can exacerbate the effects of climate change, which in turn 1 K N O W L E D G E S H E E T 8 B | P R I VAT E  A D A PTATI ON TO RISK can create secondary business opportunities such as engi- Challenges neering and consulting studies and service industry etc. The allure of economic growth in the coastal areas of West There are also opportunities to reduce the vulnerability Africa from fishing, hydrocarbon extraction and tourism and exposure to climate change through improved com- presents a significant challenge to the environment and munication and advanced warning systems that can be the future sustainability of the area. The challenges in implemented by local businesses (such as communication preventing and managing the natural and human-induced companies, local radio, TV, etc.). Information Technology hazards in coastal areas are mainly related to: and Communication (ITC) and data-sharing applications, present a significant opportunity to local businesses. These • Human activities resulting in localized accelerated and can include aspects such as: severe coastal erosion and environmental degradation that magnify the risks of coastal flooding and other • Automatic methods to compute fish resources for climate related risks. This in turn leads to risks of coastal fishery using real-time fishery information. decreased economic activities, job losses and extensive • Establishment of mechanisms to access environmental long-term costs to the local economy. data generated by global geo-satellites. • The natural hazards of increasing intensity such as • Early warning systems and remote sensing equipment, rainfall events or severe wave action, affect local which can enhance decision-making abilities and industries, road networks etc. This results in enormous contribute to disaster relief. annual costs for repairs, which has a negative impact on the future expansion of infrastructures for instance. EXAMPLES OF BEST PRACTICE • To “climate-proof” infrastructure comes at a high cost but it is necessary for social and economic advancement. The Danish North Sea Coast In the late 1800s, there were large sand erosion Potential Solutions problems on the North Sea coast. Traditional groins were constructed on some stretches around There is an economic opportunity for local businesses to the 1900s (Wilmink 2017). However, since the implement engineering solutions to restore natural envi- 80s’ the central part of this exposed coastline ronments and their associated ecosystem services. The has been stabilised by beach nourishment, 2-3 types of soft engineering activities that local businesses million m3/year whereas other stretches have can implement are: been left to natural erosion. This strategy has • Artificial beach nourishment (or replenishment) proven economically beneficial and provides a natural, sustainable coastal environment. Fishery • Restoration of dunes ports on this coastline are specially designed to • Mangrove restoration allow for maximum natural by-pass of sediment • Implementing natural protection barriers such as to minimise down drift erosion, and maintenance crushed rock dredging which is often a major burden for smaller • Rehabilitation and/or constitution of natural habitats fishing ports. to enhance nutritional cycles In some cases heavy engineering solutions will also be relevant, these could include: • seawalls • groins • beach revetment Furthermore, restoration is associated with a net gain to society in long-term economic benefits. Companies can hire local workforce while offering business activities that 2 K N O W L E D G E S H E E T 8 B | P R I VAT E  A D A PTATI ON TO RISK Furthermore, beach nourishments are seen as one of the more economically sound interventions that can be undertaken by local companies. However hard engineering solutions (the strengthening and heightening of seawalls and quays storm surge barrier etc.) are chosen in this case when soft measures weren’t technically possible. The hard engineering solutions present real economic opportunities to local business including unskilled local labor. This case study example illustrates how soft (restoration of dunes etc.) and hard (seawalls etc.) engineering and technical options can and should be implemented by local businesses to climate proof the coastal areas, which aids in economic stability and long term growth for the area (Wilmink 2017). The case study shows that local businesses can find economically sound business opportunities to prevent and manage natural and human induced hazards to safeguard the West African coasts from climate change impacts. The photo and figure give an illustration of where coastal erosion was taking place and how hard and soft engineering solutions has prevented further coastal erosion. Photo: Kystdirektoratet REFERENCES • UEMOA–IUCN. 2011. Schéma Directeur du Littoral • Wilmink, Rinse. 2017. From Flood Prevention Strategy d’Afrique de l’Ouest — SDLAO. to Current Practice Nourishments. Retrieved November 2017: http://www.northseare- • Akubia, E. John. 2016. Coastal Urbanization and Urban gion.eu/media/3540/report-from-flood-preven- Land-Use Change in the Greater Accra Metropolitan tion-strategy-to-current-practice-nourishments.pdf. Area, Ghana. Water-Power Working Paper, No. 10. Governance and Sustainability Lab. Trier University. Trier. The West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA) is a convening platform that aims to assist West African countries to sustainably manage their coastal areas and enhance socio-economic resilience to the effects of climate change. The program also seeks to facilitate access to technical expertise and financial resources for participating countries. www.worldbank.org/waca 3