Introduction to Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire, located in Western Africa, has a population of 28.16 million people1 , of which 47% is rural.2 The coastal nation has a largely tropical savanna climate.3 The country has been witnessing increasingly severe extreme weather events, particularly floods. The agriculture sector, employing 45% of the working population4 and contributing 16.7% of the GDP5 , is vital for the economy but is facing growing challenges due to the climate impacts. Cote d’Ivoire is the world’s largest cocoa producing country with more than 6 million Ivorians working in the sector, which contributes over 40% of the country’s export revenues.6 However, it is estimated that more than 37% of the total forest loss in Cote d’Ivoire’s protected areas are driven by cocoa cultivation.7 Endowed with vast mineral and fossil resources, particularly gold, manganese, and petroleum, the West African nation is heavily dependent on the mining sector and fossil fuel extraction. Deforestation has significantly contributed to a decline in rainfall patterns and has triggered desertification within the borders of Côte d'Ivoire, with about 60% of the country's arable land already degraded. The mining sector threatens to further exacerbate this issue, potentially disrupting ecosystems and posing a substantial threat to the agriculture sector. While Côte d’Ivoire gained independence in 1958, legacies of French colonization continue to shape the country’s modern day conflicts and political crisis8 , dependence on export-oriented and extractive industries, as well as its vulnerability to the climate crisis. 

Mapping Major Climate Events and Climate-Induced Displacement

Côte d’Ivoire is vulnerable to climate disasters, ranking 129 out of 180 countries in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021.9 The major climate hazards experienced by the coastal nation are floods and epidemics, which account for over 93% of the average annual hazard occurrence for 1980-2020.10 Between 1980 and 2000, the country experienced 1 year of flood with the number increasing to 7 between 2001 and 2020. In 2018 alone, 25,000 Ivorians were affected by flood, while in 2019 and 2020, the number stood at 14,646 and 18,657 respectively.11 Between 2008 and 2022, 15 disaster events were reported in Côte d’Ivoire, amongst which floods internally displaced 13,000 people.12  In June 2022, Côte d'Ivoire experienced above average torrential rainfall, resulting in significant flooding and landslides in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire.13 A total of 11,478 people were affected and needed emergency assistance, including housing provisions for 2,418 individuals who lost their homes.14 Beyond climate related disasters, violence and conflict displaced 1 million Ivorians during the post election civil war of 2011.15  

Mapping the Costs of the Climate Crisis

The GDP of Côte d’Ivoire is US$ 70.02 billion16 , with 39.5 percent of its population living below the national poverty line17 , with a low life expectancy of 59 years18 and a high infant mortality rate of 56 per 1000 live births.19 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that climate change might shrink Africa's GDP by 2% to 4% by 2040 and 10% to 25% by 2100.20 In the case of Côte d’Ivoire, this equates to a potential loss of about CFAF 380 to 770 billion, with the agricultural sector, human capital, and infrastructure bearing these losses.21 Rural areas in northern Côte d'Ivoire, in particular, face persistent water shortages that hinder growth in agricultural production. With the sector mainly relying on rainfed subsistence practices, and only 0.2% of the nation's crop land currently irrigated, small-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate fluctuations, which can lower their crop yield and raise the threat of food insecurity and poverty.22 Informal settlements in cities like Abidjan, which is in the South of the country by the Atlantic shore, are especially at risk, as the settlements are often situated in unstable areas such as riverbanks and coasts. With 53% of the urban population living in informal settlements,23 they are particularly susceptible to flooding, resulting in housing loss, water contamination, and potential harm or fatalities.

Mapping Resilience and Mitigation Pathways

Côte d’Ivoire, constituting 0.36 percent of the world's population, is responsible for 0.02 percent of the global cumulative carbon dioxide emission.24 The West African nation pledged to take action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change by signing the Paris Agreement, with the aim of reducing 30.41 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions below 2010 levels by 2030 under the Business As Usual (BAU) scenario and 98.95 percent with substantial international support.25 Furthermore, the country has a target of achieving net zero by 2030. Côte d’Ivoire is focusing on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, agricultural production, forestry management, and waste management practices in order to address greenhouse gas emissions.26 Regarding adaptation strategies, Côte d'Ivoire is committed to enhancing its ability to withstand climate challenges by focusing on five critical sectors: agriculture, Food and Land Use, water, health, and coastal zones. Certain regions in Côte d’Ivoire are adopting localized climate actions to promote sustainable development.27 For instance, in the Bélier region, the Regional Council has formulated Côte d'Ivoire's inaugural regional climate action plan focusing on solutions that will lower emissions, bolster livelihoods, and preserve biodiversity in a gender-inclusive manner.28

Necessary Changes

Côte d’Ivoire is demonstrating its commitment to attaining emissions reductions and carbon neutrality objectives through noteworthy endeavors in climate mitigation and adaptation. It is now critical for the global community to support the West African nation in a just transition that is inclusive of its underserved, low-income, and at-risk communities. The cocoa industry is critical to Côte d’Ivoire's economy, particularly in supporting the livelihoods of farmers, but unsustainable practices such as deforestation threaten resources, biodiversity, and the industry's future. Alongside economic diversification, advocating for agroforestry in cocoa production and adopting sustainable land and water management methods can mitigate environmental damage. The anticipated effect of climate impacts are set to worsen challenges for people in informal settlements, primarily due to their precarious locations, inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and high levels of poverty. The international community needs to support Côte d'Ivoire in bolstering climate resilience for at-risk informal settlements through financial aid, technical knowledge, and capacity-building support. Furthermore, it is critical to recognize the enduring impacts of colonization, which continues to this day in the form of economic exploitation and political influence in former colonies.29 Steps must be taken to rectify historical injustices and power disparities still evident in Côte d’Ivoire today.