Economic and Spatial Study of the Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change of Coastal Areas in Senegal

The African coastal countries are facing
several environmental and socio-economic challenges, such as
unplanned urban and economic development, fueled by a
growing rural exodus; non-functional or non-existent public
infrastructures to handle the demographic growth along the
coastline; air, water and soil pollution; and alteration of
coastal ecosystems. West Africa, in particular, is facing
severe land losses and major damage due to coastal erosion
and shoreline loss. This situation impacts coastal
communities, infrastructures and users, and hampers economic
growth. The institutional, technical and financial
capabilities at the regional, national and local scales are
not sufficient to effectively meet these challenges. The
impacts of climate change intensify these trends and induce
accelerated coastal erosion, loss of land and assets, river
or run-off floods, marine submersion, groundwater
salinization and changes in the distribution and abundance
of coastal and marine habitats and species. The World Bank,
supported by the governments of Norway and Finland, assists
the Senegalese government in developing reforms program, in
improving the country's technical and financial
adaptability and in integrating climate resilience into the
future development plans regarding the coastline of Senegal.
The aim of this study is to carry out a spatial and economic
analysis of the coastal areas' vulnerability to climate
change and natural risks in Senegal, and to perform an
economic analysis of different adaptation options in three
pilot sites.