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He stressed the need for West African countries to strengthen their climate financing mechanisms and make greater use of emerging carbon-market opportunities to mobilise resources.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that climate change could force up to 32 million people in the region to relocate within their countries by 2050, while an estimated $294 billion will be required to finance climate action.

The regional bloc said the projected displacement reflected the growing impact of climate-related pressures on communities across West Africa, including flooding, drought, rising temperatures and other environmental changes.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Kalilou Sylla, disclosed the figures during a regional workshop on carbon markets in Abuja.

Sylla said climate change was no longer simply an environmental concern, but a major development challenge requiring stronger cooperation and investment across the region.

He stressed the need for West African countries to strengthen their climate financing mechanisms and make greater use of emerging carbon-market opportunities to mobilise resources.

According to ECOWAS, the $294 billion financing requirement highlights the huge funding gap facing the region as countries work to implement their climate commitments and build resilience against the effects of global warming.

The bloc also warned that vulnerable communities would continue to bear a disproportionate share of the consequences unless governments stepped up adaptation measures and invested in climate-resilient infrastructure.

ECOWAS said regional collaboration would be critical to addressing the challenge, particularly in developing sustainable financing mechanisms capable of supporting countries’ climate programmes.

The organisation maintained that carbon markets, when properly regulated, could provide an additional avenue for mobilising private and public investment for climate action.