This study was conducted to assess vulnerability of
West African countries to climate change using selected indicators for adaptive
capacity, exposure and sensitivity to generate vulnerability index for West
African countries. Vulnerability index was calculated as the net effect of
adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure to climate change. Principal
Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assign weights to the vulnerability
indicators used in this study. A total of thirteen (13) indicators were used to
generate vulnerability index and vulnerability maps were produced using the GIS
software package ArcGIS 10.2. The result shows that Niger, Mali and Mauritania
have the highest levels of vulnerability to climate change in West Africa. The
countries with the least levels of vulnerability to climate change are Ghana,
Cape Verde and Gambia. Generally, this study shows that most countries in West
Africa are vulnerable to climate change with ten countries (Niger, Mauritania,
Mali, Burkina-Faso, Liberia, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Benin and Sierra
Leone) having vulnerability levels higher than 50%. We conclude that there is
the need for well planned integrated adaptation measures to reduce the impact
of climate change in the region.
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