Explore the existential threat of sea level rise in The Gambia. Learn how coastal erosion and climate change impact Banjul’s economy and the nation's GDP.

The very people most affected by these rising tides—the smallholder farmers and artisanal fishers—are often trapped in a cycle where the cost of surviving today makes it impossible to invest in surviving tomorrow.
An integrated look at adaptation capacity to increasing climate hazard exposure in The Gambia, covering the perspectives and strategies of smallholder farmers, coastal community residents, and national policy makers.







Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, is currently facing an existential threat as it becomes increasingly isolated by surrounding waters. As a low-lying fragment of land on the Atlantic coast, the city is losing its battle with rising tides. With land disappearing at a rate of up to 4.7 meters annually, the physical and political heart of the nation is at risk of being submerged, turning the capital into an island.
The economic stakes of coastal erosion in The Gambia are staggering, with over 2.1 billion dollars in assets located within just 800 meters of the coastline. This figure represents more than 90 percent of the entire national GDP. Because the tourism corridor and vital infrastructure are situated in this high-risk zone, the country faces a massive economic crisis as the land beneath these assets continues to vanish every year.
The most vulnerable populations include the 200,000 residents living along the coast and the 70 percent of the labor force tied directly to the land. Smallholder farmers and artisanal fishers are particularly affected, caught in a cycle where the immediate costs of survival prevent them from investing in long-term climate adaptation. For these communities, the threats of climate change and sea level rise are not future possibilities but a present reality.
Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco
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Creato da alumni della Columbia University a San Francisco
