Reducing West Africa's vulnerability to climate impacts on water resources, wetlands and desertification : elements for regional strategy for preparedness and adaptation

West African is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change worldwide. The often disastrous impact variability and extreme events over the past thirty years is a striking illustration and a harbinger of this vulnerability. It is therefore urgent that decision-makers and the general public in West Africa be fully sensitized on the climatic challenges facing the region and actions to be taken, to enhance the region’s level of preparedness in order to cope with predictable impacts of climate variability and change and the associated extreme events.