The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, H.E. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, has called for stronger regional cooperation and concrete parliamentary action to address the growing impact of climate change on West Africa.
The climate change phenomenon, she said, has moved beyond an environmental concern to become a major issue affecting peace, security, migration, livelihoods and development across the region.
H.E. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima made the call in Accra at the opening of the Second Parliamentary Seminar and Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2026.
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The week-long programme, being held from September 21 to 27, brings together ECOWAS parliamentarians, government officials, diplomats, international organisations, civil society representatives and development partners.
The Second Parliamentary Seminar, which precedes the extraordinary session, is being held under the theme: “Climate Change as a Factor of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
Regional stability
According to the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, climate disruption is increasingly undermining livelihoods, placing pressure on natural resources, displacing populations and intensifying tensions within communities.
She said the effects of climate change must therefore be considered within the broader context of peace and security in West Africa.
“Climate change has thus become not only a development issue, but also an issue of peace and security for our region,” she said.
The Speaker stressed that regional and national commitments on climate action would only have meaningful impact if they are translated into practical legislation, adequate budgetary allocations and measurable outcomes.
She urged the Parliament to play a central role in ensuring that commitments made by member states become funded policies and effective programmes capable of delivering tangible benefits to vulnerable communities.
“Our role is to oversee public policies and budgets devoted to climate resilience,” she said.
She added that climate responses must take into account their humanitarian, economic, social, migration and security implications.
Recent floods
The Speaker pointed to recent flooding along the West African coastline as evidence of the complex nature of the climate challenge.
She said such disasters demonstrate that climate change is simultaneously a humanitarian, environmental, security, urban and regional issue.
The Accra seminar, she noted, provides an opportunity for parliamentarians and regional stakeholders to examine the links between climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement and insecurity.
She expressed the hope that discussions would result in concrete recommendations that combine climate adaptation, conflict prevention and protection for vulnerable populations.
The Speaker also acknowledged the participation of regional organisations and development partners, particularly the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão.
Coordinated action
The ECOWAS Parliament Speaker said the region continues to face interconnected security, climate, economic and institutional challenges, and maintained that addressing these challenges requires collective, coordinated and united action among member states and regional institutions.
The ECOWAS Parliament, she said, must continue to serve as a platform for dialogue and representation while also contributing practical recommendations to regional problems.
2027 budget
Beyond climate action, the Second Extraordinary Session will examine and adopt the ECOWAS Parliament’s draft budget for the 2027 financial year and its annual programme of activities.
The Speaker described the budget process as an exercise in prioritisation, action and institutional credibility.
Against the backdrop of macroeconomic pressures and the need for budgetary discipline, she said the Parliament must ensure that requested resources are linked to clearly defined priorities and programmes capable of delivering meaningful results for regional integration and citizens.
She called for a rigorous review of the proposed budget in line with the budget framework letter applicable to ECOWAS institutions.
The extraordinary session will also consider reports arising from activities undertaken under the Parliament’s annual programme.
Members are additionally expected to participate in activities organised by the ECOWAS Network of Women Parliamentarians (ECOFEPA), whose work on women’s empowerment was commended by the Speaker.