Assessing Coastal Vulnerability and Climate-Driven Migration Risk in West Africa

Authors

• Wenzhao Li, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Surendra Maharjan, Chapman UniversityFollow
• Hesham El-Askary, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

8-2025

Abstract

This study presents a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making framework to assess climate-induced migration risk along the West African coast. We developed a comprehensive risk index that integrates environmental hazards such as flood frequency and socio-economic vulnerability indicators, including poverty levels, population density, and adaptive capacity. By utilizing datasets such as the Geocoded Disasters (GDIS) dataset, Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), Poverty and Adaptive Capacity Index (PACI), and the Population Exposure Index (PEI), the study identifies regions most susceptible to displacement. Results reveal that areas like Benin’s Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, and Akpo-Misserete are especially vulnerable due to high disaster frequency, substantial population exposure, and limited adaptive capacity. These findings offer vital insights for policymakers and humanitarian organizations to prioritize climate adaptation strategies and mitigate the risks of climate-induced migration in West Africa.

Comments

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in IGARSS 2025 - 2025 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in 2025. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS55030.2025.11243293

Recommended Citation

W. Li, S. Maharjan and H. El-Askary, "Assessing Coastal Vulnerability and Climate-Driven Migration Risk in West Africa," IGARSS 2025 - 2025 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2025, pp. 1545-1549, https://doi.org/10.1109/IGARSS55030.2025.11243293.

Copyright

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