Climate, Urbanization and Environmental Pollution in West Africa

Emmanuel I. Ofoezie (), Adebayo O. Eludoyin, Ebere B. Udeh, Margaret Y. Onanuga, Olalekan O. Salami and Abdulquddus A. Adebayo
Additional contact information
Emmanuel I. Ofoezie: Institute of Ecology & Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220282, Nigeria
Adebayo O. Eludoyin: Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220282, Nigeria
Ebere B. Udeh: National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Abuja 230, Nigeria
Margaret Y. Onanuga: Department of Geography, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode 120101, Nigeria
Olalekan O. Salami: Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Kwara State University, Malete 23431, Nigeria
Abdulquddus A. Adebayo: Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Kwara State University, Malete 23431, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-39

Abstract: The need to elucidate the urbanization–climate–pollution nexus in West African arose from the several reported, but disjointed cases of climate extremes and environmental degradation in the sub-region. This review analyzed several scenarios, to appraise the trends and relationships among the individual elements in the nexus and to ascertain the status of sustainable development in the sub-region, using the expository review methods. Urbanization was essentially characterized by population growth without complementary infrastructural development, weak coping strategies against climate extremes, numerous economic challenges, and high risk of environmental pollution. Initiative for urban renewal, urban greening and smart city development was low, and preparedness against future impact of extreme climate events and climate change is uncertain. However, there is clear evidence that the concept of sustainable development is growing in the sub-region. This is intensified by the international funding agencies insisting on the incorporation of environmental issues into development, the enactment of environmental laws and policies, and the establishment of institutions of enforcement in each country. The review concluded that although the sub-region is at the brink of severe effects of population explosion and environmental degradation, the growing awareness and implementation of the sustainable development goals may come to the rescue.

Keywords: urbanization–climate–pollution nexus; environmental pollution; mitigation and control measures; urban restoration; smart city; sustainable development goals; international cooperation; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15602/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/23/15602/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:23:p:15602-:d:982174

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().