Climate justice and energy transition

Introduction

The context of climate justice and energy transition in Senegal is marked by complex challenges intertwining socio-economic development, vulnerability to climate change, and political will for transformation towards a more sustainable and equitable energy model. Senegal is highly exposed to the effects of climate change, although it is almost not responsible for it (less than 1% of global GHG emissions). The main threats are rising sea levels affecting the coastline (Dakar, Saint-Louis…), desertification and declining agricultural productivity in the Sahelian zones, recurrent flooding in urban areas, and degradation of natural resources (forests, soils, waters…).

The context is also marked by climate changes whose effects are being felt by communities (salinization of land, scarcity of fishery resources, disrupted seasonal cycles) and the exploitation of oil at Sangomar, with a restriction already underway on fishing areas. The JETP includes a significant share of renewable energies, particularly an energy mix of 40%.

The climate justice and energy transition program is implemented through the community resilience project of the Saloum Delta in the context of climate change and oil exploitation. This area constitutes a globally important wetland ecosystem.

This program is part of the perspective of creating conditions to mitigate or even eliminate the risks of degradation of the region’s resources; and to fight against the precariousness of the communities living there. Its overall objective is to strengthen the mechanisms for protecting the ecosystems of the Sine Saloum Delta in the face of climate change and the impacts of the Sangomar oil exploitation project (Senegal).

Aerial view of a fishing village in the Saloum Delta

General objective :

Support the establishment of mechanisms to protect the ecosystems of the Sine Saloum Delta against the impacts of climate change and strengthen the monitoring and mitigation of the oil impacts of the Sangomar project through strategic advocacy based on a factual approach for the preservation of the Delta ecosystem.

Specific objectives :

Strengthen the participation of local stakeholders in the development, implementation, and monitoring of mechanisms for the preservation of the marine and coastal environment of the Saloum Delta in the face of climate disruptions.

Advocate for the cessation of fossil fuel exploitation by promoting investment in renewable energies.

Promote the participation of local communities in the management of the Delta ecosystem in light of the potential impacts of the Sangomar project.

Support the monitoring and community control of environmental conservation in the Delta.

Approach and methodology

The approach of the program will be structured around three main and complementary components :

The research

The capacity building of local communities

Communication, awareness, capitalization, advocacy and strategic litigation.

Project implemented in the program

Saloum Delta Resilience Project

The Saloum Delta is a globally significant wetland ecosystem consisting of 200 islands and islets and hundreds of shellfish heaps and tumuli, testifying to the millennia of human presence, representing an exceptional cultural landscape of coastal West Africa. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Delta is a national park designated as the first transboundary Ramsar site in Africa.

Despite these attributions, the site is experiencing significant degradation primarily marked by human actions, notably excessive logging that gradually destroys the mangrove, promotes climate change, and intensified destructive fishing practices that threaten the survival of certain species such as the leatherback turtle, the manatee, etc. In this context of negative externalities, the oil exploitation of Sangomar contributes to the undermining of community rights.

Project intervention areas : Joal – Fimla – Bassoul – Foundioungne – Mbam – Sokone – Palmarin – Djirnda – Dionewar – Soum – Djilor Saloum – Toubacouta.

The targets : the fishermen of the Saloum Delta – the women processors and those working in the production and harvesting of seafood – the environmental protection associations – the associations for the preservation of the Delta – the environmental commissions of the twelve municipalities of the Saloum Delta – the local elected officials – the management committees of the Marine Protected Areas – the community natural reserves.

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Project partners

Impact of the project

A participatory mapping of sensitive and/or risk areas of the Saloum Delta is carried out
The assessment of oil impacts from the Sangomar exploitation is strengthened
Local communities participate in the management of the Delta ecosystem in light of the potential impacts of the Sangomar project
Communities carry out close monitoring and stringent control of environmental safeguarding in the Saloum Delta
The empowerment of communities to face climate change