How Sinking West African Nations Are Using Drones to Tackle Climate Change

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that more than 60 percent of the world’s population lives less than 150km away from the sea. This wouldn’t be a worrying fact had climate change not made several environmental assets and economic activities fall under the radar of vulnerability – think fisheries, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, et al.

According to a study by the World Bank, flooding, erosion, and pollution cost about $3.8 billion in GDP to the West African nations of Togo, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal in 2017 alone. Benin, particularly, is grappling with erosion rates that are especially high with an average loss of 4 meters per year on 65 percent of its coast.