Introduction to Cameroon

Cameroon, located in Central Africa, has a population of 27.9 million people1 , of which 41% is rural.2 Ranked 151 out of 190 countries in UN’s Human Development Index,3 Cameroon exhibits a low GDP per capita of $1,588.5, along with a low life expectancy of 60 years4 and a high infant mortality rate of 47 per 1000 live births.5 Cameroon largely has a tropical savanna climate, with some hot semi-arid regions in the north-east, and tropical monsoon and rainforest climatic regions in the south-west.6 The agriculture sector, employing 43% of the working population7 and contributing 17.5% to the country's GDP8 , is at risk due to the worsening impacts of climate change. Cameroon forms an important part of the Congo Basin, recognized as the world's largest carbon sink.9 Nearly 40% of the country is covered by tropical forests, which support around 8 million rural inhabitants with essential resources.10 Endowed with vast oil and gas reserves as well as mineral resources such as aluminum, iron, gold and diamonds, Cameroon’s extractive sectors contributed 32% of its GDP and 19% of the country’s government revenue in 2019.11 In addition to its dependence on extractive export-oriented industries, Cameroon’s vulnerability to the climate crisis is exacerbated by its ongoing civil war stemming from colonial era divisions between Anglophone and Francophone populations. 

Mapping Major Climate Events and Climate-Induced Displacement

Cameroon is moderately vulnerable to climate disasters, ranking 68 out of 180 countries in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021.12 The major climate hazards experienced by the country are  flood, epidemic and drought, which account for over 86% of the average annual hazard occurrence for 1980-2020.13 Between 1980 and 2000, the country experienced 4 years of flood with the number increasing to 10 between 2001 and 2020. Between 2008 and 2022, 18 disaster events were reported in Cameroon, amongst which floods displaced over 260,000 people.14 Beyond climate disasters, violence and conflict has displaced 1.2 million Cameroonians during the same period,15 and climate impacts are amplifying tensions and hostilities among communities and ethnic groups already grappling with resource competition and territorial disputes. In mid-2021, climate impacts resulted in resource scarcity, leading to violent conflict amongst fishing, farming, and herding communities in Cameroon, and causing an estimated 60,000 Cameroonian to flee to neighboring Chad.16 In addition to recording more than one million internally displaced people at the end of March 2023, Cameroon recorded nearly 646,000 returnees and over 480,000 refugees and asylum seekers from neighboring countries in conflict.17

Mapping the Costs of the Climate Crisis

The GDP of Cameroon is US$ 44.34 billion18 , with more than 43% of its population being multidimensionally poor19 , and 33% of the country’s urban population living in informal settlements.20 Climate disasters are exacerbating the hardships faced by Cameroonians residing in the country’s conflict-prone northwest and southwest regions. In 2020, the Far North Region of Cameroon experienced relentless and heavy rainfall in five out of its six divisions leading to devastating flooding.21 The disaster affected 160,000 people, led to 74 deaths, damaged critical infrastructure, and severely destroyed agricultural lands and livestocks.22 Following that, droughts in 2021 left 16% of the Far North population in a critical food crisis.23 Currently, 55.8% of the population is experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity24 and if substantial climate change adaptation measures are not implemented by 2050, Cameroon is projected to face a far worse situation, with over 71% of the country's livestock units expected to experience stress due to drought conditions each year.25 These challenges threaten to exacerbate the crisis of high chronic malnutrition in the country, and worsen stunting rate among children under five years old, thereby impacting their long-term cognitive and physical development.

Mapping Resilience and Mitigation Pathways

Cameroon, constituting 0.35 percent of the world's population, is responsible for 0.01 percent of the global cumulative carbon dioxide emission.26 Cameroon pledged to take action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change by signing the Paris Agreement, with the aim of reducing 12% of its greenhouse gas emissions below 2010 levels by 2030 under the Business As Usual (BAU) scenario and 35% with substantial international support.27 The adaptation measures in Cameroon's Nationally Determined Contribution are focused on enhancing the resilience of its agriculture sector and protection of its coastal zones, as well as strengthening disaster risk management and promoting reforestation and land degradation.28 Recently, Cameroon launched a $330 million project to boost connectivity, climate resilience, and access to basic infrastructure in the Far North region, which will benefit over 920,000 people, including refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs), providing improved access to schools, healthcare facilities, and markets.29 Furthermore, local community organizations in Cameroon are playing a vital role in strengthening the country’s climate resilience and preventing biodiversity loss by integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects in their conservation efforts.30

Necessary Changes

Cameroon, despite contributing minimally to global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions, serves as a striking example of how developing countries bear a disproportionate burden in dealing with climate change impacts. While the West African nation is actively taking steps to mitigate and adapt to the effects of these impacts, it is critical for the international community to support Cameroon in its efforts to combat climate change through financial support, technology transfer, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Investments in social safety nets, healthcare, and nutrition programs are essential in Cameroon to address the immediate and long-term effects of food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among vulnerable populations like children. In addition to implementing climate adaptation measures, it is imperative to focus on addressing the persistent violence and conflict within the country. This may entail fostering conflict resolution initiatives, promoting sustainable resource management, and enhancing social cohesion. Furthermore, it is highly critical that the Cameroonian government redirect its resources away from extractive and environmentally harmful industries, such as mining, and instead focus on fostering a sustainable, regenerative, and inclusive economy.