Climate change has been one of the most debated issues in the scientific community in the 21st century. Despite the abundance of literature from climate scientists on its causes—mainly human activities—climate deniers such as fossil fuel lobbyists, industry advocates, ultraconservative think tanks, and ultraconservative alternative media outlets continue to downplay, dismiss, or deny its devastating effects across the world (WHO, 2024).
It is a known fact that climate change is attributed directly or indirectly to human activities that alter the composition of the global atmosphere, in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (UNFCCC, 2024).
The inhabitants of the district contribute to climate change in their pursuit of livelihood activities such as farming, animal rearing, transportation (cars and motorbikes), and building (UN, 2022). All these livelihood activities emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which ultimately cause climate change.
Globally, the effects of climate change include floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, shrinking ice sheets, and negative impacts on water quality, quantity, and drinking water treatment systems (WHO, 2023).
A palpable example of climate change effects in the Upper West Region was the flood of August 13, 2021, which destroyed major roads, bridges, and homes. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) reported that the flood affected the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Jirapa District, and the Lawra Municipality. Preliminary assessments revealed that 336 people were displaced after 155 houses were completely destroyed.
In the Nadowli-Kaleo District, a 12-hour torrential rain caused flooding that damaged the Kululu Bridge at Goriyiri and the Nadowli-Babile Bridge at Yiziri Bakpeng, cutting off the district from the regional capital (NADMO, 2021). Initial assessments showed that 100 acres of farmland were submerged and 80 houses were completely destroyed, displacing many residents.
The effects of climate change are widespread across the length and breadth of the district. Its catastrophic impacts range from the destruction of social infrastructure (buildings, communication, and transportation networks) to the submerging of farmlands in rural communities.
Extreme temperatures (heat) also affect inhabitants of the district. Mud and cement are the main materials used in constructing residential buildings, which tend to trap heat in the poorly ventilated rooms. Additionally, a major cost implication of climate change is the increased household expenditure on electricity due to rising temperatures (UN, 2025). Household appliances such as refrigerators, standing fans, ceiling fans, and air conditioners consume more electricity as temperatures rise.
Smallholder farmers are the most affected by the consequences of climate change. In recent times, erratic rainfall patterns have become a major challenge, eroding farmers’ gains and threatening their livelihoods, especially as they already struggle with the high cost of farm inputs. The unpredictability of rainfall discourages future farm investment and makes farmers shy away from their cherished cultural identity—farming.
Drought also poses a serious impediment to smallholder farmers who are already struggling to cope with the astronomical increase in farm input prices, particularly fertilisers. There are instances where farmers record crop yields ranging from partial losses to complete crop failure. Droughts occur almost every farming season, serving as a disincentive to household asset investment and sustainable livelihood outcomes.
Consequently, there has been a surge in the diversification of farm income into other businesses in the district. Many farmers fail to reinvest farm income because of the persistent droughts and the limited mitigation measures available (MoFA, 2024). Some have diversified into petty trading, welding, weaving, and food processing to enhance their household livelihood outcomes.
Climate-smart agriculture is an innovative farming system implemented by government agencies and NGOs over the years to improve farmers’ livelihoods. Farmers have been introduced to improved agricultural practices such as row planting, water conservation techniques (including mulching and digging water retention pits), and the use of drought-resistant or early-maturing crop varieties (WHO, 2024).
Despite climate change being a global phenomenon, the inhabitants of the district can still contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which constitute about 80% of greenhouse gases. Individuals can help by developing new habits to eliminate energy waste, switching to carbon-free energy sources such as solar and wind, and planting trees to increase the amount of CO₂ absorbed by forests and reduce the severity of “urban heat.”
The author is an environmentalist and sustainable farming advocate
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