Impacts of climate change on the environment in coastal areas in Cameroon. A vulnerability assessment of climate change impacts

Abstract

Climate change is a global warming phenomenon that has a significant impact on the environment. This study aims to evaluate the impact of climate change on the coastal areas of Limbe-Down Beach, Cameroon. The study area selected as a case was the vicinity of Limbe Down Beach and its surrounding areas. The aim was to investigate how climate change has impacted the population in this area. For the purpose of this study, the participants that were selected for the study were 80 respondents, including families, households, individuals, and officials. The majority of respondents (72.5%) agree that addressing climate change requires collaborative action and the adoption of more sustainable methods. There are risk factors associated with climate change in the environment such as high temperatures, frequent rainfalls, and heavy storms. More so, the study describes some human activities that are responsible for climate change, such as deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels in industrial plants which leads to pollution and CO2 emissions. This study also shows that there has been frequent climate change impact in Limbe Down Beach which has made the population very vulnerable. It is important to implement strategies that can curb the impacts of climate change on this population but most importantly, sustainable development efforts should be made towards environmental protection.