Climate-induced slow-onset processes and human security in Senegal

Sub-Saharan Africa
Security

Climate-induced slow-onset processes and human security in Senegal

18 March, 2026

Rixa Schwarz
Cheikh Abdou Khadre Dieylani Diop
Emmanuel S. Seck
Lisa Schultheiß
Laura Schäfer (Germanwatch)

Policy brief SOE and Human Security Senegal

©Germanwatch

In Senegal, slow-onset climate processes — sea-level rise, salinisation, desertification, and biodiversity loss — are steadily undermining people's ability to live in safety and dignity. This publication explores how slow-onset climate processes intersect with social, economic, and institutional vulnerabilities, creating complex risks that threaten stability and development in Senegal. It argues that addressing these less visible, long-term risks is essential to preventing crisis and building lasting peace and resilience.

In Senegal, climate change is a lived reality that is steadily reshaping lives, livelihoods, and landscapes. Beyond the dramatic extreme-weather events that capture attention, slow-onset processes such as sea-level rise, desertification, salinisation, and biodiversity loss are quietly but profoundly undermining human security. These gradual shifts erode the foundations of communities, particularly in regions already facing poverty and fragile governance.

This publication explores how slow-onset climate processes intersect with social, economic, and institutional vulnerabilities, creating complex risks that threaten stability and development. By adopting a human security lens, it argues for a shift from reactive, event-driven responses to people-centred, long-term strategies that strengthen resilience, equity, and governance. In doing so, Senegal – and its partners – can not only mitigate the creeping impacts of climate change but also foster more cohesive, peaceful, and sustainable futures for its people.

Key climate risks in Senegal:

Sea-level rise and coastal erosion

Coastal communities face destruction of property, displacement, and loss of cultural heritage. In Saint-Louis, coastal erosion caused the loss of nearly 800 m³ of shoreline; between 2018 and 2019, over 315 households were directly affected.

Desertification and drought

Advancing desertification is diminishing agricultural productivity and driving pastoralist migration — "often a source of conflict between pastoralists and farmers." Dust pollution also reduces solar panel output, threatening energy security.

Biodiversity loss

Species decline disrupts natural balances, jeopardises water supplies and food production, and threatens traditional cultural practices linked to natural resource management.

Five dimensions of human security risks in Senegal:

Personal security

It is compromised by growing food insecurity, rising malnutrition, loss of assets or cultural heritage, and increased exposure to climate-related health risks, such as heat stress and waterborne diseases.

Societal security

It is threatened as environmental pressures drive internal migration, disrupt so cial cohesion and cultural values, and increase tensions over scarce natural resources.

National state, governance, and political security

They are at risk as public institutions struggle to deliver basic services, maintain trust, and respond equitably to growing environmental stress.

Economic security

It is threatened as key sectors – especially agriculture, fisheries, and livestock – suffer losses from ecosystem degradation, reducing incomes, increasing unemployment, and ac celerating rural exodus.

Environmental security

It continues to erode as biodiversity loss, coastal erosion, salinisation and water scarcity reduce access to critical ecosystem services and livelihoods and render whole re gions uninhabitable.