In the past 20 years, the coasts of West Africa have been swallowed up by the Atlantic Ocean as a direct consequence of sea level rise spurred by climate change. Along the shoreline of thirteen countries, from Mauritania to Cameroon, thousands of once-thriving settlements are rapidly turning into ghost towns.
© Matilde Gattoni
As the waters wipe away houses, shrines and fields, they also disrupt the livelihood, cultural heritage and social fabric of tens of millions of people. It’s the harbinger of what the whole world will experience if we won’t be able to find a viable balance between progress and environmental conservation.
We embarked on an unprecedented investigation along the coasts of Ghana, Togo and Benin, witnessing the destruction first-hand and collecting the stories of the men and women at the forefront of this unreported tragedy.
Story produced together with photographer Matilde Gattoni. Text and pictures available