Towards Environmental Governance: ECOWAS’s Commitment to Sustainability in West Africa

Abstract

Environmental governance has emerged as a crucial challenge in West Africa, with ECOWAS playing a central role in fostering sustainability. Despite policy frameworks like the ECOWAS Environmental Policy (2008) and the Environmental Action Plan (2020–2026), implementation remains inconsistent due to financial constraints, weak enforcement and misalignment between national and regional policies. The study examines ECOWAS’s commitment to environmental governance using the secondary data from ECOWAS policy documents, reports, books and journals. The findings of the study reveal that deforestation, transboundary pollution and resource conflicts persist due to poor institutional capacity and governance inefficiencies. Climate change, rapid urbanisation and energy poverty exacerbate environmental degradation, while illegal activities such as oil spills and logging remain prevalent due to weak law enforcement. Although ECOWAS has established institutions like ECREEE and WASCAL to enhance governance, external economic pressures and inadequate funding hinder progress. The study recommends strengthening regional cooperation, enforcing environmental laws, integrating gender-inclusive policies and leveraging technology for sustainable resource management. Also, the political will and international collaboration are essential to bridging the gap between policy and practice. ECOWAS’s effectiveness in environmental governance depends on aligning national efforts with regional sustainability goals while addressing socio-economic and political constraints.