As one of West Africa’s fastest-growing economies, Côte d’Ivoire faces accelerating climate threats that directly impact its development ambitions. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, flooding, and coastal erosion are straining key sectors, particularly agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. The 1°C rise in average temperature since 1960 has increased the frequency of droughts in the north and floods in southern urban centers like Abidjan, where rapid urbanisation compounds vulnerability.

Agriculture, the backbone of the rural economy and a major export driver (cocoa, cashew, palm oil), is increasingly affected by shifting seasons and land degradation. Hydropower, supplying over 40% of the country’s electricity, is also under stress from rainfall variability. In coastal zones, sea-level rise and erosion threaten communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems, with some areas losing over one meter of shoreline annually.

Climate policy and strategic commitments

Côte d’Ivoire’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 2021) commits to reducing emissions by 30.41% by 2030, with a strong emphasis on adaptation. The country’s climate governance is anchored in the National Climate Change Programme (PNCC) and guided by:

• A National Adaptation Plan targeting agriculture, water, health, and coastal resilience.

• A REDD+ strategy aimed at reversing forest loss and restoring 20% national forest cover.

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency action plans under the ECOWAS framework.

• Sectoral initiatives including climate-smart agriculture and sustainable mobility.

While these frameworks are robust on paper, coordination challenges and implementation gaps persist.

Financing the transition

Côte d’Ivoire estimates a financing need of US$22 billion by 2030 to meet its climate objectives. Only 12% is expected from domestic resources, leaving a significant reliance on international public and private finance. However, slow disbursement rates, limited project pipelines, and technical capacity constraints hinder access to global climate funds.

Adaptation remains underfunded, receiving less than a quarter of total climate finance, despite its critical importance. Private sector engagement is still limited, particularly in newer sectors like decentralized energy, nature-based solutions, and bioenergy derived from abundant agricultural and agro-industrial residues. These include cocoa husks, palm oil by-products, cassava peels, and cashew shells, all of which hold energy potential but remain largely untapped due to the absence of market incentives and investment-ready policies.

Emerging opportunities and investment pathways

Côte d’Ivoire holds substantial potential to lead in climate-aligned development:

• Clean energy diversification, with solar, hydropower, and sustainable bioenergy as complementary drivers for universal access and industrial growth.

• Climate-resilient infrastructure in urban and coastal zones, supported by smart land use and green planning.

• Value-added agriculture and reforestation, integrating carbon markets and agroecology to strengthen food systems and livelihoods.

• Subnational climate action, with growing interest in local climate plans and community-based adaptation funds.

Innovative financing models such as blended finance, guarantees, and carbon credit mechanisms are emerging but require de-risking and regulatory clarity to scale.

Parliamentary leadership through Parliamentarians for Climate Finance

Through this initiative, Côte d’Ivoire’s legislators can play a critical role in ensuring climate priorities are reflected in national budgets and laws. They can create enabling frameworks for private investment, particularly in underfinanced sectors; strengthening oversight of climate spending and results; amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups in national planning. And importantly build trust and coordination with development partners and financial institutions.