World Environment Day: The urgent need to act against coastal erosion, land degradation and biodiversity loss

The indicators are far from positive. World Environment Day, celebrated on Saturday, June 6th by the Institute of Environmental Sciences (ISE) at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD), underscores the urgent need to reverse these alarming trends. According to the Director of the ISE, Dr. El Hadj Mamadou Sonko, climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a reality we observe daily through rising temperatures, droughts, more frequent flooding, coastal erosion, soil salinization, and other forms of natural resource degradation.

Given its negative impact on sectors of working life, what can we do? “The answer is clear: we must act together, with determination and responsibility, because if the climate changes, we are obliged to adapt, organize ourselves, and become more resilient,” replied Dr. Mouhamadou Sonko, for whom adaptation cannot succeed without the active participation of communities. “Local populations know their environment, their needs, and their challenges best. Their know-how, experience, and capacity for innovation are invaluable resources for building effective and sustainable responses. Community resilience goes beyond the simple ability to withstand climate shocks. It represents the capacity to recover, adapt, and even become stronger in the face of difficulties,” he said during a ceremony where tribute was paid to the deceased professors Cheikh Niang, Assane Goudiaby, and François Maty.

The answer will come from universities and communities

Speaking on behalf of the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at UCAD, Professor Ngor Faye emphasized the crucial role of science in finding solutions to the challenges posed by climate change. "The ecological transition we all desire will only be possible if science plays its full part. Rigorous, committed science focused on impact. Science that informs decisions, supports communities, and prepares for the future," the academic stated.

Beyond universities, the fight against climate change is everyone's responsibility. That's why, according to Mouhamed Kassé, the Housing Bank of Senegal is proud to support this meaningful initiative. "This partnership, renewed over the long term since 2018, reflects a simple yet essential conviction: protecting the environment means protecting life, communities, and the future. For an institution committed to development, housing, and social responsibility, supporting such a dynamic is both a duty and a strategic choice for building a more resilient future," he continued.

The 2026 edition's theme is Climate Action, with the slogan: "Now for Climate." "This theme calls upon us all to act urgently in the face of the increasingly visible effects of climate change. As you know, our country is facing major environmental challenges: coastal erosion, land degradation, pollution, biodiversity loss, pressure on natural resources, and the growing impacts of climate change. These phenomena directly affect people's living conditions, food security, public health, and economic development prospects," warned Baba Dramé, Director of Environmental Regulation and Control.