The World Bank has released a report, The Gabon Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), which explores Gabon’s prospects for growth and economic diversification amid climate change, highlighting the country’s unique status as a global environmental leader and one of the world’s most forested nations.
The CCDR is a comprehensive analysis of how climate change intersects with development priorities and identifies pathways for achieving resilient and sustainable growth.
“Gabon stands at the forefront of climate leadership in Africa. The CCDR highlights how the country can harness its natural wealth to build a more resilient and inclusive economy—to better protect its forests, secure livelihoods, improve health, and create more opportunities for future generations,” said Cheick F. Kanté, World Bank Division Director for Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea. “With strong partnerships and sound policies, Gabon can turn its strong climate ambitions into lasting prosperity for its people.”
While Gabon’s forests absorb more carbon than the country emits, its economy remains highly dependent on oil revenues, making it vulnerable to both climate shocks and global decarbonization trends. Rising temperatures, increased rainfall variability, and heightened flood and coastal erosion risks threaten communities, particularly in urban and coastal areas where most of the population and infrastructure are concentrated.
These hazards could exacerbate fiscal pressures and undermine key sectors, such as agriculture, infrastructure, and jobs. Without effective adaptation measures, climate impacts could reduce Gabon’s GDP by an estimated 3.5 to 5.3% by 2050 under a business-as-usual growth scenario. Losses would stem from reduced labour productivity from heat stress, declining agricultural yields, infrastructure damage, and a rise in climate-sensitive diseases. Even under a reform-driven, high-growth scenario, annual GDP losses are estimated to range between 3.1 to 4.8%, underscoring that economic growth alone cannot shield Gabon from climate impacts. In severe climate scenarios, the poverty rate could rise by nearly two percentage points by 2050.
To strengthen climate resilience and safeguard livelihoods, the report highlights three priority areas for action:
- Upgrading the built environment and infrastructure by enhancing energy access and reliability, improving the management of water resources, and integrating climate risks into urban planning and transport.
- Enhancing natural capital management through the promotion of sustainable forestry, climate-smart agriculture, and biodiversity conservation to protect ecosystem services and rural livelihoods.
- Investing in human capital by strengthening health systems, building climate-resilient education infrastructure and expanding adaptive social protection programs.
