Coastal land subsidence in West Africa: an overlooked threat? The case of Lagos and the Volta Delta

Lagos and the Ghana’s Volta Delta face significant downward vertical land motion, a phenomenon called land subsidence, compounding sea-level rise. Several stressors drive subsidence rates of several mm per year in both areas, exacerbating the prevalent coastal hazards. We therefore underscore the urgent need for integrated strategies—deploying ground control points networks for satellite data, community-based monitoring, and scaling effective and site-appropriate nature-based solutions—supported by regional data-sharing and open-data policies to protect vulnerable communities.