Burkina Faso flagEnvironment & Sustainability Guide · Burkina Faso

Environment & Sustainability Guide in Burkina Faso

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies

Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation, grapples with severe climate change impacts including temperature increases of 1.1°C since 1960-1990, prolonged droughts, and floods that threaten its Sahelian ecosystem and agriculture-dependent economy. Forest cover has declined to around 29%, exacerbating desertification. While data on air quality, recycling, and renewables is limited (all N/A in current records), the country participates in the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals, though enforcement is challenged by poverty and conflict. Recent extreme weather, like the 2022 floods killing over 100, underscores high natural disaster risk.

Air Quality Index

0510
Moderate
5.0/10(AQI: N/A)
Stable trend

Air quality data for Burkina Faso is limited, with current average AQI and PM2.5/PM10 listed as N/A and a stable 6-month trend. Urban areas like Ouagadougou experience moderate pollution from biomass burning, dust storms, and traffic, but no comprehensive national monitoring exists. Rural areas may have better quality due to less industry.

Water Quality

0510
Poor
4.5/10

Water quality in Burkina Faso is poor, with only 53% of the population having access to safely managed drinking water as of 2022. Surface water is contaminated by agricultural runoff, mining pollution, and inadequate sanitation, leading to high rates of waterborne diseases. Rural areas rely on unprotected wells and ponds.

Only 18% of rural households have basic drinking water services; treatment standards are minimal.

Recycling System

Recycling infrastructure in Burkina Faso is underdeveloped, with average rate N/A% and no specified types available in national data. Waste management is informal, focused on urban collection in Ouagadougou, but most waste is landfilled or burned openly. Initiatives are emerging via NGOs.

Recycling Rate: %

Green Spaces

Forest coverage stands at approximately 29%, down from 38% in 1990 due to deforestation for agriculture and fuelwood. Burkina Faso has 7 national parks and reserves covering 11% of land, including W National Park (shared). Protected areas face threats from poaching and climate-driven desertification.

Forest Coverage: 29.0%
National Parks: 7
Key sites: W National Park, Arly Reserve; total protected land ~11% of territory.

Environmental Policies

Burkina Faso ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 and commits to Nationally Determined Contributions targeting 29% emissions reduction by 2030. Policies include the National Adaptation Plan for drought resilience and reforestation via the Great Green Wall initiative. Enforcement is limited by capacity.

Key Policies:
  • Paris Agreement NDC
  • Great Green Wall
  • National Climate Change Policy 2015
Renewable Energy: Aim for 30% renewable energy by 2030, focusing on solar; current share low.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

Burkina Faso experiences frequent droughts, floods, and locust invasions; no earthquakes or coastal risks as landlocked. 2024 floods affected 40,000 people.

droughtsfloodslocust plagues
Climate Change Impacts: Temperatures rose 1.1°C above 1960-1990 average (2015 data), with projections of +3°C by 2050. Drought frequency increased 20% since 1970s; floods rose from 1-2/year to 4-5/year in Sahel region 2000-2020. Precipitation down 15% since 1990, worsening food insecurity for 20M population.

Sustainability Initiatives

Reforestation

Great Green Wall initiative plants 15M trees annually to combat desertification, restoring 1M hectares since 2010.

Renewable Energy

Solar Rural Electrification Program installed 15,000 systems by 2023, targeting 20% renewable access by 2025.

Climate Adaptation

National Adaptation Programme supports drought-resistant crops for 1M farmers since 2018.

Wildlife & Nature

West African LionCritically Endangered
African Savanna ElephantEndangered
Grévy's ZebraEndangered