Jatto Sillah said that climate change and variability would have significant social impacts on the livelihoods of most Gambians, and that includes their dependence on tourism, fisheries and agriculture. He was speaking at the launch of the Human Development Report Youth Version on climate change (2008).

"Being a low-lying country, it has been projected that there will be a loss of more than 40 million square metres of land in The Gambia's coastal zone with a 0.5m rise in sea level," he said.

He added, "With a highly erratic rainfall pattern predicted as a possible impact of climate change in The Gambia, our agricultural output would consequently be severely affected as well. Under the PRSP, agriculture is considered the backbone of the Gambian economy. We all know that agriculture in The Gambia is rain-fed. Without reliable rainfall, the national economy would be totally disrupted, not to mention the threat to food security for the vast majority of Gambians."

The Minister said that although climate change is a global phenomenon, it is of national concern for The Gambia as the predicted impacts of climate change are already well documented and accepted by most people. He said the fact that high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by man-made activities is the principal driver of climate change, youth activism and volunteerism have clear linkages.

The Minister also referenced the world climate summit underway in Denmark, stressing that African countries will fall for nothing less 40% emission reductions against 1990 emission levels.

"Our African common position is that although mitigation efforts are important, but our highest priority in Africa is adaptation," he said.

Sillah however argued that there are a number of actions that can be taken by youths at national level to mitigate the impacts of climate change through volunteerism.