Bargny, 30 kilometres away from the Senegalese capital Dakar is a prime example of what climate change can do to a community. Dozens of homes on the shoreline have been swallowed up by rising sea levels. More than 50 houses were damaged during hurricane Fred on 31 August. Yet any available land where new homes could be built has been earmarked for two coal-fired power plants to help the country’s energy deficit by the government. According to environmentalists, coal-burning power stations speed up global warming by filling the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. Coal burning leads to acid rain and smog, and emits more than 60 different hazardous gases. Residents are up in arms at the consequent environmental impacts of this ‘dirty energy’ and held a protest march on Saturday 21 November ahead of the climate summit in Paris.
