Geography of Gabon: Difference between revisions

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Gabon is highly vulnerable to [[climate change]] due to its dense coastal population, economic hubs along the shore, and dependence on [[Rainfed agriculture|rain-fed agriculture]].<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |title=Gabon |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/gabon# |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref> [[Sea level rise|Rising sea levels]] threaten to erode the coastline and contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe [[extreme weather]] events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, which damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt [[food security]] and livelihoods.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Othering & Belonging Institute |title=Gabon Case Study |url=https://belonging.berkeley.edu/climatedisplacement/case-studies/gabon |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=belonging.berkeley.edu}}</ref>
Gabon is highly vulnerable to [[climate change]] due to its dense coastal population, economic hubs along the shore, and dependence on [[Rainfed agriculture|rain-fed agriculture]].<ref name=":17">{{Cite web |last=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |title=Gabon |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/gabon# |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref> [[Sea level rise|Rising sea levels]] threaten to erode the coastline and contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe [[extreme weather]] events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, which damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt [[food security]] and livelihoods.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web |last=Othering & Belonging Institute |title=Gabon Case Study |url=https://belonging.berkeley.edu/climatedisplacement/case-studies/gabon |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=belonging.berkeley.edu}}</ref>


To adapt, Gabon prioritises protecting its coastal areas, as well as its fishing, agriculture, and forestry industries.<ref name=":17" /> Gabon's vast forests act as a net [[carbon sink]].<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=UNDP Biofin |title=Gabon |url=https://www.biofin.org/gabon#: |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=BIOFIN |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite book |last=UNFCCC |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/FSVR1_GAB_Jun2024.pdf |title=Record of the facilitative sharing of views at the sixtieth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation: Gabon |publication-date=5 August 2024}}</ref> It is recognized as a global leader in [[climate action]] and is widely considered the most carbon-positive country in the world, due to its strong conservation efforts.<ref name=":18" /> However, Gabon’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and other natural resources, leaving it exposed to global market shifts and climate-related risks. In 2023, the country accounted for just over 0.04% of global [[greenhouse gas emissions]] (24.7 million tonnes). Gabon has pledged to stay [[Net-zero emissions|carbon neutral]] beyond 2050 and, with adequate support, aims to maintain net carbon removals of 100 million tons CO₂ equivalent per year beyond that date.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Climate Watch |title=Gabon |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/GAB?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}}</ref> It also seeks to expand its [[renewable energy]] sector.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=National Climate Plan (Plan Climat) - Climate Change Laws of the World |url=https://climate-laws.org/document/national-climate-plan-plan-climat_082c |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climate-laws.org}}</ref>
To adapt, Gabon prioritises protecting its coastal areas, as well as its fishing, agriculture, and forestry industries.<ref name=":17" /> Gabon's vast forests act as a net [[carbon sink]].<ref name=":19">{{Cite web |last=UNDP Biofin |title=Gabon |url=https://www.biofin.org/gabon#: |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=BIOFIN |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":20">{{Cite book |last=UNFCCC |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/FSVR1_GAB_Jun2024.pdf |title=Record of the facilitative sharing of views at the sixtieth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation: Gabon |publication-date=5 August 2024}}</ref> It is recognized as a global leader in [[climate action]] and is widely considered the most carbon-positive country in the world, due to its strong conservation efforts.<ref name=":18" /> However, Gabon’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and other natural resources, leaving it exposed to global market shifts and climate-related risks. In 2023, the country accounted for just over 0.04% of global [[greenhouse gas emissions]] (24.7 million tonnes). Gabon has pledged to stay [[Net-zero emissions|carbon neutral]] beyond 2050 and, with adequate support, aims to maintain net carbon removals of 100 million tons CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent per year beyond that date.<ref name=":21">{{Cite web |last=Climate Watch |title=Gabon |url=https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/GAB?end_year=2021&start_year=1990 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=www.climatewatchdata.org}}</ref> It also seeks to expand its [[renewable energy]] sector.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=National Climate Plan (Plan Climat) - Climate Change Laws of the World |url=https://climate-laws.org/document/national-climate-plan-plan-climat_082c |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=climate-laws.org}}</ref>


== Extreme points ==
== Extreme points ==

Latest revision as of 06:22, 11 August 2025

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File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 GAB 1991–2020.svg
Gabon map of Köppen climate classification.
File:Gabon sat.png
Satellite image of Gabon

Gabon is a country in Central Africa, lying along the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Bight of Biafra.

Area and borders

Area
  • Total: 267,668 km²
    • country rank in the world: 76th/77th
  • Land: 257,670 km²
  • Water: 10,000 km²
Area comparative

Gabon has a total of 3,261 km of international boundaries. It borders Equatorial Guinea (335 km) and Cameroon (349 km) to the north and the Republic of the Congo (2,567 km) to the east and south. Gabon lies on the equator.

Maritime claims
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Terrain

Land Use (2012)
• Arable land 1.26%
• Permanent crops 0.66%
• Other 98.08%
File:Share Of Forest Area In Total Land Area, Top Countries (2021).svg
Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Gabon has the fourth highest percentage of forest cover in the world.

Narrow coastal plain with patches of Central African mangroves; hilly interior; savanna in east and south. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 420 km2 of tidal flats in Gabon, making it the 50th ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.[1]

  • Irrigated land: 44.5 km2 (2003)
  • Total renewable water resources: 164 km3 (2011)

Environment

International agreements:

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Climate

The equatorial location of Gabon means that it has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) and a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with the temperature being hot year-round and humid, although the Benguela Current can moderate temperatures.

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Climate change

Gabon is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dense coastal population, economic hubs along the shore, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture.[2] Rising sea levels threaten to erode the coastline and contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, which damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt food security and livelihoods.[3]

To adapt, Gabon prioritises protecting its coastal areas, as well as its fishing, agriculture, and forestry industries.[2] Gabon's vast forests act as a net carbon sink.[4][5] It is recognized as a global leader in climate action and is widely considered the most carbon-positive country in the world, due to its strong conservation efforts.[3] However, Gabon’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and other natural resources, leaving it exposed to global market shifts and climate-related risks. In 2023, the country accounted for just over 0.04% of global greenhouse gas emissions (24.7 million tonnes). Gabon has pledged to stay carbon neutral beyond 2050 and, with adequate support, aims to maintain net carbon removals of 100 million tons CO2 equivalent per year beyond that date.[6] It also seeks to expand its renewable energy sector.[7]

Extreme points

File:Gabon Topography.png
Topography of Gabon
File:GabonCitiesTownsVillages2021OSM.png
Gabon's cities, towns and villages

See also

References

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External links

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