The deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters has said that climate change is currently the greatest threat that humankind is faced with in the modern age.

Ms Fatima Sosseh-Jallow was speaking Thursday while presiding over the opening of the project inception workshop - Strengthening of The Gambia's climate change early warning systems at the Paradise Suites Hotel

Sosseh-Jallow described climate change as a global concern, with both rich and poor countries alike affected by its negative impact.

She stated that in spite of the well-meaning efforts to achieve the Vision 2020 blueprint, alleviate poverty and achieve the MDGs, climate change still stand to undo the past achievements and undermine future progress.

Speaking earlier, Pa Ousman Jarju, director of Water Resources and the focal person of The Gambia United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said The Gambia is currently living with the negative impact of climate change events such as irregular rainfall patterns, and living in apprehension of predicted ones as the sea-level rises.

He warned that a one-metre sea level rise forecast to occur by 2050 may result in the inundation of over 90 km2 of the coastal zone leading to the loss of the capital City of Banjul.

He explained that the main problem facing the country today in the context of climate change is a high vulnerability to climate change and variability exacerbated by a low capacity to address and adapt to the phenomenon.

He added that the low capacity is evident at all levels -from the rural household through urban communities and private sector that is currently benefiting from robust tourist industry, to local and national governments.

Lars Christiansen, the UNEP task manager, also spoke at the occasion.

Bernard Gomez, who chaired the workshop, disclosed that GEF approved the project in April this year and that implementation started in August.