Action against climate change is an integral part of Ghana's development agenda – President

General News on Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Source: GNA

2019-05-29

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Tuesday that her government had made the political decision to mainstream climate action into Ghana's national development agenda.

Speaking at the ongoing Austrian climate summit R20 on climate change, he said that the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal No. 13, which require urgent action to tackle climate change and its impact provide a framework for Ghana to move forward in this direction.

The president told the summit that at the local level in Ghana, all local bademblies were mandated to address climate change issues in their medium-term development plans.

That's why, since taking office in 2017, his administration has decided to end the "reprehensible" illegal mining activity that was destroying nations' forests and waterbodies.

President Akufo-Addo also mentioned the prohibition of rosewood rosewood harvesting as a protection measure for Ghana's forests and endangered species.

In addition, under the Youth in Afforestation program, more than 20,000 young people have been employed to plant 10 million trees across the country to increase carbon sinks.

In compliance with Ghana's international obligations under SDG 7, on affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, as well as SDG 13, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to promote the deployment of renewable energy, in line with the Government's target of 10%. renewable energy in the energy mix from the current 1%.

To this end, during this year, Jubilee House, the seat of the country's presidency, will be powered by solar energy, as an example for other public institutions. The goal is to install 200 megawatts of solar energy distributed by 2030 in residential and non-residential facilities, as well as in state agencies.

The Chair informed participants that he had engaged a select group of private sector CEOs to advance Ghana's "Green Agenda" in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The response, the president said, had been very positive, with commitments to create a Green Fund, largely funded by the private sector.

This fund, he added, would be used to lead the national program to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all in the country.

President Akufo-Addo stressed that "what we do in Ghana affects the people of Nepal, Mozambique and Austria. That is why we need concerted global action to deal with this threat. Success in fighting climate change will be one of the greatest legacies our generation can give to the next. "