Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on Climate Change and its Related Risks (DECLARATION) | General news

Climate change is undoubtedly one of the global crises of our time and a threat to global peace and security. The socio-economic impact of climate change on the global community has catastrophic consequences in the areas of health, agriculture, migration and the overall well-being of societies, including Ghana, and concerted action is urgently needed.

In Ghana, changes in rainfall patterns have resulted in water scarcity, drought, desertification and food insecurity in some parts of the country. These adverse climatic trends have affected the availability of pastures for livestock and encouraged pastoralists to move to farming communities in search of pastures for their livestock. In the process, harvests in farming communities are destroyed by livestock and have resulted in intermittent violent clashes and retaliation between settler farmers and nomadic pastoralists, resulting in the death and internal displacement of people. These situations continue to create tension in some parts of Ghana. The effects of extreme weather conditions, such as floods, also cause immense damage to property and livelihoods and often result in loss of life.

Certainly, climate change has had serious consequences for the livelihoods and livelihoods of the world's population. In Ghana, for example, several families in the north have migrated to the south as a result of droughts and changes in temperature affecting their arable land. These migrants are often vulnerable, especially women and children. The majority of them end up as primary porters (kayayie) or unemployed, in the cities. Their presence in these cities increases pressure on existing infrastructure, resulting in the creation of squatter settlements.

The Government of Ghana has also launched numerous programs to help alleviate these problems. "Planting to create food and creating jobs", "A village, a dam" and "A district, a factory" are all aimed at stimulating industrialization and rural development, as well as strengthening the resilience of the population. Ghana to the impacts of climate change on citizens. The Ghana government's free SHS policy also aims to protect vulnerable people by giving them access to other livelihoods through education.

Unfortunately, the socio-economic impact of climate change contributes to international tensions. The geopolitical changes are due to the socio-economic impact of climate change on the countries, mainly the southern countries. It creates economic, political and military tension as a result of the pressure on natural resources and undermines the ability of nations to govern themselves, meet the needs of their peoples and increase the risk of conflict.

These tensions discourage investors, who would not want to invest capital in places considered high-risk areas. Investors are for-profit and under these conditions they would move to stable regions where they would maximize the return on their investment. The lack of sustainable investments invariably affects the socio-economic life of the population. The explosion of African youth and unemployment in the face of climate-related challenges could be a daunting task for the continent.

It is in this regard that Ghana is pleased to be part of the Group of Friends on Climate Change and Security and welcomes its priorities, including public awareness and the promotion of United Nations participation at all levels. issues related to climate change.

Thank you