The Ambassador of Spain to Ghana, Javier Gutierrez, has praised the nation’s important position in world efforts to advertise local weather motion and meals safety throughout remarks on the second version of the Environmental Sustainability Summit (ESS 2023) organised by the B&FT.
Talking on the occasion in Accra, which had as its theme ‘Local weather change and its influence on meals methods and sustainable setting’, Ambassador Gutierrez emphasised the nation’s influential place in worldwide fora and its capability to captivate world consideration on essential points associated to local weather change.
He mentioned regardless of the nation’s contribution to world emissions being negligible, it doesn’t undermine the nation’s immense significance within the world combat in opposition to local weather change or its very important position in shaping world discourse on local weather motion.
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“Ghana is a key actor in world efforts to advertise local weather motion and meals safety. You could have a really small share of world emissions however you’ve got a really influential position in worldwide fora – folks take heed to Ghana,” Ambassador Gutierrez acknowledged.
Moreover, he acknowledged Ghana’s lively participation in driving local weather change motion, significantly highlighting its essential position because the chair of serious our bodies together with the Local weather Weak Discussion board (CVF). In Might 2022, Ghana assumed the Presidency of the CVF – which includes 55 of probably the most climate-threatened nations – of their world combat in opposition to the local weather emergency.
“We hope that sooner or later we are able to work nearer collectively to drive local weather change motion,” expressed Ambassador Gutierrez, emphasising the significance of collaboration between Spain and Ghana to handle the challenges posed by local weather change and guarantee a sustainable future.
His feedback come as latest developments have compounded an already dire state of affairs, resulting in a big rise in meals insecurity. The mix of successive shocks from the Russia-Ukraine battle and COVID-19 pandemic have additional exacerbated the issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to a staggering 30 p.c enhance for meals insecurity since early 2020.
Within the particular case of Ghana, the World Financial institution’s most up-to-date Nation Local weather and Improvement Report (CCDR) highlights the pressing want for local weather motion to stop a possible enhance in poverty.
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In keeping with the report, if fast measures usually are not taken to handle local weather shocks, not less than a million extra folks in Ghana may fall into poverty. The report additionally tasks that poor households could expertise an as much as 40 p.c discount in revenue by 2050. Flooding stays a recurring problem, affecting roughly 45,000 Ghanaians yearly; and sea-level rise poses a big risk to half of Ghana’s shoreline, making it susceptible to erosion and flooding.
Moreover, estimates counsel that Ghana suffers a substantial lack of meals all through its provide chain with roughly 3.2 million tonnes wasted or misplaced – amounting to a staggering value of round GH¢762.32billion.
One other estimate signifies that on an annual foundation, two-thirds of fruit and veggies, 40 p.c of root crops and 21 p.c of grains are misplaced within the nation. Alarming information reveal that almost half of the inhabitants experiences reasonable to extreme meals insecurity.
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Whereas suggesting that an finish of the Russia-Ukraine battle would carry fast aid to the looming risk of meals insecurity, Ambassador Gutierrez famous that the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA) will probably be indispensable within the long-term.
“Ghana is on the forefront of constructing the AfCFTA a actuality, and we consider that it’ll result in a extra various agriculture base with authorities making important efforts on this route; we count on it to spice up positive factors from exports,” he acknowledged, with the Financial Partnership Settlement between the nation and European Union touted as a further layer on this regard.
On his half, the Chief Government Officer of B&FT, Dr. Godwin Acquaye, re-emphasised the essential risk that elevated climatic adjustments pose to meals safety methods within the nation.
Addressing policymakers and different stakeholders, he highlighted the adversarial influence of rising temperatures brought on by human actions on the consistency of meals manufacturing methods. These adjustments in climatic traits, he mentioned, have considerably affected the accessibility, availability and stability of meals.
“We merely can’t afford to get it mistaken. Allow us to not try and make selections which are optimised to a prediction of the longer term. I’d fairly urge you to hunt to establish selections which are sound and convey adjustments to our on a regular basis habits and actions,” Dr. Acquaye mentioned as he referred to as for a complete dialogue and framework that may be universally adopted within the public sphere.
In his deal with, the Vice Chancellor-College of Vitality and Pure Assets (UENR), Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, highlighted the importance of training and human expertise improvement as very important parts of the nation’s long-term technique to advertise local weather motion and mitigate the detrimental results of local weather change.
He emphasised that equipping people with the mandatory information and experience is essential for implementing efficient options and constructing a sustainable future.
“As we navigate the complexities of local weather change, it’s crucial that we prioritise training and human expertise improvement. By empowering our residents with local weather literacy and fostering the event of related expertise, we are able to improve our capability to handle the urgent environmental points we face,” Prof. Asare-Bediako mentioned.
Recognising the multidimensional nature of local weather change, Prof. Asare-Bediako underscored the significance of interdisciplinary training, encouraging collaboration throughout varied educational disciplines. He emphasised the necessity to foster a holistic understanding of local weather change, incorporating scientific, technological, social and financial views.
“Investing in training and human expertise improvement is an funding in our future,” added Professor Asare-Bediako. “By nurturing a technology of climate-conscious people geared up with the information and expertise to drive change, we are able to create a sustainable society that thrives amid the challenges of local weather change.”
The emphasis on training and human expertise improvement put ahead by Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako aligns with the nation’s long-term technique to fight local weather change. By prioritising training, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and nurturing sensible expertise, Ghana can strengthen its resilience to local weather change and forge a path towards a sustainable and affluent future.
In a presentation on the potential impacts of 1.5 levels celsius and a couple of levels celsius world warming on rainfall onset, cessation and size of wet season in West Africa, a lecturer on the UENR, Dr. Naomi Kumi, burdened the significance of African consultants’ involvement in local weather fashions’ improvement.
Dr. Kumi emphasised the necessity for higher illustration of local weather fashions in West Africa to successfully perceive and mitigate the variations in rainfall patterns. Recognising the potential impacts of world warming on rainfall onset, cessation and size of the wet season, she highlighted the essential position of correct local weather fashions in predicting and adapting to those adjustments.
“African consultants needs to be inspired to take part in local weather mannequin improvement to make sure that these fashions are extra regionally consultant,” beneficial Dr. Kumi.
By involving native experience, the local weather fashions can seize the distinctive traits and intricacies of the West African local weather, resulting in extra correct projections and efficient decision-making, she famous.
This comes as consultants have issued warnings that world temperatures are more and more more likely to surpass the 1.5 levels Celsius (2.7 levels Fahrenheit) threshold by 2027. This long-term warming restrict of 1.5 levels Celsius above pre-industrial ranges was established as an important aim throughout the framework of the 2015 Paris Settlement.
Moreover, Dr. Kumi underscored the importance of teaching farmers concerning the variations in local weather parameters and significance of adopting new methods of their farming actions.
“With altering rainfall patterns, farmers want to pay attention to the potential shifts in timing and period of the wet season. By equipping them with information and selling the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, farmers can improve their resilience and optimise productiveness regardless of local weather uncertainties,” she famous.
