Climate change is affecting the economy

Shama (WR) June 6, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, on Thursday said climate change was affecting all sectors of the economy. He said there was evidence that Coastal Savannah areas, Transitional Zones and part of the country's forest regions had experienced decline in rainfall, resulting in reduction in soil fertility, agriculture and livestock production. Mr Adjei-Darko made the observation when delivering the keynote address at this year's National World Environment Day at Shama. The celebration is under the theme "Plant a tree-reduce Global Warming"

He said ultimately, these adverse impacts, when not well managed could lead to socio-economic instability and unrest, increased rural urban migration and potential increase in conflicts as a result of limited arable lands for farming.

Mr Adjei-Darko called on individuals and organisations to complement government's efforts to reduce carbon emissions. "An individual, an organisation, a business or a government can take steps to reduce carbon emissions," he said.

Mr Adjei-Darko noted that it required commitment, advocacy, energy efficient practices, switch to low carbon energy offering and buying low carbon products and services to reduce carbon emissions. He said other efforts at combating the menace of climate change in the country were multi-sectoral in approach and these involved key government agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations and community-based organisations.

Mr Adjei-Darko said programmes and measures being undertaken by these organisations included tree planting, creation of reserved areas, enactment of byelaws, greater energy efficiency in buildings and appliances including light bulbs and "Up to a switch towards cleaner and renewable forms of electricity generation and transport systems" He said since 2003, an estimated total area of 35,000 hectares of forest reserves had been planted under the President's Special Initiative on Afforestation using the modified Taungya system. Mr Adjei-Darko noted that this planting development programme involved transporting both indigenous and exotic tree species such as mahogany, teak and eucalyplus.

He said critical areas of the programme included the middle belt, the south-eastern coastal and northern savannah ecological zones where the threat of vegetation change and desertification were most critical.

Mr Adjei-Darko said the recent programme of replacing government institutions and household bulbs with energy efficient bulbs was in line with the government agenda to achieve sustainable development in climate change.

He explained that Shama was chosen for the celebration because it was situated in the moist and "Semi deciduous forest zones" where most of the country's natural capital was located and the discovery of oil within the western coastline. Mr Adjei-Darko said the celebration was in addition to caution citizens about the sustainable management of natural capital especially forest resources and oil.

Mr Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, urged management of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to intensify public education on the efficient use of energy. He said Ministry of Food and Agriculture should also intensify their extension work to enable farmers upgrade their knowledge on farming practices that would promote environmental protection. Mr Amoah said the Factories Inspectorate Division had to ensure that industries and factories observed proper environmental protection standards in their operations.

He said the West Africa Gas Project was an attempt by government to address greenhouse gas emissions and government would endeavour to preserve the environment for posterity. Mrs Angelina Baiden-Amissah, Member of Parliament for Shama and Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Sports called on the people to support government policies geared towards mitigating climate change. She said this was necessary because the continent lacked the necessary knowledge and logistics to cope with the phenomenon. Mr David Amlalo, Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said it was important for all and sundry to become active agents to promote actions and lifestyles geared towards achieving low carbon economies. He said an estimated 20 per cent of emissions contributing to climate change were due to deforestation.