By Albert Futukpor
Tamale, Nov 12, GNA – The Empowerment for Life Programme (E4L Programme) and the GoAdapt Project have called on the Government to prioritise investment in local climate change actions as COP-29 opens in Azerbaijan.
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday for countries to discuss and negotiate actions to mitigate the effects of the global phenomenon.
A statement issued by the E4L Programme, signed by its Manager, Mr Abdul-Jabaru Mohammed, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on Tuesday, advised the Government to use portions of the District Assemblies Common Fund, seek support from the private sector and encourage the use of internally generated funds to support green businesses.
The E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project further called on the Government through the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to mainstream climate change adaptation budgeting into their Medium-Term Development Plan processes.
Climate change is having widespread and severe impact on the planet’s ecosystems, weather patterns, and human society.
Northern Ghana, like many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, is experiencing the severe effects of climate change including erratic rainfall, drought, dry spell, and extreme temperatures, all of which threaten the livelihoods of the people.
Agriculture, the backbone of northern Ghana’s economy, is vulnerable to the changing weather patterns, and climate change is exacerbating existing challenges in northern Ghana where food security, water access, and rural development are already under pressure.
The E4L Programme, and the GoAdapt Project, which amongst other thematic areas, focus on climate-based adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, diversification and resilience, and climate
change advocacy, in August, this year, in collaboration with their partners, held the maiden pre-COP event in Tamale.
It was to advocate measures towards sustainable climate action in northern Ghana.
The statement said as the COP 29 opened in Baku and following up on the recommendations of the pre-COP event held in Tamale; “We urge the Government, the Northern Development Authority and the local assemblies to invest in irrigation infrastructure, subsidise farm implements, and provide credit facilities to boost all year-round farming.”
“At COP 29, we call on world leaders, negotiators, and organisations to prioritise the needs of regions such as northern Ghana, which are disproportionately affected by climate change.”
It urged developed countries to fulfill their pledges to provide $100 billion annually to developing nations and to support projects that helped local communities adapt to climate risks.
“As COP 29 begins in Azerbaijan, we stand in solidarity with all nations that are striving for a just and sustainable future for all. We call on global leaders to act with urgency, ambition, and accountability to protect the most vulnerable communities and ecosystems from the devastating effects of climate change.”
The statement gave the assurance of the E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project’s commitment to continuing to work in northern Ghana to empower local communities to take charge of their climate resilience, and advocate policies that ensured sustainable and equitable future for all.
The E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project are being implemented in the 14 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern, North East and Savannah regions by four local partners with funding support from Civil Society in Development, through Ghana Venskab, a Danish organisation.
The partners are the Ghana Developing Communities Association, School for Life, Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships, and YEFL-Ghana.
GNA