By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – Mr Issifu Seidu, the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, has called for global solidarity in confronting the mounting threats of sea-level rise.
He said coastal nations, particularly in Africa, faced unprecedented risks to livelihoods, ecosystems, and national economies, hence the need for a critical look at this.
The Minister was speaking at a high-level session at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, titled, “Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-Level Rise.”
It was organised by the Global Center for Climate Mobility and UNOPS.
Mr Seidu said coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and the loss of livelihoods were not future scenarios but realities presently confronting the nation, describing how rising seas were already reshaping communities and ecosystems across Ghana’s 250-kilometre coastline, home to nearly a third of the population and 60 per cent of industrial output.
Citing data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Minister warned that global sea levels had already risen by about 20 centimetres since 1900 and could climb by up to one metre by the end of the century if emissions remained unchecked.
“In Ghana, such a rise could result in the loss of up to 20 per cent of land area, displacing more than five million people,” he added.
Mr Seidu, in outlining Ghana’s national response, highlighted ongoing efforts under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management programme, which focused on mapping vulnerable areas, restoring mangroves, and constructing nature-based seawalls.
He said other initiatives included promoting salt-tolerant crops through climate-smart agriculture and supporting community-led relocation plans designed to preserve both livelihoods and cultural heritage.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of aligning Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with global climate finance mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund, to strengthen adaptation efforts.
He called for stronger regional and international cooperation, by urging African Union members and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) partners to support a “Coastal Resilience Pact” for shared data, early warning systems, and direct financing to frontline communities.
“The current US$738 million loss and damage fund is a fraction of what is needed. Developed nations must honour their commitments and ensure that resources reach those most affected”
Mr Seidu stated that although sea-level rise was an existential threat, it posed an opportunity to forge a new era of climate solidarity adding that Ghana was ready to lead and partner, because the health of the coast symbolised the health of the planet.
GNA