Ghana's Climate Change Efforts Contrasted with Global Concerns

Issifu Seidu, the First Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, expressed concern over the global failure to address climate change, despite Ghana's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at the High-Level Technical Convening on Solar Radiation Modification SRM in Accra, he highlighted Ghana's implementation of policies like Nationally Determined Contributions, the Climate Prosperity Plan, and the Green Taxonomy Framework, aiming to increase renewable energy to 20%. The Minister noted that while Ghana takes action, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, with 2024 temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and projections of up to 2.8 degrees of warming by the century's end. He emphasized that Ghana and other African countries disproportionately bear the impact of climate change despite contributing less to global carbon emissions, leading to displacement and projected poverty for millions. Climate change is a present threat to development in Africa, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and the informal economy. Ghana, as a leading cocoa producer, is already experiencing impacts on crop yields and farmer incomes. Health systems face strain from heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases, and nutrition insecurity, with heat-related mortality a concern in northern Ghana. Flooding and extreme weather damage infrastructure and disrupt economic activity, potentially pushing at least one million more Ghanaians int