The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is urging the United Nations to play a key role in addressing climate change by addressing it on its agenda.
She is therefore proposing that should be taken through resolutions to address the climate security nexus.
Speaking at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference in Germany, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey indicated that “climate change should be a critical issue for foreign policy because its multifaceted impacts such as desertification, land degradation, deforestation, forced migration due to resource scarcity, among others affect international peace and security. It has detrimental consequences to economic and human security.”
Madam Ayorkor Botchwey appealed to some platforms of the UN to continuously dialogue on ways to resolving issues of climate change to have its impacts livelihoods eliminated or curtailed.
“There is the need for the General Assembly, which is the most representative organ of the UN, as well as the Economic and Social Council of the UN to have regular engagements with the Security Council on climate change. Consistent engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission of the UN as well as with Troop and Police Contribution Countries to discuss the climate change security nexus would also help to win the support of the Security Council in addressing the issue of climate change.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister also called for governments across the world to as a matter of urgency to prioritize issues of climate change in their development frame work to enhance the move in addressing climate.
“There is the need to take a closer look at the non – binding nature of international frameworks in addressing climate change and strengthen compliance mechanisms. Strong political leadership and strategic engagement is also required across the decision making spectrum at all levels in addressing climate change,” she emphasized.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister also made a strong case on the adverse effects of global warming on poor economies indicating that “although countries in the global south contribute less to climate change, they are rather more vulnerable to the negative impact on global warming.
Countries from the global south, therefore, expect the international community, especially the global north to walk the talk by implementing reductions in their carbon emissions in order to meet the set global standards.”
“The north is also expected to support climate resilient initiatives in the south, including the extension of financial support which is needed in addressing the impacts of climate change. Political will and commitment of leaders in the global north and particularly among the P5 will go a long way in setting the global pace to addressing the issue.”
She also underscored the need for the vulnerable and identifiable groups in the society to be given the plat form on issues of climate change stressing that “women, children and the youth are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change. It is therefore important that their voices are heard to aid in addressing climate change and its related issues.”
“Through education and other sensitization programmes, they can be empowered to serve as agents of change. Again, involving them in decision making processes and encouraging them to take up leadership positions in the legislature and executive will enable them contribute effectively in addressing the issues.”
“There is also the need to promote the active participation of civil society organizations that are championing the climate change agenda and for them to bring their insights into decision making process,” she emphasized.”
Touching on climate change issues in Ghana, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey indicated that “figures published by the government show that climate change has the potential to erode Ghana’s past economic gains and can undermine our efforts to become a fully-fledged middle income country by 2056 as well as the prospects of doubling the GDP per capita to $ 3,500 by 2024.
“According to the recent studies released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), temperatures have risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius over 30 years and are projected to get warmer by at least 3 OC by 2080. The study also concludes that uncertainties and variability of rainfall in the last 30 years is likely to continue over the next three decades.”
“With such levels of intense climate change, there will be serious consequences for energy, water, agriculture, infrastructure, livelihoods and ecosystem which are the backbone of the Ghanaians economy. In light of this, the negative impacts of the changing climate have the potential to exacerbate Ghana’s development challenges if swift and sustained actions are not taken to address them.”
Story By: Henry George Martinson/radiogoldlive.com
