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EPA adopts measures against climate change

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday reactivated the Response Measures Working Group to implement Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) against climate change.

The occasion which brought together participants from 32 institutions across the country was also used to discuss topics such as “History of Response Measures’’, The Nexus between Response Measures and the Nationally Determined Contributions” and “Ghana’s and ILO Response measures” among others.

NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

A climate plan through implementation of NDC reflects the country’s ambition to reduce emissions, taking into account domestic circumstances and capabilities.

The working group made up of representatives from some of the ministries, departments, agencies of government, together with the academia and trade unions was to contribute to the national and international climate issues, support policy-oriented research and also integrate policy responses in the implementation of the country’s NDCs.

Mr Ebenezer Appah-Sarpong, Deputy Executive Director of EPA said the implementation of Ghana’s flagship climate actions contained in the NDCs expected to last 10 years would require 22.4 billion dollars through domestic and international investment.

He said the transition to climate-proof society required capable and accountable institutions, coherent climate policy, predictable financing, grassroot involvement and knowledgeable actors.

Mr Appah-Sampong said achieving the long-term vision must be in the context of sustainable development and the respect for the unique economic circumstances of Ghana, adding that for such transformation to occur at a desirable pace, the economic gains in the past must be sustained and improved upon in the years ahead.

He said Ghana’s economy was natural-resource based, services-driven, youthful demography with emerging middle-class and vulnerable poor groups concentrated in the Savannah dry lands and coastal zones, adding that Ghana NDCs policy must embody all these.

Mr Appah-Sampongsaid issues on international trade, investment and safeguarding of jobs should be critically examined and addressed in climate change policy so as to have a resilient economy.

By Lawrence Markwei

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