Accra, Ghana – African negotiators will concentrate on demanding enhanced action on climate adaptation and resilience at the upcoming 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), set to take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Expo City, Dubai.
According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) , Lead Coordinator and Negotiator for Africa on Climate Adaptation, the focus at this year’s Conference will be on adopting a concrete, science-based framework to boost adaptation efforts. This agenda was disclosed at a pre-COP 28 meeting in Accra, organized by the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-STEPRI).
The meeting brought together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss pathways for addressing climate priorities and challenges. It aimed at enhancing climate resilience for Ghana and Africa. Madam Damptey highlighted that Africa’s limited capacity to adapt to climate change could jeopardize decades of development progress, already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted the economic and social disruptions caused by climate change, with adaptation costs for the continent projected to reach at least $50 billion annually by 2050.
Madam Damptey emphasized that climate change poses a significant threat to sustainable development in Africa, affecting crucial areas such as food security, poverty alleviation, and human health. The 2023 UN Adaptation Gap Report indicates a widening climate adaptation finance gap, estimated between $194 billion and $366 billion annually.
Mr. Hebert Krapa, Deputy Minister for Energy, advocated for increased investment in research and innovation to strengthen Ghana’s climate adaptation policy. He called for a collaborative approach involving scientists, policymakers, and communities to align climate adaptation policies with scientific evidence and community needs.
Professor Marian Dorcas-Quain, Deputy Director General of CSIR, stressed the importance of protecting water bodies as a key step in mitigating the impacts of climate change. She said, “Climate change is water and whatever we do to our water will affect climate change.”
COP28 in the UAE represents a significant opportunity for global leaders to collaborate, rectify current strategies, and foster progress in climate action. This year’s Conference will adopt a ‘leave no one behind’ approach, emphasizing inclusivity in climate initiatives.
Dr. Portia Adade Williams, a Research Scientist at CSIR-STEPRI, mentioned that the outcomes of the Accra meeting would be submitted to Ghana’s COP28 Committee to guide the country’s negotiations at the Conference.