Ghana National CSO Youth Coalition on Climate Change

Climate change on the international agenda is starting to receive the very highest attention that it merits. It has become one of the major issue of discussion among the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations and, dialogue between developed and developing countries have already begun.

Scientist have affirmed the warming of the climate system and linked it to human activities. This is justified by the increase in the average surface temperature by about 0.6 C.

Development is about expanding human potential and enlarging human freedom. It is about people developing the capabilities that empower them to make choices that they value most.

Climate change threatens to erode human freedoms and limit choice. It calls into question the enlightment principle that human progress will make the future look better than the past.

The early warning signs are already visible for everybody to see. In Ghana and other developing countries, millions of the world's poorest people are already being forced to cope with the impacts of climate change. These impacts do not register as apocalyptic events in the full glare of world media attention. They go unnoticed in financial markets and in the measurement of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

However, increased exposure to drought, to more intense storms, to floods and environmental stress is holding back efforts of the world's poor to build a better life for themselves and their children.

The starting point for avoiding dangerous climate change is recognition of three distinctive features of the problem. There are no rewind buttons for running down stocks. People living at the start of the 22nd Century will live with consequences of our emissions just as we are living with the consequences of emissions since the industrial revolution.

For instance for the first half of this 21st Century the world in general, especially the poor will have to live with climate change to which are already committed.

In the last three decades, about 22 countries in Africa have been affected by flood and 1.5 million people have been displaced, whilst at least 300 people have been killed.

The Secretary General of the United Nations in his special contribution in the 2007/08 Human Development Report acknowledged that "we are beginning to see these

catastrophes (of climate change) unfold. As sea levels rise and tropical storms gather in intensity, millions of people face displacement. Dryland inhabitants, some of the most vulnerable on our planet, have to cope with more frequent and more sustained droughts. And as glaciers retreat, water supplies are being put at risk".

It's for this reason that the coalition will be using December 6 to launch the Global Day of Action on Climate Change.

Ghana is part of this pending global disaster. Unfortunately it has not been given the needed attention in country to mitigate its impact in the future. Very rare do we hear of any discussion on climate change by the leadership of this country.

Currently Ghana does not have any comprehensive policy direction or framework in addressing climate change now and the future. The consistent human activities in the industrial areas, emission of greenhouse gases, bush fires, felling of trees and the discovery of oil which will lead to the sitting of oil companies puts Ghana in a more dangerous position in the coming years.

The recent flood that hit the Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Western Regions in September 2007 revealed the nations vulnerability. The following were the statistics that were recorded by the Ministry of Interior with regards to the flood;

Number of deaths - 56

Number Displaced - 331,360

Houses Destroyed– 34,919

Roads Damaged - 655

Farmlands Destroyed - 46,851

Dams & Bridges Destroyed - 140

The economic, health and social cost of this flood was so enormous that donor agencies, philanthropist and companies had to come in to support the victims.There exist a gap between scientific evidence of what is happening and political actions.

Climate change is a challenge that needs to be addressed now to reduce the risk it poses to the youth of today and generations unborn. The future generation of this country stands directly in harm's way and they have the least resources to cope.

The coalition urges the various political parties to show commitment to the issue through their campaign messages. They must know that no meaningful development can be done if the climate is not favourable.

Please call 0244023651 for further enquiries

Kenneth Nana Amoateng