Climate Ghange And Government Efforts

Today, the issue of Climate Change and its attendant problems cannot be overlooked as meteorologists reported that the annual temperature in Ghana has increased by one degree Celsius within the last 30 years. Globally, temperatures are rising, weather patterns are changing, polar ice is melting, and the sea level is also rising by the day.

Climate change is known to be driven by global warming due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N20) and other poisonous substances to the atmosphere because of human activities.

The human activity causing global warming and changes in weather patterns are such as burning of fossil fuel, coal, oil, gas, galamsey, generation of power plants and deforestation among others.

Its rippling effects is being manifested through extreme weather events such as recent drought, flooding across the globe, heatwaves causing dehydration, and altered weather patterns which has dire consequences on human lives, labour productivity as well as development.

Thus, in a world confronted with challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, the need for sustainable development has become imperative.

Ghana, like many nations, is actively engaged in combatting these issues and has embraced the responsibilities outlined in the Paris 2016 Agreement on Climate Change necessitating global and national efforts to mitigate their effects. In line with the foregoing, Ghana signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 and developed a National Determined Contributions Framework to signify its dedication to emissions reduction.

A crucial aspect of this commitment was when Government, through the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), in collaboration with key actors developed the National Green Jobs Strategy (NGJS) 2021-2025 as part of efforts to help curb the issue of emissions in the atmosphere. Notably among the partners in addressing these challenges are the European Union, SNV- Ghana, and the International Labour Organization.

The NGJS is a coordinated framework to guide the implementation of measures aimed at maximizing job creation potential within the emerging green economy. The strategy emphasizes skills development to align workers and jobseekers with the requirements of the green economy. It further calls for identifying essential green skills and facilitating relevant training, ensuring a skilled workforce capable of driving the green job revolution.

The strategy prescribes that the creation of green jobs is a shared responsibility. It therefore necessitates collaboration across government sectors, regional and local authorities and communities. At the local level, tangible actions must be taken to promote green job interventions, support green skills and enterprise development, and secure funds for green enterprises through existing budgetary channels.

It is imperative that we adopt an intersectoral approach, leveraging funds and resources from various sectors to achieve the desired outcomes outlined in the National Green Jobs Strategy. Through collective action and conscious effort, we can positively impact the environment, contribute to sustainable development, and drive Ghana's journey towards a prosperous green economy.

Recognizing the assessment that responses to climate change have adverse effects on the labour market, it is important to note that the reduction of emissions equally creates new job opportunities in the economy. As a result, the ILO and the United Nations has served a clarion call for a 'Just Transition' to an environmentally sustainable economy. This means we must begin to minimize the negative impact of climate response measures and maximize opportunities for jobs creation for all stakeholders in the labour market, leaving no one behind.

As part of the implementation, a nationwide sensitization and awareness creation workshops have commenced. So far, the sensitization exercise has taken place in four regions including Central, Western, Eastern and Ashanti. The events aimed to enhance understanding and stimulate action on the National Green Jobs Strategy at the regional and local levels.

In conclusion, let us embrace the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change, understanding that a sustainable future is attainable through the creation of green jobs. Through unified efforts, we can propel Ghana into an era of sustainable prosperity while preserving our environment for generations to come.

The writer is a staff of ISD and the Head of Public Affairs Unit at MELR.