Environment Minister urges unified national position ahead of COP31 Climate

The Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for a unified national position in Ghana’s climate negotiations to strengthen the country’s advocacy for climate finance, adaptation support and equitable climate action at the international level.

She said effective coordination among Ghana’s climate negotiators was important to ensuring that the country’s environmental priorities, economic realities and development needs were clearly articulated at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call when she met Ghana’s COP31 Negotiators’ Team on Tuesday, in Accra, to receive an update on preparations for the global climate conference scheduled for Antalya, Türkiye.

She stressed that Ghana’s participation must be guided by a clear understanding of its national interests and development aspirations, urging members of the negotiating team to harmonise their positions and communicate the country’s priorities consistently.

The Minister said a coordinated approach would help ensure that Ghana presented a clear and compelling position during discussions on climate finance, adaptation, mitigation and the implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement.

She commended the leadership of the Negotiators’ Roster and its members for their commitment to preparing the country for the crucial international engagements.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings emphasised the importance of teamwork, dedication and a shared sense of responsibility, noting that technical expertise alone was not enough to secure effective participation in international climate negotiations.

She said negotiators needed to work closely together to ensure that Ghana’s concerns, expectations and contributions to global climate action received the attention they deserved.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said Ghana’s engagement in the global climate process must therefore reflect the country’s vulnerabilities and the resources required to build resilience against the effects of climate change.

The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting preparations for the conference and ensuring that Ghana’s position was effectively represented in the international climate discussions.

The engagement formed part of the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen national coordination and preparedness ahead of COP31.

For Ghana, the conference presents an opportunity to advocate for increased access to climate finance, stronger adaptation measures and support for developing countries bearing the effects of climate change.