Uphold National Interest ahead of COP31 — Environment minister

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghana’s delegation to the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to demonstrate unity, discipline, professionalism and accountability in advancing the country’s interests at the global climate negotiations.

She said delegates must approach the conference as representatives of the Republic of Ghana rather than individuals pursuing separate institutional interests, stressing the need for a coordinated approach to strengthen the country’s negotiating position.

Dr Agyeman-Rawlings made the call at the National Pre-COP Meeting in Accra on Friday, as members of Ghana’s delegation prepared for the conference scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye.

She described participation in the global climate conference as both a privilege and a responsibility, requiring adequate preparation, competence, discipline and a strong sense of accountability.

The Minister said Ghana’s delegation had a shared responsibility to protect and advance the country’s national interests while contributing meaningfully to Africa’s collective climate agenda.

She emphasised that effective coordination, information-sharing and collaboration among delegates were critical to ensuring that Ghana spoke with one voice throughout the negotiations.

To strengthen coordination and maintain consistency in the country’s engagements, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings called for daily meetings among delegation members to review developments, exchange information and agree on common positions as negotiations progressed.

She also underscored the importance of comprehensive post-conference reporting, urging delegates to document key outcomes, lessons learnt and recommendations to inform Ghana’s future climate engagements and policy direction.

According to her, the success of Ghana’s participation at COP31 would not be measured solely by the positions advanced during negotiations but also by the delegation’s ability to work collectively and translate international engagements into meaningful national outcomes.

The National Pre-COP Meeting forms part of Ghana’s preparations towards COP31, providing a platform for stakeholders to align priorities, strengthen coordination and consolidate the country’s position ahead of the international climate negotiations.