Mr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) designate, says Ghana is not going to withdraw from the Paris Agreement (PA).
The PA is an accord, by almost 200 leaders, to forestall international temperatures from rising greater than 1.5 levels.
“Ghana will not pull out of the Paris Agreement because climate change impact is real, impacting on all aspects of development and it is important, we take steps to mitigate its causes, adapt and build resilience especially at the local communities,” he informed the parliamentary Appointment Committee on Thursday.
Mr Mohammed’s remark was inside the context of the United States of America (USA) withdrawal from the PA underneath President Donald Trump, arguing that such agreements “do not reflect our country’s values or our contributions to the pursuit of economic and environmental objectives” and “unfairly burden the United States”.
The Minister designate, nevertheless, famous that the nation would by way of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proceed to interact the USA on funding mechanisms.
He mentioned Ghana was benefiting from monetary mechanisms, together with the carbon market, a system that permits nations and firms to commerce emissions allowances to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions underneath Article 6 of the PA.
“I will support the carbon market office because the country can generate revenue, create jobs and bring in innovation and technology,” he mentioned.
Responding to his imaginative and prescient to cope with unlawful mining, Mr Mohammed whereas acknowledging that huge biodiverse forests and water our bodies had been degraded and polluted, “My first approach is to conduct a national audit of destruction and collaborate with relevant bodies to ensure compliance.”
“We will institute an initiative called, One child One tree, and support farmers to regenerate degraded farmlands. School children will be encouraged to plant and nature a tree to help increase the tree stock,” he mentioned.
He famous that the Ministry may arrange an environmental activity drive and courts to cope with nature crimes, which included unlawful mining, encroachment of Ramsar websites, noise and air air pollution.
The Ministry, he mentioned, would work with stakeholders to re-introduce waste separation to assist cope with strong waste, particularly plastics.
Mr Mohammed mentioned certainly one of his foci could be to help renewable vitality to extend its contribution to vitality era and scale back the rising emissions.
Source: GNA