No more rhetorics: Let’s tackle climate crisis now! - President Akufo-Addo to world leaders

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked world leaders at the ongoing conference of parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan to walk the talk by shifting from mere dialogue to tackling global climate crisis.

"As we gather here, we must demonstrate that we are not only individuals or policymakers, but people bound by the love for our land and environment.

"Our children's future hinges on our decisions, so COP29 must be a shift from dialogue to action," he said.

Addressing the World Climate Leaders Summit which marks the official opening of COP29 in Azerbaijan yesterday, the President said that the escalating impact of climate change, especially on vulnerable populations, required a concerted effort backed by real action to protect the current and future generations.

He said it was worrying that after many years of attending the global summit, the world was yet to have a firm grip on workable climate interventions.

The President said it was important for developed countries, in particular, to make financial commitments to accelerate the green transition. 

Ghana’s situation

On Ghana’s climate action, President Akufo-Addo said the government had implemented a Green Ghana initiative, which had led to the planting of over 50 million trees within four years.

He also said the launch of an electric vehicles policy last year had put the country in a good position to establish the needed infrastructure for green transportation and cut down on fossil fuels that were responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The President added that in line with the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country had updated its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) aimed to promote adaptation and mitigation interventions.

He also said in 2021, the country submitted 47 NDCs targeted at reducing emissions by 64 million tonnes by 2030 to the UN, an ambition that requires investment of $15 billion. 
President Akufo-Addo added that the country had mobilised $800 million through carbon credit trading from Sweden and Switzerland.

That notwithstanding, he said Ghana, like other developing countries, could not reach climate goals alone, for which reason developed countries must honour their financial commitments.

"For Ghana, climate change is real and immediate; affecting our farmers and coastlines and communities.

"Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather threaten our livelihoods daily, but we respond with resilience and commitment," the President said. 

Renewable energy

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev, also said that there was the need for collective global efforts to scale up renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind.

However, he said even as the world made the transition to green energy, countries that had oil and gas resources must not be hastened into abandoning those natural endorsements.

"Every natural resource is a gift of God and countries should not be blamed for having them or bringing them to the market, because people need them," the President said. 

He took a swipe at the Western media for waging a smear campaign against Azerbaijan prior to its hosting of the COP29 event. 

"When Azerbaijan was announced as the host of COP29, some Western advocates, including the media and state-sponsored activists, spread fake news about us and called Azerbaijan a petrol nation, when they know that some countries produce 10 times of oil and gas than us. 

"They called for a boycott of COP29 but I am sorry to disappoint them because this conference has attracted over 72,000 registered participants from 196 countries, as well as 80 Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers," he said.