Time for real climate action - Akufo-Addo rallies 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 action to help deal with the global climate crisis.

Addressing the World Climate Leaders Summit at the official opening at the COP29 on Wednesday [Nov13], President Akufo-Addo stressed that escalating impact of climate change, especially on vulnerable populations, required concerted efforts backed by real action to protect the current and future generations.

He observed that 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.

"We gather here, we must demonstrate that we are not only individuals or policy makers, but as people bound by the love for our land and environment 

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

Again, he said with COP29 focusing on climate financing, it was important for developed countries in particular to make financial commitments to accelerate the green transition. 

Ghana’s situation

Touching on Ghana’s climate action, he told the International community that the government he led had implemented the Green Ghana initiative, leading to the planting of over 50 million trees within four years. 

The President also said the launch of the 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. 

He 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 at promoting adaptation and mitigation interventions. 

President Akufo-Addo also said in 2021, the country submitted  47 NDCs to the UN targeting to reduce emissions by 64 million tonnes by 2030, an ambition that requires investment of $15 billion. 

He 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 so developed countries must honour their financial commitnents. 

The President said Ghana stood in solidarity with the rest of the world for a greener globe. 

He emphasised that the no country was immuned from the impact of climate change, which was why they must work together to mitigate the impacts and adapt to the crisis. 

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

"Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather threatening our livelihoods daily, but we respond with resilience and commitment," he said. 

Renewable energy

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Heydar oghlu Aliyev, stressed that as a means of ensuring a transition to clean energy, there was the need for concerted 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," he said. 

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

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