Govt Urged to Prioritise Local Climate Investments as COP-29 Commences in Azerbaijan.

Baku: The Empowerment for Life Programme (E4L Programme) and the GoAdapt Project have jointly appealed to the government to prioritize investments in local climate change actions as the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) begins in Azerbaijan.According to Ghana News Agency, the conference opened in Baku on Monday, providing a platform for countries to discuss and negotiate actions to mitigate the effects of climate change. A statement issued by the E4L Programme, signed by its Manager, Mr. Abdul-Jabaru Mohammed, was copied to the Ghana News Agency. The statement advised the government to allocate portions of the District Assemblies Common Fund, seek private sector support, and encourage the use of internally generated funds to support green businesses.The E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project also urged the government, through metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies, to incorporate climate change adaptation into their Mediu m-Term Development Plan processes. Climate change is causing widespread and severe impacts on ecosystems, weather patterns, and human society globally.In northern Ghana, similar to many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, climate change effects such as erratic rainfall, drought, dry spells, and extreme temperatures are threatening livelihoods. Agriculture, which is the backbone of northern Ghana's economy, is particularly vulnerable, exacerbating challenges related to food security, water access, and rural development.The E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project, focusing on climate-based adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, diversification, resilience, and climate change advocacy, held a pre-COP event in Tamale in August. The event aimed at advocating sustainable climate action measures for northern Ghana.The statement urged the government, the Northern Development Authority, and local assemblies to invest in irrigation infrastructure, subsidize farm implements, and provide credit facilities to support year-ro und farming. It also called on global leaders at COP 29 to prioritize the needs of regions like northern Ghana, which are disproportionately affected by climate change, and urged developed countries to fulfill their pledges to provide $100 billion annually to support developing nations in adapting to climate risks.As COP 29 commences in Azerbaijan, the statement expressed solidarity with nations striving for a just and sustainable future, urging global leaders to act urgently and with accountability to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems from climate change's devastating effects.The E4L Programme and the GoAdapt Project reaffirmed their commitment to working in northern Ghana to empower local communities in enhancing climate resilience and advocating for policies that ensure a sustainable and equitable future. The projects are being implemented in 14 Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern, North East, and Savannah regions by four local partners, with funding support from Civil Society in Development, through Ghana Venskab, a Danish organization. The partners include the Ghana Developing Communities Association, School for Life, Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships, and YEFL-Ghana.