Accra: Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Vice President accepted Mr. Hart’s condolences on the recent tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of eight prominent Ghanaians, including two cabinet ministers. The meeting then focused on the critical importance of advancing global climate action in 2025. The Vice President emphasized that climate change recognizes no national borders and highlighted the urgent need for sustainable and fair solutions to address the man-made causes of climate change.
Vice Opoku-Agyemang underscored the injustice of climate impacts, pointing out that poorer countries, which have contributed the least to the crisis, often bear the heaviest burdens. She addressed issues such as rising sea levels affecting small islands and coastal communities, leading to migration and food insecurity. The Vice President urged the United Nations to amplify the voices of vulnerable countries globally and advocated for a multidimensional and Pan-African approach. She called for countries to share strategies, integrate adaptation measures, and scale up solutions collectively.
Furthermore, the Vice President highlighted Ghana’s ongoing initiatives, including the use of floating solar panels at the Bui Dam to diversify energy sources, and the efforts of institutions like the University of Energy and Natural Resources to prepare citizens to sustain climate-related policies. She also stressed the necessity of reforms to the international financial architecture, noting that unsustainable debt servicing diverts resources away from critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and climate adaptation strategies.
‘We need a holistic approach to climate, debt, and development challenges. Fairness, equity, and accountability must guide global action if we are to achieve just and lasting solutions,’ the Vice President remarked.