CARIAA PROJECTS PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREEN ECONOMY LEARNING STRATEGY INFORMATION SESSION

Prosper Adiku (PRUNE) and Rahinatu Sidiki Alare (ASSAR)

On the 14th of April 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) organised the second round of the National Climate Change Learning Strategy meeting dubbed “National Climate Change and Green Economy Learning Strategy Information Session” at the EPA Conference Room in Accra.

Background of the Information Session

The preparation of a National Climate Change Learning Strategy began in October 2015. At the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) in Paris, UNITAR and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) recognised the need to incorporate the elements of Green Economy into the Learning Strategy. Integrating the components of Green Economy into the national climate change learning strategy aims at: 

• Promoting interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-level approaches to empower individuals, communities and societies towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Putting sustainability at the heart of sectoral policies and practices founded on the concept of green growth, ecological civilization or low carbon
• Eradicating poverty
• Increasing social equity, decent jobs and strengthen livelihoods
• Proposing an alternative model for economic and social development
• Enhancing environmental stewardship, sustaining growth and,
• Integrating environmental, social considerations in macro-economic planning and policy making

The learning strategy brought together diverse actors from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), representatives from the various Ministries and agencies of government, the private sector and educational institutions. Notable participants at the meeting including the former director of EPA (Mr. Samuel Anku) who chaired the function and the field operation officer and coordinator respectively of the UN Climate Change Learn gave presentations. Issues discussed include:

• The development of Ghana’s National Climate Change Learning Strategy
• Ghana’s presence and contribution to the Paris agreement in COP 21.
• The importance of updating our action plans with the concepts of Green economy

Discussions were also held on the action plans developed by participants for the various priority areas of the National Climate Change policy. Participants who were later put into three groups; Government, Education and the Private sectors made inputs to update the action plans of the Green Economy component of the National Climate Change Learning Strategy Document. Each of the groups also presented their inputs to the rest of the participants. 

The Private sector at their group deliberations

Relevance/importance of issues discussed to ASSAR

Integrating Green Economy into ASSAR and DECCMA related works will help the consortia develop or enhance adaptation strategies that promote sustainable development of their target groups while minimising ecological scarcities and footprints. 

In addition, the event served as a platform for further engagements with state actors who have influence on adaptation processes. Some participants also showed interest in the activities of ASSAR and DECCMA projects and will like to receive newsletters from the project.

Participants at the Learning Strategy Information session