The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II, has stated there was the need to empower women and deal with poverty in the fight against climate change and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
He was emphatic Climate Change was no longer a future predictions but rather a daunting present day reality which is hitting the world hard.
The Okyenhene made the statement during the Royal Dialogue on Climate Action and the Sustainable Development Goals held at Kyebi in the Eastern Region.
The Royal Dialogue on Climate Change is a strategic engagement between the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, policy makers, CSOs, academics and traditional leaders on climate change.
The agenda is to deal with the impact of Climate Change more aggressively than before.
The event is first of its kind in the country where the chieftaincy institution has organized a national dialogue on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals ahead of a major world event to be held in Glasgow.
Goal 13 of the SDGs states that a strong climate agreement backed by action on the ground will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, build stronger economies and safer, healthier, and more liveable societies everywhere.
Delivering the royal address, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin II pointed out that Climate Change is hitting the world hard with its negative effects and if left unattended to, its consequences could be catastrophic.
He further stated that the resort to the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides which contain Nitrogen was affecting
healthy lifestyles and noted in order to be able to fight climate change effectively and meet timelines of the SDG by 2030, there is the need to empower women and deal with poverty.
“The SDG agenda and climate change was to reduce poverty. We cannot talk about SDG and leave indigenous people out. Women must be empowered more in this fight.”
According to the 2021 census, women form a larger portion of the country’s population with many of them holding the fort as bread winners in their families and community.
Addressing the dialogue virtually, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Climate Change is the biggest threat to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals and addressing it must not be done in isolation but through a coordinated effort.
He called on all Ghanaians to support and join the fight against climate change by desisting from activities that could affect the climate negatively.
The British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson, indicated that the fight against Climate Change is more of moral attitude than financial and commended the Okyenhene for his role in the fight against the canker.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, observed that Climate Change has become ethical, moral and a security issue over the years and said the country has made significant effort in joining the globe in addressing the situation.
Climate Change is the long term alterations of temperature and typical weather patterns where green house gases are released into the atmosphere.
Experts say the burning of fossil fuel, cutting down of trees, farming livestock among others were human actions that caused climate change that has resulted in more frequent and intense droughts and floods and reduce the availability of food.
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana