The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has called for stronger collaboration among government, academia, the private sector, and civil society to harness Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) as a pathway to achieving sustainable national development.

He said such partnerships were crucial to tackling the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, while unlocking new opportunities for green growth, carbon markets, and climate finance.

He made the call on Wednesday in Accra at the Africa Climate Dialogue 2025, on the theme “Harnessing Nature-Based Solutions: A Pathway to Sustainable National Development.” It was organised by the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action (AC4NCA).

The Minister commended the organisers for convening the maiden Africa Climate Dialogue, describing it as a timely platform for fostering policy innovation, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

He noted that the government was committed to integrating Nature-Based Solutions into national development and climate policy frameworks to build a climate-resilient, low-carbon future.

“Our nationally determined contributions reflect this commitment, prioritising large-scale tree planting, sustainable agriculture, and restoration of degraded lands and watersheds,” he said, adding that such initiatives not only enhance carbon sequestration but also create green jobs and strengthen rural livelihoods.

Mr Issifu further highlighted the creation of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability portfolio by President John Dramani Mahama as a strategic move to harmonise fragmented climate and environmental initiatives across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

He announced plans to establish a National Climate Change and Sustainability Hub to serve as a centre of excellence for policy innovation, research, and capacity building.

Additionally, the Climate Change and Sustainability Units, he said, would be institutionalised across all Ministries and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to mainstream climate considerations into all levels of governance.

He also urged stakeholders to align national priorities with global frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to mobilise international support and attract climate finance.

He commended the Africa Centre for Nature-Based Climate Action for its leadership in promoting science-policy dialogue, piloting community-led projects, and empowering young professionals, saying “these efforts exemplified the spirit of sustainable development Ghana sought to uphold.”