This, Dr Edem Selormey, the Director of Research, CDD-Ghana, said was because CSOs and the media play a crucial role in combating Climate Change.

"We are the bridge between high-level policy commitments and the grassroots realities on the ground," Dr Selormey stated in Accra in her keynote address at the opening of the Third Stakeholder's Data for Governance Alliance (D4GA) Convening on Governance, Democracy and Human Rights in Africa.

"By raising awareness, advocating for more robust climate policies, and holding our governments accountable, we ensure that the aspirations of SDG 13 are not just promises on paper but lived experiences for every African."

The five-day event, which is being organised by the CDD-Ghana in collaboration with D4GA, was to equip CSOs with data-driven tools and knowledge to engage effectively with the African Union's (AU) Governance Platform and national governments.

The project aims to foster collaboration between the African Union's African Governance Architecture (AGA) organs and Pan-African CSOs to advance governance, democracy, and human rights throughout Africa.

The D4GA consortium, led by Afrobarometer is partnering with the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation, CDD-Ghana, and Laws Africa, and the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi, along with nine AGA organs and Pan African CSOs, has developed a comprehensive strategy, aimed at equipping African CSOs with data and skills to advocate effectively for governance and rule of law at national and continental levels.

Dr Selormey, who reiterated that the threat of Climate Change was a reality, further appealed to CSOs and the media to reaffirm their dedication to protecting the environment.

"Our actions today will shape the future of our continent and define the legacy we leave for future generations," she said.
She noted that the Accra Meeting comes at a critical moment in the African Continent's history — a time when the topic and effects of climate change and governance and human rights issues were more evident than ever, and the need for collective action had never been more urgent.

She underscored that despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, Climate Change disproportionately affects Africa.

According to the latest Afrobarometer survey, over 60 per cent of Africans believe that climate conditions for agricultural production have worsened over the past decade.

"This belief is not just a perception; it reflects the harsh reality millions across our continent face," she said. "Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and cyclones have become more frequent and severe, devastating livelihoods, displacing communities, and exacerbating food and water insecurity."

She cited the devastating Cyclone Idai in 2019 affecting millions in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, highlighting the West Africa Region's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters.

Adding that therefore, it was not surprising that recent data from Afrobarometer highlights the growing awareness and concern among Africans about climate change and its ability to threaten a series of rights, including the right to life, food, and health.

Dr Selormey said as more and more people on the continent were aware and conscious of the devastating nature of climate change, the data shows that they were increasingly seeing that it is making their lives worse.

She said Climate Change had also become a significant driver of migration across Africa and that as environmental conditions deteriorate, particularly in regions reliant on agriculture and natural resources, many were forced to leave their homes for better opportunities.

Dr Frederick Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Programmes and Operations, CDD-Ghana, in his welcome remarks, said the Accra Meeting, which was the second of three planned for 2024; the first of which was successfully held in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 5th to 9th, and the final one was slated for Cape Town, South Africa, from September 9th to 11th.

He said the impetus for this project stems from the troubling trend of democratic backsliding in Africa, underscored by recent coups in Niger and Gabon in 2023, and failed attempts in several other countries.

He said the instability in the Sahel region, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, had only exacerbated the challenges facing our continent; declaring that "these events highlight the urgent need for robust responses to the governance and security crises that threaten the stability of our nations."