President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on African leaders to intensify their efforts in addressing the pressing issues of climate change and its severe consequences.
Speaking in his capacity as the Co-Chair of the UN Eminent Group of Advocates on Climate Change, President Akufo-Addo emphasised the impact of climate change on the global population, with a particular focus on Africa.
He pointed out that climate change is a significant driver of poverty and hunger that exacerbates the already challenging conditions faced by many communities across the continent.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo underscored Ghana’s commitment to playing a pivotal role in combating climate change and mitigating its effects. He highlighted the urgent need for innovative and decisive actions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
He further articulated the necessity for ambitious goals and unwavering determination to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while fully leveraging available enablers.
According to President Akufo-Addo, mere incremental progress is insufficient to address the magnitude of the crisis. He said there must be a concerted effort to push boundaries and drive transformative change.
“These challenges underscore the need for urgent, decisive, and innovative actions. The urgency to scale up and accelerate actions cannot be overstated. We must be bold in our ambitions and unite with unwavering determination to scale up actions on the SDGs whilst fully leveraging these enablers.
“We cannot be content with incremental gains. We must double down and push the boundaries to bring about the transformative change we so urgently need to end pervasive poverty and protect our planet.”