An Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Water, Energy and Transport sectors to address the effects of climate change are being developed.
This is due to the effects that extreme weather conditions like storms, sea level rise and heatwaves have on infrastructure.
At a workshop to review the action plan, a Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Ebenezer Appah- Sampong noted the need for resilient infrastructure in the attainment of most of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Climate change is a developmental issue and that is why it underpins most of the SDGs. It is a threat to food security, health, and quality education, especially for girls among others. Another critical area that climate change affects is the infrastructural sector like energy, transport and water sectors.
In Accra, an hour rain causes flooding as a result of choked drains hence destroying most roads and water infrastructure.
The energy sector which contributes more greenhouse gases is also affected by climate change due to sea level rise affecting oil rigs.
It is against this background that a National Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan for the Infrastructure sector is being developed.
At a workshop to review the Action Plan, Mr Ebenezer Appah- Sampong noted the health and economic benefits from resilient infrastructure, hence the need for an action plan. Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah of the Climate Change Unit of the EPA said adaptation plans are equally needed for the other climate sensitive sectors of the economy and adaptation plans will be developed for those as well when funds become available.
With funding from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, IISD, a one year sensitization programme has started ahead of a National Adaptation Planning, NAP process next year. The NAP process seeks to address the country’s vulnerability to climate change into medium and long-term development plans in a coherent and coordinated manner.
By Joyce Gyekye.
