There is a pressing need for increased climate financing to support organisations working to address climate change and health-related issues in Ghana.
Such climate financing initiatives could support a range of initiatives, including implementing sustainable agricultural practices, the development of early warning systems for climate-related health risks, and strengthening of public health infrastructure.
The Research and Outreach Lead at PACKS Africa, Mr Kirchuffs Atengble, said this at a stakeholder forum organised by PACKS Africa to discuss issues on co-creating research and policy pathways for sustainable interventions on Thursday in Accra.
He added that climate financing could also inure to a better response to climate-induced health emergencies and the promotion of community-based adaptation and resilience-building strategies.
Addressing the challenges faced by NGOs in accessing adequate funds, he noted that “At the individual level, we’ve done significant work and the impacts are felt within the organisations we’ve collaborated with. However, accessing adequate financing remains a major challenge.”
Mr Atengble noted that ecosystem-level interventions are still in their early stages. He emphasised the importance of a broader ecosystem approach, supported by sufficient climate financing.
“We’re seeking support to help us do these things better,” he added, pointing out the organisation’s need for additional resources to expand its impact.
He said PACKS Africa has been active at individual and organisational levels, working with key entities such as the Parliament of Ghana, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Health.
He encouraged stakeholders to bring attention to other state-led initiatives and ensure they are accessible to relevant parties for thorough discussion and progress.
A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) disclosed that the Ministry has collaborated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a carbon market framework.
This climate change financing strategy, according to him, aims to ensure that the carbon registration system has USD 200 million by 2030.
“The carbon market framework aims to tap into climate financing opportunities. This initiative could open new revenue streams for Ghana’s environmental efforts, potentially accelerating the country’s response to climate change,” he explained.
The carbon market framework, according to him, would provide a reliable source of funding to support Ghana’s climate action plans and promote sustainable development across various sectors, including agriculture, energy, and forestry.
The move to establish a carbon market framework comes as local organisations like PACKS Africa continue advocating for more comprehensive, ecosystem-level approaches to tackle the interlinked challenges of climate change and public health issues.
PACKS Africa is an indigenous youth-led, Pan-African, not-for-profit, capacity development think tank, working to influence the use of research and other forms of evidence (knowledge) in the development of policies (evidence-to-policy space) in Africa.
The organisation partners with key institutions including the Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Southampton and The Clinical Informatics Research Unit (CIRU) to strengthen its capacity to implement ecosystem-level interventions and contribute to Ghana’s climate change and health initiatives.
Source: Richard Aniagyei, Information Service Department, Ghana
