Ghana has triggered the process of revising its climate action plans, to improve on resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change across various sectors.
These plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), are being updated in line with Article 4.2 of the Paris Agreement, extending targets to 2035.
The launch of the NDCs Revision Process was officiated by Mrs. Ophelia Hayford, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
NDCs outline national targets and actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts. Countries are required to update their NDCs every five years under the Paris Agreement. Ghana’s last update was in 2021, necessitating a review by 2025 to reflect renewed climate commitments.
The current NDCs (2021-2030) encompass 19 policy areas, targeting a reduction of 64 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. The upcoming review will involve various working groups from stakeholder organizations focusing on aligning programs with the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing policy, technology, and financial gaps, and overcoming barriers identified in the previous NDCs.
The entire review process is expected to take nine months, culminating in a submission to the UNFCCC. The Minister highlighted Ghana’s progress, noting a reduction of 29.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, a 43.4% decline relative to the 2021 national emissions.
Deputy Minister for Transport Frederick Obeng Adom emphasized the transport sector’s role in reducing carbon emissions and called for innovative solutions. He mentioned the revised National Transport Policy (2008) and the upcoming National Electric Vehicle Policy, which aims to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2045.
Mr. Peter Aidoo, speaking on behalf of UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Charles Abani, reaffirmed the UN’s support for developing countries like Ghana in enhancing and implementing their NDCs. Through the Climate Promise initiative, the UNDP has assisted 85% of developing countries in their initial NDC submissions and is actively involved in NDC implementation in nearly 150 countries.
The UN, through the Climate Promise, is backing Ghana in its NDC 3.0 revision process, aiming to secure funds to support the revision and help the country achieve greater climate ambition.
