By Lydia Kukua Asamoah, GNA’s Special Correspondent in Katowice, Poland
(Credit: GIZ, Ministry of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency)
Katowice, Poland, Dec. 14, GNA-Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has said developing and developed countries should continually build mutual trust and partnerships to secure a habitable environment for all generations, across the globe.
She, therefore, urged the developed countries to be more committed and increase their financial contributions towards addressing the devastating effect of climate change.
Speaking at a high-level Ministerial meeting, held alongside the 24th Conference Of Parties (COP 24) in the Polish City of Katowice, Madam Appiagyei said Ghana considered finance as implicitly linked to the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which were required to mitigate climate impact.
There was, therefore, the need for increased financing for accelerated climate actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 13.
Ghana, the Deputy Minister said, also shared Africa’s common position that the discussions on the NDCs should, firstly, conform fully to the Convention, and secondly, respect the differentiation between the developed and the developing countries.
Ghana also supported the position to build on the standing Climate Convention obligations, particularly, relating to means of implementation, which would enable developing countries, particularly in Africa, to fully participate in the global efforts towards achieving the Convention’s objectives on mitigation and adaptation.
The Deputy Minister said Ghana wanted the Ministerial discussions to equally cover mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, capacity building and transparency, with gender responsiveness in view.
Countries should also commit to rulebook that was forward looking and result- oriented.
She called for a strong leadership and drive towards achieving the Paris Agreement.
Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, who spoke extensively on Ghana’s preparation towards the introduction of electric buses to minimise the 47 per cent of emissions from the transportation sector.
COP 24, which opened on Monday, Dec 3, comes to a close, on Friday, December 14.
Some civil society actors have, however, expressed their disappointment at how some of the developed countries, who emitted more greenhouse gases, were dragging their feet towards meeting their financial obligations towards, mitigation, loss and damage, and technology transfer.
Mr Mithika Mwenda, the Secretary-General, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said the issue of equity, just transition, climate justice and principles of transparency, as well as participatory negotiations, were very critical for addressing.
He, however, later told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that: "We feel that there is no progress- the issues which bought us here- issues of finance, technology, adaptation, loss and damage have all been thrust by the COP Presidency".
He, however, said Africa would continue highlighting issues for a better climate because it hinged on their survival.
GNA
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