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It is crucial to act on the local, national, and international stages when dealing with climate change. At Lincoln Community School, we are planning on implementing a recycling program. This would be mostly aimed towards lowering the amount of plastic waste, especially in the form of water bottles. Also, we are thinking of facilitating a carpooling program for those who take part in morning sports practices. Since advocacy plays a huge role in this issue, we will encourage carpooling and recycling in general, as well as reducing energy waste. For instance, in classroom we will encourage teachers to turn off lights when natural light is enough, reduce AC use, and turn off wall switch plates when not in use.
We need to address the six UNFCCC themes when looking at climate change policies. For Ghana, international aid is crucial to some extent, as the government does not have the resources or proper management to deal with this issue alone. Since corruption is present, making it more difficult to make sure that funds are sent into the right hands, it is imperative that we receive aid in other forms. For instance, advocacy and training could be sent to help local communities learn how to proceed in developing sustainably. Also, green technology could be sent for the moment, but in the long term, Ghanaians would have to be able to provide themselves (this is where training comes into play). Some of the countries represented by us are MEDCs, and thus providers of international aid (such as USA and Canada) while others are in need of it (such as India or Peru).
In terms of energy, Ghana is currently experiencing an energy crisis, meaning that a shift towards green energy is crucial. Our advantage- abundance of sunlight- could be used to implement solar panels (first with the help of international aid). We can also improve the conditions of current hydroelectric dams, as infrastructure is poor here. In many of the countries involved, improving infrastructure is an imperative way to proceed, as investing to improve it now will save time and money in the future.
Ghana needs to become more responsible in its water conservation, especially in agriculture use. This is not only something Ghana needs to work on, but the other countries as well. A better storage of post harvest crops to adapt to current changes should also be enforced. Another major change that needs to occur is a movement to keep GMOs out of Ghana, or at least limit monopolies granted to large corporations (like Monsanto). Organic farming needs to be encouraged by the government, which could be done by subsidizing local farming. Currently, because the U.S. and other countries subsidize many of their staple crops and export them, meaning that in Ghana sometimes it is cheaper to buy imported food. Sweden, South Africa, and Peru share similar policy ideas. The Philippines, Taiwan, India, and USA are focusing on sustainable agriculture using greener technologies, while USA, Canada, and South Africa are also emphasizing the need for reforestation in agricultural areas. Reforestation projects, in general, can be agreed upon by all countries, not only in terms of agriculture land use.
When dealing with oceans and water, Ghana’s best action lies in advocacy. People are irresponsible with their waste, and need to learn of the implications and why they should become more responsible. Another big problem in Ghana is the open sewer situation. To solve this, the government needs to enforce a better regulation system for sewage dumping and maintaining them in good condition. Countries like Taiwan and the Philippines also agree that keeping trash out of the oceans is vital, and this can be ensured through raising awareness.
Adaptation is crucial for all countries to consider. Raising awareness is an action to be taken in all the countries involved, as everyone needs to be equally aware of the consequences of climate change on their personal lives, environment, and global community. People need to learn how they can act sustainably as individuals, and what they can do for their communities, large or small. Building resilience is important everywhere, but adaptation is especially crucial for those more vulnerable countries, such as Ghana.
We need to join hands in the effort to mitigate climate change not for ourselves, not even for our country, but for the world. The sooner we act, the more we can benefit. Ghana may be an LEDC, and may not currently prioritize climate change policies, but it is crucial to think ahead. As stated in the UNFCCC documentary on Adaptation, “One dollar in preparedness will save 4-7 dollars in response. The future is cheaper now.
