Accra to host policy dialogue on coastal climate change risks
The Regional Institute of Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana, is to organize a High National Level Policy Dialogue on Coastal Climate Change Risks in Urban Areas in Accra on November 8, 2012.
The dialogue is under the theme: “A Climate Change Risk Communication Framework for Coastal Urban Development Policy,” aims at promoting the use of climate change risks factors as basis for integrating climate compatible developments and policy processes within Ghana’s coastal zones.
A statement to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, signed by Professor Samuel Codjoe, RIPS Director, said the project was being supported by the Climate Development Knowledge Network.
He explained that the policy dialogue also aimed at identifying policy gaps and opportunities to facilitate the attainment of the goal of efficient and effective coastal urban management in the face of climate change.
“In addition, the dialogue will create and intensify awareness of the role of climate change and coastal urban disasters in national development efforts; and enhance the understanding of participants to facilitate and sustain a consistent comprehensive and targeted approach to solving coastal urban development changes,” he said.
Prof. Codjoe explained that the dialogue would be an informal and interactive in nature using participatory tools.
He said greater attention would be paid to communicating coastal urban climate change impact stories using techniques such as storytelling, sculpturing, skit, audiovisuals and proverbs to indulge participants’ contribution.
The policy dialogue session will be attended by key stakeholders namely the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, National Disaster Management Organization, National Climate Change Committee, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and National Development Planning Commission.
Others are Parliamentarians, Hydrological Service Department, African Development Bank, UK High Commission, Water Research Institute, Care International, Tema Oil Refinery, ECOBANK, Agricultural Development Bank, Zoom Lion limited, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana News Agency and Ghana Meteorological Agency.
The rest are Fisheries Commission, Centre for Human and Environment Security, Fisheries Research Institute, and Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies.
Source: GNA