Private sector urged to back government’s effort at reducing carbon emissions
The private sector has been asked to give strong backing to the effort by the government to curb greenhouse emissions – a key factor contributing to climate change.
Mr. Venan Sondo, a Chartered Environmentalist and Sustainability Consultant, said it should partner the government in the areas of technological design and development, manufacturing and financing of climate-related policies.
He was speaking at a day’s workshop organized by the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) to sensitize the sector on the nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMA) meant to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
NAMA is any voluntary action that reduces emissions in developing countries under the umbrella of a national government initiative.
Mr. Sondo said 55 potential emission areas in energy, waste, agriculture, forestry and industrial processes had been identified in Ghana and outlined reduction measures put in place by the government.
These include a scale up of renewable energy penetration by 10 percent in year 2030, expansion and adaptation of market-based cleaner-cooking solutions and adoption of alternative urban solid waste management.
He encouraged the private sector to invest in these projects to help reduce the impact of climate change.
They could go into the manufacturing and production of biomass power plants, wind power, improved cooking stoves and combined cycle power plants.
“Emission growth is driven mainly by rising carbon dioxide, and the energy sector has been identified as the largest contributor”, he added.
Mr. Sondo said the threat posed by greenhouse emissions was real and should not be underestimated.
Mr. Daniel Benefoh, Principal Programmes Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said the country had targeted to lower its greenhouse emissions by 15 per cent by 2030.
The Ghana green fund, payment to individuals for sustainable cocoa program (Cocoa Redd+) and the roof solar programme being implemented by government, he said were meant for just that.
He called for enterprises to collaborate with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, EPA and the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to help achieve the target.
The participants suggested zero per cent tax on equipment imported for waste recycling.
Source: GNA