Rebecca Quaicoe
8 December 2011
Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Sherry Ayittey says the future of the Kyoto protocol should not be terminated on African soil. According to her, Durban should provide a global roadmap that would define a second binding commitment period on Annex 1 parties, taking into consideration “our common desire to save our planet based on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity and the rule of law”.
Ayittey who was speaking at the high level segment of the COP17 said Ghana remains resolute in her call for a second commitment period, under the Kyoto Protocol. “Durban must be decisive in avoiding a gap in the future of the protocol”, she said.
She called for the complete operationalisation of the Cancun Agreements, including the establishment of the Green Climate Fund and identification of other long term financing sources, technology development and transfer and capacity building.
She said Durban must deliver on a climate smart agriculture and the mainstreaming of gender and climate change in national development plans.
She said Ghana is experiencing varying intensities of climate change impacts from recurrent floods and drought culminating in the loss of several lives and property.
She mentioned economic sectors of the country that are seriously threatened by climate change including water resources, tourism, agriculture especially cocoa production, fisheries, forestry, energy, health, waste management, infrastructure and marine conservation.
A key response to the adaptation strategy developed in the country she said included a comprehensive early warning system that could facilitate timely dissemination of relevant information from community to national level and vice versa.
Ayittey said Ghana was the only African member of a thirty-member Global Research Alliance, a research group focused on greenhouse gas inventory and measurement in the agricultural sector and called on other African countries to join the alliance.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Read the article:
Africa: Kyoto Protocol Must Not Be Terminated On African Soil