The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor on Tuesday addressed participants at the Forest and Climate Leader's Partnership engagement, urging them to focus on practical measures to effectively address and reverse forest loss.
He emphasised the importance of giving tropical forest countries a genuine platform to express their views and contribute to ongoing initiatives in nature and climate discussions.
Highlighting the significance of the meeting, Minister Jinapor noted that the world has committed to the ambitious goal of reversing forest loss by 2030.
The Steering Committee expected the two-day gathering in Accra to delve deeper into defining the desired outcomes of various initiatives and identifying achievable milestones by COP28, particularly in terms of reducing forest loss.
The Minister emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, stating that the Earth is now 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than in previous decades, leading to tangible effects worldwide. He stressed the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to ensure a sustainable climate, but also expressed optimism that a solution is within reach.
Mr Jinapor highlighted Ghana's efforts towards meeting these targets, including the launch of the Green Ghana Project in 2021. This aggressive afforestation and reforestation program aims to restore degraded landscapes and contribute to the global fight against climate change. Notably, over 40 million seedlings were planted during the first two editions of Green Ghana Day—an annual event dedicated to nationwide tree planting.
Addressing the attendees from 19 countries participating in the two-day FCLP meeting in Accra, Minister Jinapor called for a collective and conscious effort from all citizens of the world in combating climate change. He urged everyone to roll up their sleeves and get to work.
Madam Christine Dragisic, a representative of the Co-Chair on FLCP (Forest and Climate Leader's Partnership), accompanied Minister Jinapor and highlighted that the concept of the partnership was formulated at COP27. The current meeting aimed to reassess commitments made by global leaders at the Glasgow Summit regarding halting forest loss by 2030 in the context of sustainable development. The goal was to generate practical solutions through collaborative discussions during the two-day event.
Madam Dragisic expressed hope that together, the participants would advance actionable solutions during the meeting, aligning with the target set by global leaders and ultimately contributing to saving the world from the adverse effects of climate change.