The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Irchad Razaaly, has restated the Union's dedication to supporting Ghana's cities in their pursuit of sustainable development.
Mr Razaaly made this affirmation during a collaborative meeting with four mayors in anticipation of Ghana's participation in the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The mayors representing Accra, Tema, Sekondi-Takoradi, Ningo-Prampram, and Awutu Senya East engaged in discussions with the EU Ambassador ahead of the COP28, slated for November 30 to December 12, at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The primary focus of the conference is to advocate for the use of carbon pricing as a cost-effective tool to reduce emissions and generate revenue for the green transition. It also aims to encourage the implementation of loss and damage financing mechanisms.
Mr Razaaly emphasized the significance of addressing climate challenges collectively, citing that 70 percent of emissions causing climate change originate from cities and municipalities.
He highlighted the importance of sharing local insights and experiences at COP28 to ensure global climate strategies align with local realities.
The EU Ambassador provided insights into the ongoing collaboration between the EU and Ghana to address climate change adaptation.
He noted that the EU, along with its Member States, leads in climate financing, having allocated 40 billion Euros globally for adaptation and mitigation activities. The EU has committed to reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030.
The roundtable discussion, organized as part of the EU Climate Diplomacy Week, focused on climate change challenges amidst rising urbanization and population growth.
Mayors, as members of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) initiative, participated in the meeting. The CoM SSA initiative encourages cities to set and achieve ambitious climate and energy targets voluntarily.
Accra's Mayor, Ms Elizabeth Sackey, expressed the shared challenges faced by cities and highlighted the power of collective advocacy for global action and support.
The mayors outlined comprehensive strategies to combat climate change at the local level, including sustainable urban planning, green infrastructure development, energy efficiency, waste management, and the adoption of climate-smart technologies.
The EU Climate Change Diplomacy Week serves as a platform for global cooperation on climate change.
The mayors, representing various cities in Ghana, affirmed their commitment to collaborate on sustainable solutions and advocate for meaningful global action to combat climate change.