Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako gives Keynote address at the National Environmental Sustainability Summit and cautions that the failure to tackle climate change could lead to catastrophic consequences within the agricultural sector
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Prof. Elvis Asare-Bediako, has warned that failure to tackle climate change could lead to catastrophic consequences within the agricultural sector. He said, “It is crucial for all stakeholders to collaborate and comprehend the intricacies of the nexus of climate change-food system in order to harness its potential benefits while effectively mitigating its impacts”.
Prof. Asare-Bediako was giving the Keynote address at the National Environmental Sustainability Summit held on June 20, 2023, at the Alisa Hotel, Accra. Expatiating on the theme “Climate Change and its Impact on Food Systems and Sustainable Environment”, the Vice-Chancellor averred that developing solutions in confronting the challenges posed by climate change can serve as a crucial entry point in advancing the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, extending well beyond the current timeline of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The interplay between climate change and food systems has significant implications across all dimensions of sustainable development and failing to take action and delaying efforts to address climate change can have catastrophic consequences for the food and agricultural sectors,” he said.
A cross-section of participants at the Summit
He, therefore, recommended that by translating ideas into actionable policies, the country could foster a sustainable and resilient future. He admonished that, addressing the challenges requires both mitigation and adaptation strategies in reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, adjust to current and anticipated climate conditions.
The Summit was organized by the Business and Financial Times with speakers including Dr. Michael Addaney, Department of Geography and Sustainability Science; Dr. Noami Kumi and Dr. Caleb Mensah, Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science all from the University of Energy and Natural Resources.
