The Country lead of Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), Prof. Chris Gordon has tasked journalists and media organizations to use their platforms to prioritise issues in relation to climate change.
According to him, climate change impacts every aspect of Ghana’s development hence the need to bring the issue closer to policy makers and the ordinary citizens to advance climate change advocacy.
Prof. Gordon made this know at a media engagement workshop in Accra on under the theme “Beyond COP26-Way Forward for Media Engagement for Climate Change Advocacy” organized by the CDKN in collaboration with University of Ghana Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies.
He cited an example of the rise of sea level, constant tidal waves and flooding, accompanied by washing away of roads and destruction of infrastructure as some signs of the impact of climate change.
Prof. Gordon therefore called on the media not to only forum-short issues in relating to climate change but make follow-ups and speak to experts in order for Ghana to make a headway in the fight against the canker.
“The media is an indicator because you keep us in check and you are the corrective measure for Ghana so you have several roles to play”, Prof. Gordon stressed.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Corporate Affairs for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ms. Angelina Ama Mensah also charged the media to interrogate policy makers in Ghana about policy framework in place to regulate the introduction of the electronic vehicles by the Ministry of Transport.
Ms. Mensah said even though the policy is a laudable one in ensuring that the country minimize fossil fuel emission that contributes to climate change, care should be taken that the developed countries would not use Ghana as a dumping site for electronic vehicles.
“We should put legislative in place so that our boarders do not become a dumping ground for petrol and diesel vehicles that the Europeans and Americans do not want”, she emphasized.
Ms Mensah called for strong advocacy from the media to safeguard the country from being a breeding grounds for unwanted vehicles whilst also contributing to the Climate Change action.
The media engagement highlighted the CDKN knowledge product on communicating climate change issues which sought to increase visibility of the climate change document and also help the media persons on how to take advantage of the Guidelines in the climate change book.
