Ghana and UK working together to tackle climate change
GHANA AND UK WORKING TOGETHER TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
Accra hosted the latest round of UN negotiations on climate change from 21-27 August. The talks, under the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), are a preparatory step towards a crucial meeting in Copenhagen in late 2009, when it's hoped a new global deal can be agreed. Work towards that deal is a top priority for the British government.
Shortly before the Accra talks, the British Royal Navy ship HMS Endurance visited Ghana. HMS Endurance is the Royal Navy's scientific research vessel and spends months each year in the Antarctic, with studying climate change a priority. With their experience in the Antarctic and knowledge of climate change, the HMS Endurance crew were the ideal hosts for a workshop organised by the British High Commission to bring together climate experts from the UK and Ghana. Among the Ghanaians present were representatives from the Office of the President, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Commission. On the UK side, the Meteorological Office (Met Office) and the main government ministries dealing with climate participated.
Kirsty Lewis from the UK's Met Office told the workshop:
The climate is changing and average temperatures are increasing. The best case scenarios show a 1.5° increase; worst case would be closer to a 6° increase.
The global patterns are very clear but the models have difficulty predicting the exact effects on a regional scale.
But Africa can expect a higher than average temperature increase - a rise of 3-4° is expected. Precipitation will increase slightly.
The British High Commission will continue to be in regular contact with the Ghanaian government about climate change, identifying new areas for co-operation. More details of the work of HMS Endurance are available on the ship's website www.visitandlearn.co.uk
