Ghana, UK renew commitment to biodiversity protection    

Ghana and the United Kingdom have renewed their commitment to biodiversity protection and preservation.

Speaking in London at Nature Action Conference, a private sector mobilisation event, organised by the United Kingdom, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor reiterated the commitment of Ghana under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, to the global effort aimed at stopping the negative impact of Climate Change on the planet.

Policies that impoverish developing countries

He admonished developed countries to stop adopting policies that will continuously impoverish developing countries to empower developing countries to continue with their work on biodiversity protection.

Collective duty to protect biodiversity

“The duty to protect biodiversity is a collective one, and we must all work together to ensure a safe and healthy planet for current and future generations,” the Minister said.

Using the cocoa value chain as an example, Mr. Jinapor said although the value of the chocolate industry is over $130 billion, Ghana and Ivory Coast, which produce over 60% of the cocoa used in the chocolate industry; get less than five per cent of the value of the chocolate market.

He called on developed countries to work with developing countries to protect the world’s forests and biodiversity.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

The event was to catalyse and demonstrate delivery of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a landmark international agreement adopted by the 15^th session of the Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15.2), held in Montreal, Canada.

The Framework seeks to galvanize urgent and transformative action by Governments, subnational and local governments, and with the involvement of all of society, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols.

$200bn target

The agreement set out a target to mobilise $200 billion per year globally by 2030, including $20 billion in flows to developing countries by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030.

Serious threat to survival of humans

Despite its importance to human well-being and a healthy planet, the world’s biodiversity is deteriorating at unprecedented rates, posing serious threat to survival of humans.

Climate positive economy

The event brought together governments, indigenous peoples, private sector and civil society to support delivery of the Framework’s ten-point Plan for financing biodiversity and shift towards a nature and climate positive economy.

Ghana’s pledge towards a healthy planet

Mr Jinapor, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo in the Savannah Region, pledged Ghana’s full commitment to biodiversity protection and preservation for a healthy planet.

Several benefits biodiversity

He said biodiversity provides so several benefits, including food, medicine, energy, clean air and water, security from natural disasters as well as recreation and cultural inspiration.

Biodiversity loss is synonymous to forest and wildlife loss

The Lands and Natural Resource Minister pointed out that biodiversity loss is synonymous to forest and wildlife loss, which constitutes a huge ecosystem of varying fauna and flora, and Ghana’s commitment to halt forest and wildlife loss includes a commitment to protect the world’s biodiversity.

3,600 species of flora in Ghana

There are a total of 3,600 species of flora in Ghana and records show that there could be as many as 221 species of amphibians and reptiles, 728 species of birds (15 species of water birds occur in internationally-important numbers) and 225 mammalian species.

16% of Ghana’s land area under some form of protection

Approximately 16% (more than 38,000 km2) of the total land area of Ghana is under some form of protection; another 20-30% or more is under plantation of predominantly cash and food crops.

Declaration on Forest and Land Use

According to him, the Global Biodiversity Framework aligns with the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use, which Ghana signed at COP26 in 2021.

10-point Plan of the Global Biodiversity Framework

Mr Jinapor said Ghana endorses the 10-point Plan of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and is committed to work with other governments and partners to protect and conserve biodiversity.

Event held at Buckingham Palace

The event was held at the Lancaster House in London, and was followed by a working reception, hosted by the British Monarch, King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace, the official London residence and royal palace of the British Monarch.

King Charles III met CEOs, Ministers from international governments

The King also met a number of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) who are members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, as well as Ministers from international governments and indigenous representatives.

Business leaders

Business leaders who attended the reception included senior representatives of SMI, which was founded by His Majesty when he was The Prince of Wales.

King Charles III has been a champion for the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss for more than five decades.

The SMI was launched at The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos.

The SMI’s mission is to build a coordinated global effort that enables the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

This includes aligning industry, investment and country roadmaps (Nationally Determined Contributions).

Terra Carta

Under the mandate of the Terra Carta, a private sector roadmap for Nature, People and Planet, the SMI is working to encourage three major market transformations namely a dramatic shift in corporate strategies, operations and supply chains, a  reformed global financial system and an enabling environment that attracts investment and incentivises action.

Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership

Last year, Jinapor co-chaired the first ministerial meeting of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) with the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Secretary John Kerry at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) at Sharm El-Sheikh, in Egypt.

The historic meeting which was attended by 28 ministers and five observer countries, formed the ministers’ final participation in COP27.

Discussions at the meeting centered on how to develop a framework for 2023 and beyond to help achieve the objectives of the partnership.