Communicating Climate Change Impacts in Ghana

What is Climate Change?
Climate change, also called by many as global warming, is the rise in average surface temperature on Earth. The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) indicates that the warming of the climate system is equivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades of millennia; the atmosphere and the ocean have warmed; amount of snow and ice have reduced; sea level has risen; and the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) have increased. There is an increasing global consensus that climate change is due to human use of fossil fuel which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases in the atmospheric system. These gases when released get trapped in the atmosphere and with time can have great effects on ecosystems.

Causes of Climate Change
Climate change is caused by both natural and human/anthropogenic factors. The natural factors include volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. While scientific evidence is more indulgent on the natural factors, an overwhelming scientific study indicates that climate change is greatly caused by human/anthropogenic activities. Notable anthropogenic activity is the combustion of fossil fuel such as coal, petroleum and natural gas, which emit greenhouse gases (notably CO₂) into the atmosphere. Other anthropogenic activities that result in climate change are agriculture and deforestation. Through timber extraction or traditional shifting cultivation, the land is exposed to the intense of the sun. This in turn modifies evapotranspiration and water cycle regulation is affected. Also, when a tree is harvested, a harmful gas, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. While some quantities of these gases occur naturally and are essential parts of the climate system, high concentration of it is not desirable. Concentration of CO₂ did not rise above 300 parts per million (ppm) between the beginning of civilisation (10,000 years ago and 1900). Today, atmospheric CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere is about 400 ppm or more, a level not reached in more than 400,000 years.

Impacts of Climate Change in Ghana
The impacts of climate change, both observed and projected are very severe and cuts across boundaries. Veraciously speaking, while there is a fair understanding of climate change and its impacts among stakeholders in the government and civil societies, it is not apparently imbedded more widely among the grassroots. Ghana is already experiencing increase in extreme conditions of higher and prolonged floods and drought as a result of climate change. This however disproportionally affects the poor. Many of Ghana’s economic assets-the coastal zone, agriculture and water resources are affected by climate change and which in turn affects poverty reduction, health and livelihood. The coastal zone for instance is very essential to the economy, as it is the source of food (in the form of fish) and employment, yet hit by extreme vulnerability to excessive flooding. For instance, communities along Keta in the Volta region are being washed away by the sea at an increasing rate, raising so much alarm. Over the past years flooding has demonstrated how climate change sabotages development investments. In 2007, 317,000 people were affected by floods in Northern Ghana, 1000km of roads were destroyed, 210 schools and 45 health facilities damaged and 630 drinking water facilities damaged. Similarly, the 2014 heavy rainfall on 6^th March and June 3^rd 2015 heavy downpour in the Greater Accra region that resulted in devastating repercussions on human life and properties is an indication to the fact climate change has dawn on Ghana. While the latter can be blamed on improper siting of properties and filth, one cannot deny the fact that precipitation has totalling changed.

Temperatures have warmed by 1­­­⁰C over the past 30 years and the country is presently experiencing prolonged dry seasons and crop failures, causing frustrations and despair. Temperatures in all ecological zones of Ghana are rising, while rainfall has been reducing and becoming increasingly erratic. Meanwhile it is important for the maintenance of the ecology (e.g. water regulation) and agriculture. Presently, rivers and streams are reportedly drying up in some parts of the country, while other parts are also experiencing acute water shortages. Residents of Nsawam in the Eastern region have to struggle with animals for a dried up Densu River. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show (15/02/2016), Professor Emanuel Amamoo-Otchere, CEO of the Development Geo-Information Service (DeGEOSERV), attributed these challenges to changes in weather and land use patterns. The excessive heat also results in health implications. Although not scientifically proven, the current incidence of pneumococcal meningitis which has claimed more than 90 lives nationwide could have some linkages to the effects of climate change on human health. This is because the meningitis is believed to occur from excessive heat.

Pressure on commercial and domestic water; reduced crop yields leading to more poverty and food insecurity and the loss of national revenue from cash crops; increased migration-addition to urban pressure; deteriorating health-increased disease outbreaks; loss of biodiversity and soil fertility as a result of degrading of land and increasing deforestation, are some of the desolating impacts of climate change our country is likely to suffer.

Responding to Climate Change Impacts
We respond to climate change by adapting to its impacts and reducing GHGs. The capacity to adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts depends on socio-economic and environmental circumstances and availability of information and technology.

Adaptation to climate change (the process of being resilient and able to cope with and recover from the impacts of climate change) is the sure way of dealing with this menace. Observing the reality of climate change dawn of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama speaking at Independence Day gathering on 6^th March, 2014 acknowledged that “we must implement climate change adaptability……. and sharpen our ability to be able to better predict the behaviour of the weather in order to be able to adapt to it.”

Going forward, I would recommend for the water sector an integrated water resource management policy framework which includes, expansion of rainwater harvesting; water storage and conservation techniques; water reuse; and desalination, water-use-and irrigation efficiency.

Also for agriculture, I would recommend climate smart agriculture (CSA) policy framework which includes adjustment of planting dates and crop variety; crop rotation; improved land management; mixed farming; mulching use; and land use intensification.

Finally, for human health, I would recommend public health policy framework which also includes heat-health-action plans such as emergency medical services; water and improved sanitation; and improvement in climate sensitive surveillance and control.

Francis Diawuo (MPhil Candidate)
Email: [email protected]
University for Development Studies-Wa, Ghana