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Tag: COP28

  • Atmosphere is indifferent to the possibility – COP veteran

    Atmosphere is indifferent to the possibility – COP veteran

    Earlier, an argument about climate science almost took the attention away from the negotiations.

    Sultan al-Jaber, the leader of COP28, changed his mind about saying there is no scientific reason to stop using fossil fuels to keep the global temperature from rising too much.

    I found Prof Jean-Pascal van Ypersele in the main hall. He used to be the second leader of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is the top authority on climate science worldwide.

    This is his 27th meeting about the world’s climate at the UN. He has seen many agreements made and then forgotten.

    “In 21 pages, there are 100 times that words like acknowledging, noting, recognizing are used. ” “but the word ‘decide’ is only there four times,” he says.

    “The air doesn’t get it. ” It only knows about actual emissions, actual cuts, or actual carbon absorption.

    If governments agree on this draft at COP, the world will keep getting hotter because emissions won’t be reduced enough.

    More update on this story soon…

  • Govt didn’t sponsor Samira Bawumia to COP28 summit – Spokesperson

    Govt didn’t sponsor Samira Bawumia to COP28 summit – Spokesperson

    Government spokesperson, Kofi Tonto, clarified that wife of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Samira Bawumia, was not an official government delegate at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

    Mr Tonto explained that Mrs. Bawumia’s trip was sponsored by climate change advocacy groups she had been engaged with over the years.

    While not justifying the size of Ghana’s delegation, Tonto emphasized the need to set the record straight regarding Samira Bawumia’s participation.

    “The government didn’t sponsor Samira to go to COP. Samira has been engaged in a lot of climate work activity… Just do a cursory look on her social media, you will see that Samira has been doing climate work for the longest time,” he defended.

    Aside from that, she is even engaged in clean cooking, “part of climate change is ensuring accessible, sustainable, affordable and clean cooking fuels for African women and children,” he read from one of Samira’s social media posts.

    Kofi Tonto highlighted that Samira Bawumia had participated in Pre-COP28 meetings in Ghana before attending the summit in Dubai. The host of the program acknowledged the occurrence of these preparatory meetings.

    Opposition Member of Parliament, Murtala Mohammed, had criticized the delegation’s size and questioned the presence of the Second Lady at the summit.

  • Namibia upset about president’s children’s trip to Dubai for COP28

    Namibia upset about president’s children’s trip to Dubai for COP28

    Some people in Namibia are angry because they found out that President Hage Geingob‘s four children went with the government’s group to the COP28 climate summit.

    Six of the president’s family members were part of Namibia’s group in Dubai.

    President Geingob’s office said on Monday that his children went to the city, but they did not use government money for their trip.

    The office didn’t say how the rest of the family got paid.

    President Geingob and Madame Geingos used their own money to pay for their children’s flights and hotel stays. The Namibian Presidency announced this on Monday.

    “The people of Namibia and the media can be sure that no public money has been used for the first couple’s children. ”

    The president’s office said that the accusations were meant to harm his reputation and were motivated by politics. They are meant to take attention away from the great job President Geingob and the Namibian team did at COP28.

    However, some people in Namibia have said that the president’s response is not good enough. They think it doesn’t show that the President Geingob’s children and family paid for their own travel.

    Some people want the president to say why his family members went to COP28 and why they were part of the government group if their trip was paid for privately.

    “Do you think we are stupid. Why would they be on the delegates list if they weren’t part of it. Why is it important for them to be in Dubai with state delegates. ” a person from Namibia asked on X.

    Namibian MP Inna Hengari said that we are expecting a detailed report to be given in parliament.

    She was upset with the government for paying for the president’s family to travel, but saying they didn’t have enough money to pay for an MP and parliamentary official to go to COP28.

    Many people are upset about African governments sending a lot of people to COP28. They think it’s a waste of money.

    Some governments like Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya say that not all the delegates they send to meetings are paid for by the government. Some of them represent the media, charities, and private businesses.

  • “We are the poorest people on the globe” – Akufo-Addo says begging for cheaper loans

    “We are the poorest people on the globe” – Akufo-Addo says begging for cheaper loans

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to help poor and vulnerable countries access cheaper loans to finance their climate action plans.

    He made this call while speaking at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where world leaders are meeting to discuss how to tackle the global climate crisis.

    Akufo-Addo said that historically, countries like Ghana and other African nations have been paying more for borrowing money than those who have more resources and wealth.

    He said that this situation was unfair and unsustainable, and that it could only be reversed if the IMF and the World Bank became catalysts for bridging the gap between the rich and the poor.

    “Become bridges for countries like my own and the vulnerable countries to be able to access that … Historically the monies that we have access to have been the most expensive monies in the world, we are the poorest people on the people and when we borrow money we pay more for it than those who have money. That is a situation that can only be reversed if the World Bank and the IMF become this catalyst for being able to access the large monies that are out there. I think that for us for what we have seen in Ghana, it is something extremely important. That is one of the important decisions that have been taken by the …. (inaudible)” he said.

    Akufo-Addo also highlighted the efforts that Ghana has made to implement its climate action plan, which includes increasing renewable energy, restoring degraded lands, and promoting green jobs. He said that Ghana was committed to achieving its targets under the Paris Agreement, but that it needed more support and resources from the international community.

    COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments will discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change. The summit is being held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 30 November until 12 December 2023.

  • Govt did not fund all 618 COP28 delegates – EPA

    Govt did not fund all 618 COP28 delegates – EPA

    Ghana’s Deputy Head of Party of COP 28 and Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has clarified that the government did not fund all 618 delegates currently attending the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    He explained that those funded by the government include representatives of the country, such as government officials and negotiators.

    Dr. Kokofu, who also serves as the Special Envoy of CVF and Executive Director of EPA, expressed enthusiasm about the high number of delegates, noting that it provides an opportunity for more people to learn about climate change.

    “The government does not have any hand in the number of delegates who came for the conference. We explained this even before we left Ghana. We made sure to make announcements and people who showed interest registered for the conference,” he said in an audio interview.

    Data from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) reveals that Ghana has registered 618 delegates for the 28th Conference of Parties.

    This number represents a significant increase, with almost a 100% rise compared to the number of delegates sent in 2022 and 2021.

    At COP 27 in Egypt, Ghana had a delegation of 350, and at COP 26, there were 337 delegates comprising state and non-state actors. It has been observed that some delegates were funded by development partners.

    The list includes 95 individuals on the official “parties” list and 523 on the “party overflow” list. The high number of delegates has sparked discussions on social media, with some expressing surprise given the country’s current financial situation.

  • Ghana’s ‘large size’ delegation to COP28 must be investigated – Haruna Iddrisu

    Ghana’s ‘large size’ delegation to COP28 must be investigated – Haruna Iddrisu

    Tamale South Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for a parliamentary investigation into allegations that the government registered over 600 delegates for this year’s Conference of Parties (COP28).

    According to data from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ghana’s delegation to COP28 in Dubai has increased to 618 from 350 the previous year.

    The delegation includes 95 individuals on the official parties list and an additional 523 on the party overflow list.

    Mr Haruna Iddrisu expressed concern about the financial impact of the increased number of attendees at COP28 on the state coffers while speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, December 4, 2023.

    “Mr. Speaker, with this economic distress, how can Ghana lead a delegation of 618 persons? Are we shouldering the economic gain and hardship of the Ghanaian? And Mr. Speaker, I see a delegation of the president here at COP28… I am demanding that a committee looks at this,” he said.

  • Large delegations at COP28 defended by African nations

    Large delegations at COP28 defended by African nations

    Many African governments are explaining their choice to send a lot of people to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, even though many people are not happy about it.

    The UN’s list showed that Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Uganda sent the most people.

    Nigeria sent 1,411 people, Morocco sent 823, and Kenya sent 765.

    Officials from Nigeria and Kenya said that some of their delegates were not paid for by the government because they were representing the media, non-profit organizations, and private companies.

    Both countries also said that some of the people on the list are joining in from a different location.

    Nigeria is the largest country in Africa and has the biggest economy. Because it has a lot of natural resources, it is important for Nigeria to take action on climate change. That’s why they will have more delegates at a meeting than any other African country. This was said by an adviser to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.

    Kenya’s State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said on a TV station that the number of people at the event was not as high as reported because it included those who signed up but didn’t actually go.

    He said that the national government had only approved 51 important representatives and the other ones had been supported by different groups.

    The Tanzanian government said that over 90% of its delegations were paid for by private companies.

  • 10-member COP28 Committee inaugurated by Lands Minister

    10-member COP28 Committee inaugurated by Lands Minister

    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has established a 10-member committee responsible for orchestrating Ghana’s effective engagement in the upcoming 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly referred to as COP 28. 

    The Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC aims to address climate change on a global scale.

    Heading the committee is the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio. 

    The committee has been assigned several key responsibilities, including identifying funding sources for acquiring a pavilion, facilitating the attendance of government representatives at COP28, organizing a preliminary Natural Resource and environmental sector event ahead of COP28, and curating a series of events at Ghana’s designated pavilion during the conference.

    During the committee’s inauguration on August 9, 2023, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor emphasized Ghana’s prominent role in global climate change discussions. He expressed high expectations for the country to contribute significantly to policy ideas and initiatives surrounding climate issues at COP28. 

    Mr Jinapor highlighted that due to these expectations, he proactively established the committee to ensure Ghana’s meaningful and successful involvement in COP28.

    Furthermore, he revealed that Ghana, serving as the co-chair of COP28 alongside the United States of America, holds both an esteemed honor and a considerable challenge in delivering a successful conference. 

    The committee’s diligent execution of its defined tasks is essential to safeguard Ghana’s reputation and image as it takes on this role.

    “For very good reasons, Ghana has become a leading country when it comes issues of climate action. For COP28, expectations are very high and our ambitions are also high and I felt that very early on, I put together a team of competent and capable people which will be chaired by Benito Owusu-Bio” he said.

    The Lands Minister also proffered some suggestions to the committee on some the events that they can draw up to ensure that Ghana is well-represented at the conference.

    He said, “the Second Lady has become an iconic figure when it comes to climate action and I think that we should have a high-level event which will be dedicated to her where she can address audience at the event. I also think that you should have a panel discussion of high-level people. You can get John Kelly and other Ministers from forest countries to join me and the president.”

    Emphasizing the significance of conveying the African perspective in relation to climate change and climate action, the Minister underscored a concern regarding the unexplored narrative within this domain. He emphasized Ghana’s responsibility to delve into this uncharted territory.

    The committee’s Chairperson, Benito Owusu-Bio, welcomed the challenge extended by the Minister to him and his team, affirming their commitment to achieving flawless outcomes. He assured that the committee would provide the essential leadership to ensure Ghana’s successful engagement. Mr Owusu-Bio stressed the pivotal role of COP28 in shaping Ghana’s climate action strategies.

    Among the committee’s members are Mr. John Allotey, CEO of the Forestry Commission; Mr. Sulemana Koney, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines; Mr. Martin Ayisi, CEO of the Minerals Commission; Mr. Joseph Osiakwah, Technical Director of Forestry; Ms. Roselyn F. Adjei, Director of Climate Change at the Forestry Commission; the Head of the Climate Change Unit at the EPA; Mr. Emmanuel Okang; Head of the Protocol Unit; Mr. Cletus Alengah; and Mrs. Juliet Osei-Wusu.

    COP28, scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, will be hosted at Expo City in Dubai.