Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang held a bilateral meeting with the Special Advisor to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Selwin Hart, on Climate Action and Just Transition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
A statement issued by the Office of the Vice President said she accepted Mr Hart’s condolences on the recent tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of eight prominent Ghanaians including two cabinet ministers.
It said the two went on to discuss the critical importance of advancing global climate action in 2025.
The Vice President reiterated the fact that climate change recognizes no national borders.
“Since many of the causes of climate change are man-made, we must find sustainable and fair solutions together,” Vice Opoku-Agyemang stated.
She stressed the injustice of climate impacts, noting that poorer countries, who contributed the least to the crisis, often bear the heaviest burdens.
“Rising sea levels, particularly affecting small islands and coastal communities, have led to pressing issues such as migration and food insecurity,” she stated.
She urged the United Nations to amplify the voices of the vulnerable countries globally and advocated for a multidimensional and Pan-African approach, where countries share strategies, integrate adaptation measures, and scale up solutions collectively.
The Vice President highlighted Ghana’s ongoing initiatives, including the use of floating solar panels at the Bui Dam to diversify energy sources, and the work of institutions such as the University of Energy and Natural Resources in preparing citizens to sustain climate-related policies.
She emphasized that climate solutions must go hand in hand with reforms to the international financial architecture, as unsustainable debt servicing continues to divert resources away from critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and climate adaptation strategies.
“We need a holistic approach to climate, debt, and development challenges. Fairness, equity, and accountability must guide global action if we are to achieve just and lasting solutions,” the Vice President said.