Climate change is not only an environmental problem but also a development and security challenge. Climate change exacerbates already existing inequalities that in turn can result in an increase in conflict and contribution to threats to global stability and security. Water scarcity, declines in food production, increases in storms and flood migration make the MDGs much harder to reach for 2.6 billion people living on less than $2 a day. All this were contained in speech read by the UNDP representative in Ghana Mr. Dawuda Toure at the launch of the climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessment report in Accra. “Africa is seen to much expose to the threats of climate change”. A variety of studies shows that the LCDs and SIDs will be the hardest hit by climate change and these are the countries most in need of adaptation support for awareness raising, capacity development and action on the ground. He said climate change was not a future problem but rather needed to act now as it is already exerting a strong influence on the day to day economic development of Africa, particularly in terms of water, food security, health, ecosystem and livelihoods. Mr. Toure said the launching of the report was a welcoming initiative and hope that the new report will go along way in helping bring climate change issues at the center of this country’s development strategy. The Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mr. Jonathan Allotey said the impact of climate change on the Ghanaian economy requires that an integrated approach is pursued in the development of coherent national policies. ‘Currently work going on to produce both climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies”. He said there should be increased efforts by the public and private sector to mainstream climate change concerns into their programs including developing their climate change policies. Mr. Allotey pledged his out total support to the new initiative
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