PRESS RELEASE!!! 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon launches #WeLeadYou campaign to call on President Mahama to fight for climate justice at upcoming United Nations Climate Summit • Call on the President to hold rich countries of the Global North accountable for starting climate change, announcement of rally in Accra on Friday 19th September ahead of summit in New York on the 23rd ACCRA 11th September 2014: Climate change campaigners 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon (350 G-ROC) today launched the #weleadyou campaign with a call on President Mahama to fight for climate justice for Ghanaians, at a forthcoming UN Climate Summit. As the impacts of increased drought, flooding and rising temperatures are felt by many of the poorest communities across the country; President Mahama is expected to join other African and world leaders at yet another climate talking shop, the United Nations Climate Summit hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in New York on the 23rd September. #WeLeadYou launches today with a call for action not words from national leaders in the fight against climate change. The campaign kicked-off on-line where climate campaigners have been sending climate demands direct to the President on Twitter. Next, communities affected by drought, flooding and other global warming impacts are coming together with NGOs and individuals to deliver a petition to the President with two key demands namely: to hold rich countries of the Global North accountable for starting climate change by making sure they pay their fair share to help people in our countries adapt to climate change; and to choose clean solar and wind power over dirty fossil fuels. 350 G-ROC also announced a major #WeLeadYou rally that will take place on Friday 19th September with civil society partners, students, youth groups and associations gathering in Temato show solidarity in the fight against climate change. The event will feature music, speeches and an exhibition of sustainable products and services and will begin at 12noonat the Olam Senior High School Forecourt, Community 1 – Tema. Launching #WeLeadYou in Accra, Chibeze Ezekiel, of 350 G-ROC said, “Global leaders have failed us time and again in the fight against climate change. Enough is enough, it is time for action not words. We lead you President Mahama, now it’s your turn to hold the rich countries of the Global North accountable for starting climate change and show climate leadership by choosing clean solar and wind energy over dirty fossil fuels.” Ezekiel is concerned about the climate change impacts on Ghana’s agricultural sector saying that “climate change means an environmental situation affecting the agricultural sector which is believed to be the back-bone of Ghanas economy. It also means increased disaster occurrences. Our leaders must take action to salvage the economy from disaster with emphasis on the agricultural sector. They must act now if human lives and properties are to be protected from drought, floods and heat waves.” Ghana recently launched National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and National Environment Policy papers, setting out the Government’s plans to tackle the twin threats of global warming and environmental degradation, two of the biggest threats to our country’s sustainable future. Despite these promising policies and a call by the President for strong leadership to help in meeting the environmental challenges the country faces, it remains to be seen whether there is the political will to deliver against these promises. One of the chief concerns is the potential huge increase in Ghana’s CO2 emissions resulting from the proposed development of the coal-fired power plant. Currently Ghana emits about 24 megatonnes of carbon dioxide a year and developing a coal-fired power station will certainly compromise the state of the environment as it spews more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. ENDS For further information or to request interviews with 350 G-ROC spokespersons please contact: Chibeze EzekielFarid Shamsu-Deen National CoordinatorMedia & Communications Coordinator +233 244 967931+233 233 275280 Follow us at [https://facebook/pages/Ghana-Reducing-Our-Carbon-G-ROC/466541173438577?ref=hl] and sign up to #WeLeadYou at 350Africa.org/weleadyou
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 13:14:05 +0000
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