Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities.
It is for this and among other related factors that the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (STCCI), chose to focus on climate issues during its 5th Annual Ghana Industry Safety Conference, (GHISCON), 2019.
The two day event is on the theme: “Climate Change and Occupational Health and Safety”.
The Convener of the conference, Dr. Tony Aubynn, said the theme for the event is most appropriate in view of the need to create awareness on the need to protect the environment.
He said climate change is no longer the figment of anybody’s imagination; “this is purely science, 90% of studies conducted show that climate change is caused by the activities of the individuals.
Dr. Aubyn therefore reiterated the need to adopt best practices in order to help mitigate climate change adding that the conference also seeks to examine the impact of climate change on occupational health and safety, and advance strategies for reducing its impact on the safety and health of workers.
He also encouraged all stakeholders concerned, to immediately start integrating the climate change impacts that are already perceptible or that can be anticipated, in their occupational risk assessment approaches, which brings negative impact on the individuals.such disasters.
The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah highlighted on the fact that climate change has sequential effect on the job that is being delivered on the job market and that climate change issue should be addressed holistically as it may lead to loss of jobs.
He said there is the need for companies and individuals to think ahead whiles devising innovative and technological ways of doing things and also called for strict adherence of safety issues which should be extended to the communities.
The Western Regional Minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi, Kwabena Oyere Darko-Mensah, commended the STCCI for keeping their activities of supporting and promoting businesses in the Western Region.
He said the chamber through its activities has helped to grow a lot of business in diverse ways.
He added that there are a lot of business opportunities in the region and urged investors to continue to invest in the region.
In an exclusive interview with Twin City Radio News, Chairman of STCCI, Ato Van-Ess, explained that the Chamber sees climate change issues as one that needs to be prioritized in view of it devastating effect on the environment and how it can affect productivity.
He said concrete actions will be taken beginning with not only the large companies but with the small and medium scale enterprises adding that there’s a need to make climate Change a culture to protect the environment.
He noted that a number of activities undertaken by the industry and the citizenry have significant negative impact on the welfare of workers and the environment.
Mr. Van -Ess noted that a combination of ignorance, apathy and sheer malice have contributed to the growing danger that each of us face as we go about our daily activities; climate change is real and we are all affected by the negative effects of climate change” he said.
He emphasized that Africa and for that matter Ghana, is mostly hit by natural disaster; the devastation experienced in Africa and the world’s poorest countries is borne out of the unpreparedness and the absence of mitigating actions in the event of such disasters.
Also at the Conference was the Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) at the Ministry of Energy Kwasi Twum Addo who pointed out that the Ministry of Energy, as part of its effort in meeting the protocols under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Sustainable Development Goals, (SDGs) is implementing a Climate Change Smart Energy Action Plan (CC-SEAP) which seeks to integrate energy sector issues in the protocols into our energy sector activities.
He noted that the energy sector regulators, agencies and service providers are being encouraged to implement climate change mitigating actions that are reported periodically for publication and transmission to appropriate national and international agencies responsible for collating such information and data.
The action plan he said , aims to minimize greenhouse gases emissions from energy sector activities through the introduction of cleaner fuels and reducing end use consumption by improving on efficiencies of appliances as well as making renewable energy more prominent in the energy mix through legislation.
Mr. Twum Addo added that it is to enhance the resilience of the energy sector to climate change by supporting a regime that ensures compliance of energy services providers to international climate change protocols.
He noted that serious energy sector accidents have usually occurred with very little investigations undertaken from an energy delivery perspective, since the national reputation has very often overwhelmed the service delivery component.
He explained that this points out that national security has dominated in the investigations and very little space has been given to energy sector agencies to tag along; key learning points to help make paradigm shifts have not been availed to the industry.
To address this shortfall, he noted that the Ministry of Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some ministries such as Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation as well as Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for accident investigation and implementation of recommendations.
The Western Regional Minister who is also the MP for Takoradi, Kwabena Oyere Darko-Mensah, commended the STCCI for keeping their activities of supporting and promoting businesses in the Western Region.
He said the chamber through its activities has helped to grow a lot of business in diverse ways.
He added that there are a lot of business opportunities in the region and urged investors to continue to invest in the region.
Story filed by Marie Aziz Tunde
