West Africa Needs Assistance to Address Climate Change

Momodou Kotu Cham, the Secretary of State for Forestry and the Environment, has said that as the vulnerability of the sub-region to climate change and climate variability continues, West African countries need assistance to address the most pressing adaptation and implementing adequate adaptation measures.

Secy Cham made these remarks at the opening of the ECOWAS climate change focal point preparatory meeting on the Bali Road Map, recently held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

He maintained that development and transfer of technology remains at the forefront as key elements for crafting at future climate regime and enabling the effective implementation for on-going action on both mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

He said that there is need to clarify how finance and technology support both the mitigation and more importantly for West Africa, adaptation will be generated.

“As we move towards Copenhagen, all efforts should be made to conclude on ‘Annex countries’ further commitment in the form of quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives (QELROs). The Ad-hoc working group on long-term cooperation action will have to finalize an agreement on all four building blocks and share visions,” he said.

Other speakers included Ousman Jarjue, Director of Water Resources, and Momodou B Sarr, Director of National Environment Agency (NEA).