Transcript Ghana’s Initial National Communication William K. Agyemang-Bonsu EPA

Ghana’s Initial National
Communication
William K. Agyemang-Bonsu
EPA
Ghana’s UNFCCC and KP
Implementation Efforts - 1
Ghana’s Initial National Communication


Greenhouse gas emissions inventory
Vulnerability and adaptation Assessment
Impacts of Climate on




Water Resources
Agriculture
Coastal Zone
Mitigation Options
Reduction of Emissions from Energy
Enhancement of sink capacity through forest protection and
regeneration
Emissions Profile
GHG EMISSIONS WITHOUT LUCF
14,878
CO2 EQUIVALENT EMISSIONS (Gg)
15,000
14,265
14,500
14,004
13,999
14,000
13,500
13,000
12,673
12,388
12,500
12,267
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500
10,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
YEAR
1994
1995
1996
Emissions Profile (Net)
NET CO2 EQUIVALENT
EMISSIONS (Gg)
GHG EMISSION WITH LUCF
-1,000
-6,000
-5,411
-4,082
-8,806
-11,000
-16,000
-21,000
-5,971
-15,585
-20,417 -21,191
-26,000
1990
1991
1992
1993
YEAR
1994
1995
1996
Vulnerability and Adaptation
Assessments
The Netherlands Climate Change Studies
Assistance Programme (NCCSAP 1)
Impacts of climate change Water
Resources, agriculture and coastal zone
Some of Results Impacts Climate Change
on Water Resources in Ghana
Reduction in flows between 15-20% and 30-40% for
the year 2020 and 2050 respectively in all the basins.
Groundwater recharge was to reduce between 5% and
22% by the year 2020 and 30% - 40% by the year
2050.
Irrigation water demand was to increase to about 40%
and 150% for 2020 and 2050 due to climate change
respectively and 5% and 17% without climate change
Hydropower generation could seriously be affected by
climate change leading about 60% reduction in
available water in all basins by 2020, already is being
felt.
Impacts on Agriculture
Production
V&A was done for cereal production,
specifically for maize, millet, rice and
sorghum
It was projected that the yield of maize
would decrease to 6.9% in the year 2020.
The yield of millet, however, would not be
affected by climate change because millet
is more drought-tolerant and therefore
insensitive to temperature rise
Impacts on Coastal Zone
Direct inundation (or submergence) of low-lying wetland and
dry-land areas
Erosion of soft shores by increasing offshore loss of sediment,
e.g. 3m per year along the east coast is now occurring
Increases in salinity of estuaries and aquifers
Raised coastal water tables
Exacerbated coastal flooding and storm damage.
These impacts will in turn influence coastal habitats, biodiversity and socio-economic activities
Estimated cost of protecting all shorelines (550km) at risk with
populations greater than 10 persons per km2 with seawalls is
US$1.14 billion (based on 2000 cost estimates). The protection
of only the important areas, reduces that cost to US$590 million.
Results of Ghana Coastal Zone
Vulnerability Assessment
The assessment of the vulnerability of Ghana’s
coastal zone to climate change carried out by
the Environmental Protection Agency in 2000,
provides a number of insightful results.
It has been estimated that:


3.3% of the population within the coastal zone is at
risk as a result of inundation and shoreline recession
and this population is mainly within the east coast,
In the east coast, the erosion of the shores may be
occurring at an average rate of 3 m per year
Results of Ghana Coastal Zone
Vulnerability Assessment
A total of 1,110 km2 of land along the coast will be lost if
nothing is done to protect them. Most of the affected
areas are within the east coast. The areas east of the
Volta River estuary are particularly vulnerable. The
central coast is the least vulnerable in Ghana. The land
at risk includes significant areas that are currently
wetland with substantial amounts of mangroves.
There will be rise in soil moisture content of sandy and
silty soils along the coastal zone. These soils when
subjected to vibrations will liquefy. The structures
founded on these soils could thus be at risk of collapse
during earthquakes. The rising water table as a result of
sea-level rise will increase the risk of earthquake
hazards. The highest risk zone is the Accra area. The
risk diminishes eastward and westward.
Results of Ghana Coastal Zone
Vulnerability Assessment
The cost of protecting all shorelines at risk with
populations greater than 10 persons per km2 with
seawalls is US$1,144 million. The protection of important
areas reduces that cost to US$590 million.
Major water supply facilities that serve Axim, SekondiTakoradi, Cape Coast, Winneba and Accra as well as the
South-eastern District Water Supply Scheme at
Sogakope and Ada will be affected as a result of salt
water intrusion, which has the potential of increasing
water treatment costs
The EPA climate change vulnerability and adaptation
assessment of the coastal zone of Ghana further
revealed gaps in legislation and institutional
arrangements for the management of the coastal zone.
Sustainable Development
Criteria for CDM Projects
Social
Good Governance (should not lead to social unrest)
Poverty reduction
Creating employment
Creating economic opportunities
Equitable access and utilisation of resources
Skill and expertise development
Improvement in the quality of lives of the citizens
Access to affordable energy
Economic
Promote economic growth
Promoting Investments
Being a major player in the global
economy
Provide macro economic benefits, such as
foreign exchange generation
Equitable access and participation to
economic opportunities
Environmental
Improve local environment
Local air quality
Brown and Green issues
Environmental health issues
Sustainable forests management
Development of environmental friendly
technologies
Increasing the quantity and quality of
environmental management skills