Maize yields likely to Decrease due to climate change - EPA

Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday said current yields of maize and other cereals, are likely to decrease by year 2020 if climate-change-policies are not formulated.

This, Dr. Peter C. Acquah, Chief Executive Officer of EPA said, is due to the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climatic changes.

The other cereals likely to be affected are rice, sorghum and millet. Dr Acquah was speaking at the launch of the third and final Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report held in Accra from February 28 to March 3.

The IPCC working group III, comprising 140 representatives from 85 countries met in Accra to review the many technologies and policies that are available for reducing or limiting greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimise future climate change.

The delegates unanimously approved and launched an 800-page report for policy makers titled: "Climate Change 2001: Mitigation."

The report, among other things, called on governments to use the numerous technologies available for mitigating climate change.

Dr. Acquah said policies that would enhance the production of heat and drought-tolerant crops and the development of action programmes to discourage rampant removal of the vegetation cover are among some of the policies needed by Ghana to help mitigate the climate change.

Dr Acquah said despite the fact that Ghana does not emit greenhouse gases, studies have shown that the energy sector has the highest greenhouse gas emission potential.

"For Ghana to be able to contribute to the global effort of addressing the effects of climate change, clean and sustainable development pathways have to be followed," he said.

Dr Acquah said the development of renewable energy resources, especially solar and mini-hydro dams will go a long way in contributing to sustainable development efforts.

"The development of the transport sector especially the re-introduction of inter-city rail network, (Accra-Tema railway) and urban public transport will be of great benefit to the country," he added.

Professor Ogunlade Davidson, Co-chairman of the working group (three) of IPCC said until African governments adjust to some of the new technologies that would help mitigate climate change effects, they would continue to be worst hit by the effects of climate change.