Ghana calls for global cooperation, climate financing at V20 Dialogue in Washington

The Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has called for stronger global cooperation and increased climate financing to help vulnerable nations confront the growing impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the 16th V20 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, DC, Minister Seidu stressed that addressing the climate crisis is not only a moral responsibility but an economic necessity requiring urgent and collective action.

“Climate action is not just a moral imperative, but also an economic necessity,” he told finance ministers, development partners, and senior government officials at the high-level meeting.

Delivering Ghana’s position on the theme; “Prosperity, Stability, and Security in an Era of Planetary Instability,” the minister conveyed greetings from John Dramani Mahama and reaffirmed Ghana’s alignment with the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group’s push for accelerated climate action.

“As a vulnerable nation, we are experiencing severe climate impacts—from droughts to floods—threatening our development gains and pushing vulnerable populations further into poverty,” he said.

The minister highlighted the importance of the V20-Development Finance Institutions (DFI) Compact as a critical tool for addressing debt burdens while unlocking climate finance for developing countries.

He urged development finance institutions to adopt more flexible and supportive financing models.

“We commend ongoing initiatives and urge development finance institutions to adopt concessional financing, longer tenors, and climate-responsive debt instruments,” he stated.

He further called for targeted global support, including concessional financing for adaptation and mitigation, debt relief for climate-vulnerable countries, and expanded technology transfer and capacity-building initiatives.

The minister also underscored Ghana’s commitment to reducing methane emissions as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

“Methane reduction is a key lever to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Ghana is committed to reducing methane emissions and calls for global cooperation on clean energy transitions,” he added.

Seidu Issifu stressed the need to prioritise climate justice and equity, urging global leaders to adopt people-centred solutions that protect the most vulnerable.

“We must prioritise climate justice, equity, and people-centred solutions,” he said.

He also pointed to Ghana’s progress in renewable energy, noting that support from the Green Climate Fund has delivered tangible results.

However, he called for increased support to help the country achieve its target of 30 per cent renewable energy in its electricity generation mix.

“We need scaled-up support to reach our renewable energy targets and build climate-resilient infrastructure,” he added.

Strengthening Global Partnerships

The minister concluded by reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to international collaboration in tackling climate change and advancing sustainable development.

“Together, we can achieve prosperity, stability, and security in the face of planetary instability,” he said.

The V20 Ministerial Dialogue brought together finance ministers, policymakers, and development partners to explore solutions to the growing climate crisis, particularly its impact on vulnerable economies.