From 14 to 18 October 2024, Ghana organized the Climate Change and Green Economy Week, a week-long, annual national initiative organized as part of the implementation of the country’s National Climate Change and Green Economy Learning Strategy (NCCLS), developed in collaboration with UN CC:Learn. The 2024 theme, “Greening Education – Changing Mindsets, Changing Lifestyles,” underscored the vital role of education in transforming societies toward a greener and more sustainable future.
Led by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with support from multiple partners, the initiative brought together a range of actors, including government officials, civil society, educators, and students. Several activities took place across the country’s 16 regions and were designed to raise awareness and improve public understanding of climate change.
Among the activities carried out over the week, a new Youth Climate Dialogue (YCD) was organized between Ghanaian high school students and their peers at the Hiroshima Global Academy in Japan. Conducted via videoconference, the session enabled students from both countries, who would otherwise never have met, to exchange on the impacts of climate change in their respective communities, learn from different perspectives, and discuss possible solutions.
Other events during the week included the following: a media day, which used TV, radio, and online platforms to disseminate information on climate change nationwide; a street procession in Accra, the country’s capital, that gathered around 800 participants, including students, women’s groups, and civil society organizations, to draw attention to the climate crisis; and a national symposium and exhibition at the National Theatre, which brought together stakeholders to present climate-related policies and projects.
Moreover, stories and experiences were recorded during the week and later featured at the UNFCCC COP29in Baku, Azerbaijan, as examples of locally driven climate action.
In addition, as part of the related celebrations, a Senior High School Quiz took place in the Northern Region of Ghana. The quiz, which involved the Vittin, Kalpohin, and Ghana Senior High Schools, was aimed at enhancing climate knowledge and awareness among students as part of the schools’ efforts to integrate climate change topics into school curricula.
The 2024 Climate Change and Green Economy week has proven to be an important tool to leverage nationwide climate action. As Ghana continues to strengthen its response to climate change, initiatives like this are expected to play an increasingly important role in the country’s climate efforts. By investing in education and public engagement, Ghana is laying the groundwork for long-term resilience and more informed decision-making.