Transcript a presentation on environment and climate change

A PRESENTATION ON
ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
CHANGE ISSUES IN THE
EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH OF GHANA
AT
THE WORLD COMMUNION OF REFORMED
CHURHCES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONFERENCE
HELD AT ABOKOBI, ACCRA, GHANA ON THE 8TH
MAY, 2013.
Background
• Historically the Evangelical Presbyterian Church had
been engaged in agro forestry work some fifty years
ago in Northern Ghana. However, this activity was
intensified when the church launched its Agenda 21
Programme for the Upper Northern Presbytery
(Northern Region) in 2002.
• This project became necessary due to the
unacceptable levels to which the issues of sanitation,
nutrition and environment had gotten to. The initial
and continuous support of funds came from Bremen
Mission, AWO and the Lippe Church all in Germany
for which the EP Church is forever grateful.
• Under the AGENDA 21 Project, three development
modules were piloted in the areas Sanitation, Health
& Nutrition, and Environment.
• Under the Sanitation module, food vendors were
supplied with food cages from which meals were
served to keep away flies and other disease causing
vectors, and they were also trained in food safety
and delivery to school children and the general
public in addition to community clean – up exercises
that were undertaken periodically.
• Under Health and Nutrition, the use and application
of a nutritious plant called Moringa Oleifera was
introduced to communities and families. Workshops
were held for rural women and households on the
appropriate utilization of Moringa as a protein
fortifier and a highly nutritious vegetable.
• On the Environment, communities and individual
farmers were trained in agro forestry and supplied
with tree seedlings from the three EP CHURCH
agricultural stations where nurseries were
established for that purpose.
• The end of project evaluation clearly stated that the
environment module performed the best and
recommended its continuation. This vote of
confidence was taken seriously by the EPC, which
started to look for partners to continue with this
laudable project.
Major Activities
• The Agenda 21 project adopted appropriate and
positive strategies to achieve its main aim of
restoring degraded lands and promoting
afforestation through the establishment of
community woodlots.
• Whenever a community was identified to undertake
a woodlot project, fire volunteers were first selected
and trained by the Ghana National Fire Service in
basic fire education and fire fighting methods.
• These volunteers became the policemen and women
who protected the woodlots from wild and
uncontrolled bushfires that are rampant in the
Northern Region of Ghana, and constitute the
biggest threat to afforestation activities. Through this
intervention, the EPC established over 60 acres of
woodlots in 3 administrative districts of the northern
region, namely Saboba, Yendi and Chereponi over a
five year period and trained over 200 Fire Volunteers
to date.
EPC / ARC Collaboration
• In 2005 contact was established with the Alliance of
Religions and Conservation of the U.K. through the
All Africa Conference of Churches in Nairobi, Kenya
about environmental activities that the EPC was
engaged in. Discussions on the issue continued until
2007, when proposals were called for, and very little
financial support began in 2010 as part of ARC’s
Africa campaign that seeks to promote
environmental education and conservation in
partnership with Religious Bodies.
• Out of this collaboration the EPC planted 10 acres of
degraded lands within the Ho municipality in 2010
and another 2,500 tree seedlings in the Adaklu Waya
district in September, 2011.
• Since then, the EPC has been represented in 3
international workshops organized by the ARC in
Nairobi, Kenya, between 2010 – 2012 during which
the tremendous work that Faith Bodies were
involved in on the continent, in the area of
environmental protection and conservation were
presented or displayed for international NGOS,
Development Partners, Government and quasi
Government organizations, to appreciate and offer
assistance to such projects and where new
partnerships were sought.
Climate Change
• Policy on Climate Change
• In 2011, the EPC adopted a policy on Environment
and Climate Change at its 3rd General Assembly to
demonstrate the seriousness it attaches to matters
of the environment. The main thrust of the policy is
the promotion of education, management and
conservation of the environment through activities
that include massive tree planting, establishment of
nurseries, water harvesting and storage techniques,
and solar disinfection of water among others.
• The policy also enjoins all structures of the church to
undertake various activities that gave expression to
this policy thrust. Ever since, the EPC intensified its
environmental protection role by initiating new
projects, while consolidating old ones.
RELBONET (Religious Bodies Network
on Climate Change)
• In 2010, the Religious Bodies Network on Climate
Change was formed in Ghana, with the EP Church as
the lead organization in recognition for its leadership
role exhibited during the formation stage. RELBONET
is an inter Faith Platform that has over 13 mainline
religious organizations in membership which also
include the officially recognized Muslim
Organizations, the Chief Imam’s office and other
Faiths.
Some of RELBONET’s affiliated institutions
include:
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Christian Council of Ghana
National Catholic Secretariat
Council of Independent Churches
Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council
Ghana Muslim Mission
Tijanniya Movement
Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission
Office of the National Chief Imam
Institute of Environment and Sanitation – University of Ghana
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance
Ghana Climate Adaptation Network
Climate Action Network.
The objectives of RELBONET among others are:
• To become lead advocates and actors on the issues
of climate change
• To advocate for good climate policies through regular
engagement of policy makers and implementers.
• To inform educate and communicate accurate and
relevant information on climate change to Religious
Bodies
• To undertake tree planting and growing activities to
mitigate the effects of climate change in Ghana.
• Since formation, RELBONET has carried out National
Workshops on Climate Change for Religious Leaders
and participated in stakeholder consultations that
resulted in the formulation of a National Policy and a
National Adaptation Strategy on climate change that
currently awaits Presidential assent. RELBONET
continues to seek and occupy any available space
that is created in Ghana for climate change discourse
and practical activities.
• In February and May 2012, the Alliance of Religions
and Conservation in collaboration with TREE AID,
another U.K. Charity and in partnership with the
Forestry Service, held a 3 day workshop for Religious
Bodies in Tamale, Northern Ghana.
Map of Ghana
• The workshop was held on the theme, ’The Role of
Religious Bodies in Tree Conservation and
Management’’. The workshop provided the
opportunity for representatives of churches,
mosques and other Faiths to be educated on tree
planting in drought stricken environments and also
have a ‘’hands on’’ training in nursery management
skills, after which the ARC supported RELBONET
through the EPC to procure and plant 20,000 trees in
the 3 Regions of Northern Ghana and 5000 seedlings
at Adaklu Waya in the Volta Region.
• In addition, the EPC established nurseries at Dambai
and HO in the Volta Region with a total of 15,000
tree seedlings that will be used as planting materials
for this year.
• This year, we shall plant a total of 36,000 tree
seedlings throughout Ghana with support from
congregations and partners and increase the size of
our established nurseries. This action is employed to
make the EPC self-sufficient in planting materials
every year.
ECO CLUBS
• Another positive intervention the EPC introduced is
the establishment of Eco Clubs in basic schools. To
date, we have established 15 Eco- Clubs, two of
which have participated in tree planting activities at
Adaklu Waya and Peki Dzake in the Volta Region as
pilot projects. We have also trained over 50 School
Teachers and Heads on the need to form these clubs
and how to run them successfully. We shall scale up
the formation and support to Eco Clubs this year
with the assistance of partners and in collaboration
with the Education Department of the Church.
• The EP University College (EPUC) was supported last
year to plant 2000 teak trees at Wumenu, a newly
acquired site to demarcate their land boundaries.
This year we shall continue with the support to the
EPUC with 1000 teak seedlings to protect their land
boundaries.
Eco Congregations
• The concept of promoting Eco Congregations as part
of the EPC’s environmental protection activities has
also been introduced and is catching up fairly
well. This concept was recommended to the EPC by
her partners from the Church of Scotland in 2010.
• The EP Elom parishes at Ho and the Peki Blengo have
signed on to undertake massive tree planting
activities on lands that they have acquired for the
purpose. The AG. 21 Programme will support them
with tree seedlings to kick start their projects and
train them on nursery management skills to enable
them establish independent nurseries this major
season. We expect many more congregations to
follow their example.
Long Term Plan
• The EP Church has drawn up a long term
environment plan for the next seven years with
assistance from the ARC which was launched
alongside other plans prepared by selected Faith
Bodies in Africa in Nairobi, Kenya last year. In that
plan, EPC proposes to plant 7 million trees with
adequate financial and technical support from
partners and collaborators
• The ARC is in consultation with some international
NGOS and benevolent countries to support these
long term plans of faith bodies in Africa. This
intervention is the Faith Bodies’ contribution to
climate change mitigation in Africa if the required
collaboration and support is received from all
stakeholders.
National Engagements
In Ghana, the EPC as lead organization in RELBONET
participated in the ff: annual consultations
• Civil Society Organizations’ Annual Review Workshop
of the Natural Resource and Environment Sector
Programme.
• Validation workshop on the National Climate Change
Policy
• Annual reviews of The Adaptation Learning
Programme by CARE INTL.
• Validation workshop on the REDD+ Preparedness
Plan
• Consultation workshop for CSO’s on the Forest
Investment Plan by Forestry Commission
• CSO’s De –Briefing Workshop of COP 18[Post Doha]
Climate Summit.
• TREE AID Stakeholders Forum on a E U Proposal
• Ghana Climate Adaptation Network [GHANA CAN] –
Advocacy Strategy Development Workshop.
International Activities
• Participated in the Global Climate Change Summit
[COP 17] of 2011 – Durban South Africa
• International Symposium on Climate Justice –
Germany 2010
• Annual General Meeting of Eco Congregations of the
Church of Scotland – 2012
• Climate Justice and Sustainable Peace in Africa –
Accra, 2012
Awards
• For all these interventions and activities, the EPC has
won some enviable recognition both at home and
abroad which include the ff:
• UN Environment Award presented by the UN Secretary
General Ban Kin Moon and Prince Phillip in November,
2009.
• National Award for Environmental Protection Activities
on the World Environment Day,organized by the
Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana – June, 2011.
• Regional Best Community Environment Protection
Award – Northern Region of Ghana – by the
Environmental Protection Agency - 2010
Challenges
• Major challenges facing the interventions include:
• Wild and uncontrolled bushfires
• Limited community participation( Reduction in
community participation spirit)
• Inadequate funding
• Climate variability – floods and droughts
• Inadequate Technical capacity
Climate Justice and Sustainable Peace
• The issue of CLIMATE JUSTICE for Africa is a vexed one
although very relevant and necessary. Climate science
has established that any global mean temperature
established as a consequence of emission reductions
will manifest in Africa 1.5 times, and which makes
Africa the most vulnerable continent on earth. This
consequence has implications for food security, health,
productivity, energy security and access to water. All
the other arguments regarding adaptation and
mitigation for which reason the polluting countries are
being asked to provide the necessary finance,
technology and capacity are very well placed if
Sustainable Development and Peace is to be achieved
or the Future We Want, attained.
• Africa must persist in her quest to exact climate
justice since our common atmosphere is also a
common good that should not be appropriated by
any one nation or community to the disadvantage of
many or all.
• Religious Bodies must join the crusade and support
the establishment of the 2nd commitment period of
the Kyoto Protocol which remains the only legally
binding mechanism on emissions reduction.
Way Forward
• The EPC has positioned herself positively to deliver on
its environmental policy mandate. It is important to
attract partners and other institutions interested in
the vision to offer a helping hand. Dedicated funding
mechanisms at all levels need to be introduced or
enhanced to enable the long term plan to be realized
for the benefit of society.
• Aggressive marketing of the environmental plans be
undertaken by church leadership constantly in their
interactions with partners, government and
congregations. Counterpart funding for projects be
solicited and advocated for in their meetings at the
highest level at home and abroad.
• All congregations should be challenged with targets
for the achievement of environmental activities at
their various stations, and which success shall form
the basis of any promotion and/ or
recommendations of pastors and church agents.
Conclusions
• The EPC is on track of meeting the challenges of
climate change through mitigation activities in
Ghana. However, there is the need to enhance and
scale up action on all fronts within the church
membership and leadership. Leadership is required
to continue with these laudable interventions from
churches mosques and temples as their contribution
to the national effort. Faith Bodies should endeavour
to establish funding mechanisms for the promotion
of environmental activities within their organizations.
APPENDIX 1
TABLE OF TREE PLANTING ACTIVITIES IN GHANA - 2012
No.
1
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
NO. OF SEEDLINGS
PLANTED
SURVIVAL
RATE
EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
3000
75%
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF
GHANA
1000
90%
3
4
METHODIST CHURCH
CATHOLIC CHURCH
2000
9,100
95%
80%
5
AHMMADIYA MUSLIM MISSION
2600
50%
2
6
7
AL SUNNA
FOMWAG
200
800
50%
80%
8
CENTRAL MOSQUE –TAMALE
200
50%
COMMUNITIES
PLANTED
TAMALE
METROPOLIS –
KULDANALIYI
ESTIMATED SIZE
OF PLOT
PROTECTION
STRATEGY
3 ACRES
Fire Belt Created
3 ACRES
Fire Belt Created
2 & ½ ACRES
11 ACRES
Fire Belt Created
Fire Education By
National Fire
Service and
Fire Belt Created
YENDI &
SALAGA
BOLGATANGA
TAMALE
METROPOLIS –
SCHOOL
COMPOUNDS
TAMALE
METROPOLIS
4 ACRES
Fire Belt Created
ADAKLU WAYA
5 Acres
KPINCHILA –EAST
GONJA
YENDI
WA, FUNSI &
TUMU
1 ACRE
2 ACRES
Tree Seedlings
Fenced
1 ACRE
SOUTHERN GHANA
EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
TOTAL TREES PLANTED
AVERAGE SURVIVAL RATE
TOTAL LAND AREA
5000
80%
23,900
72.22%
32 ACRES
Fire Belt Created
REMARKS
Tree Seedlings
planted are: TEAK,
CASSIA,
MAHOGANY.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Presented by
MR. CHARLES AGBOKLU
AGENDA 21 PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
EP CHURCH
GHANA