The World Bank Group’s new Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Ghana has estimated that at least one million more people could fall into poverty due to climate shocks, if urgent climate actions are not taken.

According to the report, income could reduce by up to 40% for poor households by 2050. The analysis, therefore, called for pursuing a development pathway that builds resilience to climate change and fosters a transition to low-carbon growth through a combination of policies and public and private investments.

“The report demonstrates that Ghana can simultaneously pursue its long-term development and climate goals. Ghana’s contribution to global greenhouse gases emissions is small, with emissions on a per capita basis at 24% of the global average. The country can take a more resilient development pathway, avoiding costly lock-ins, leapfrogging to cutting-edge technologies, and starting to mobilize climate finance.”
Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone

Ghana’s economic and human development is vulnerable to climate change. On average, flooding affects around 45,000 Ghanaians every year, and half of Ghana’s coastline is vulnerable to erosion and flooding as a result of sea-level rise.

Without prompt actions, higher temperatures and heat stress will affect crop and labor productivity, and more erratic rainfall patterns will damage buildings and infrastructure. Land degradation, water insecurity and local air pollution will also hamper human capital and productivity.

The West African country has achieved major development gains over the past three decades, but progress has slowed down. The report highlighted that the country has not fully managed to convert its natural wealth into sufficient infrastructure, human, and institutional capital for sustained growth.

Six priority areas for a Climate Resilient

The report identified six priority areas for a Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development pathway that will foster more green, resilient, and inclusive growth in the country.

The need to adopt an integrated approach to agriculture and environmental management by fostering integrated landscape management, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and supporting adaptation of coastal communities is one of the key recommendations.

Another priority area is building sustainable cities and resilient infrastructure systems through better urban development, enhancements in resilient mobility infrastructure and services, and improved waste management.

The report also urged the country to focus on boosting disaster risk preparedness through early warning systems, better national financial preparedness against climate shocks, and adaptive health and social protection systems.

Other priority areas include: realizing new opportunities for managing forest resource as an asset for climate resilience, including for carbon sinks focusing on reversing deforestation and promoting cleaner cooking; promoting a transition to clean energy by scaling up renewable energy sources and strengthening regional energy markets; and modernizing transport systems by, among others, improving public transportation and updating vehicle standards.

Need to prioritize investments

In the context of high debt and tight fiscal constraints, Ghana will need to carefully prioritize investments starting from no-regret actions that maximize resilience benefits at an affordable cost.

The World Bank noted that the country will need to take an urgent action to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability and improve business enabling environment to mobilize funds from various sources, including private and development finance. The report estimated the cost of climate action at around $2 billion per year (in present term value) until 2050, equivalent to 2% to 3% of cumulative GDP over the same period.

“The report shows that the private sector can lead Ghana’s green growth through areas such as green building, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and energy efficiency improvements which IFC is supporting by increasing investment and advisory services to such ventures.”
Kyle F. Kelhofer, IFC’s Senior Regional Manager based in Ghana

In addition, the authors highlighted the role that the financial sector can play to leverage opportunities for green and blue bonds, insurance, and other financial protection mechanisms that can help address climate and disaster risks. Concessional finance and overseas development assistance will also be critical to support public goods measures.

To reduce the impact on the poor, Ghana will need to focus on improving responsive social protection systems and safety nets for vulnerable groups, strengthening financial inclusion, and building skills for new green jobs and livelihoods.

The report showed that taking a climate resilient and low-carbon pathway could turn challenges into opportunities: It delivers more than $26 billion in economic benefits by 2040.