Takoradi, March 27 – It was 10:00 hours on a Saturday morning and artisanal fishers in a coastal town of Abandze, on the West coast of Ghana are seated patiently under their sheds waiting for the rains with strong wind to recede so they could embark on their fishing expedition. Fish processors and traders also sit on their aluminum basins at the shore hoping same. According to the fishers, the sudden weather changes is making it difficult for them to go to sea as often as they should.

Artisanal fishers Understanding of climate Change

Jacob Otabil is the chief fisherman at Oshiyie, a fishing community in Accra. With over 25 years of fishing experience, Jacob admits that a lot has changed in the fishing business. He complains about the changes in the seasons. Jacob mentioned for instance that, “there are seasons where everybody knows that from August-September, there is usually a bumper harvest”. According to him, in the late 2000s, things had changed drastically in the sense that expected bumper harvest have declined.
“Last year, we were expecting the harmattan to start in early January but it did not come. This year too, the harmattan started just last two weeks which is in March. This has never happened before”, says Jacob.

He explained that “usually, the harmattan starts in early January, at times we will experience it from December but in early January, it becomes very high. When it happens, you either cannot go to sea or when you go, you will not get anything. The climate has changed totally”, he added
He remarked that “At times you can feel very cold, and other times too, you feel very hot. But what we have been witnessing recently is that the times that we expect to feel the coldness, we rather feel very hot, and the times that we expect to feel hot, we feel cold. Upon seeing these things, we are convinced that the climate has changed.

Mic Abakah- Edu is a fisher from Axim Apewosika with over three decades of fishing experience. Abakah-Edu started fishing in his school going days. He also says there has been significant changes in the fisheries sector.

Artisanal fishers’ and their traditional method of determining the weather

Historically, Ghanaian artisanal fishers predict weather changes using traditional methods such as putting their feet in the sand and observing the clouds to forecast the weather changes. Today, applying such traditional methods are gradually proving to be obsolete in the face of a rapidly changing climate. As a result, fishers keep making huge losses from tidal waves and other extreme weather conditions brought about by climate change.

Jacob explained that artisanal fisher determines the weather by looking at the changes in the clouds. For him, their traditional way of determining the weather suitable for fishing was gradually not becoming reliable. This, he said was because of the sudden changes and the behavior of the sea.
“Yesterday, for instance, the sea was very stable, so those who went fishing got a lot of fish. All of a sudden, you see the sea running. I just received a call from a colleague who is telling me the sea is running. It has changed all of a sudden, when it happens like this, if you cast your net, there will be no fish to catch. All these happenings tell us that the climate has indeed changed”, he said.

Papa Nketia, a 78-year-old retired fisherman from New Takoradi in the West coast of Ghana narrates that fish was caught with less stress and with ease at his active days of fishing. With over 50 years of fishing experience, he says there have been significant changes and attributed it to the use of illegal fishing activities. Most importantly, he admitted that climate change has also played a part.
“There are times that the rain does not fall. We have times when the rains are not supposed to fall. Typically, January, February, and March are not rainy seasons but now we experience rain in these Months”, he noted.

He explained that unusually, a huge storm precedes the rainy season in April. He said the rains cool the sea. But he admitted that “Now the sea is warm. Climate change is real”.
He explained further that “Three Months after Easter, the rains start coming and the upwelling season begins. This is an indication that we are going to have fish. At this point, all type of scarce fishes come to the sea and plenty of fishes come to the sea. But now due to the changes in the weather and the climate, this rarely happens. It’s hardly to see this nowadays, unlike first”.

Impact of Climate Change on artisanal fishing

It is estimated that climate change could reduce Ghana’s potential fish catches by 25 percent or more by 2050. This, threatens food security and a way of life of people whose livelihoods depend directly on the ocean and fisheries. Most artisanal fishermen complain that surface water fish appear to be disappearing with reduction in the sizes of the fishes.

This makes Nana Kweigya, a fisherman who lives in the fishing community of Abandze in the Central Region of Ghana more worried and concern. Kweigya, who is the current President of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CAFGOA) speaks about the climate change impacts and said “We have observed that fish species that used to appear at the surface of the sea in the past do not appear and as often as it was, giving an indication that increasing sea surface temperature has altered the distribution partner, movement of fish”.

Many artisanal fishers interviewed for the purpose of this article believe that climate change is a natural phenomenon compounded by human activities and therefore there is little they could do. Abakah-Edu for instance, believes that a lot of things were contributing to the climate change which artisanal fishers had no control over. He mentioned sea erosion and decline in fish stock as some of its impact.
“Erosion has taken greater part of the sea shore but thanks to the government, we now have a sea defense”, he said.

However, he said though the construction of a sea defense was a good thing, access root to the shore line had become a problem for the fishers. According to him, a lot of fishers have had accidents while returning from their expedition because of the rocky ways.

Nii Adametey is the Chief Fisherman in Tema, a major fishing community in the Greater Accra Region. Nii Adametey also shares his thought on how climate change is contributing to the declining fish stock. He explained that artisanal fishers do their fishing in shallow areas of the sea, however, the heat from the sea was preventing the fishes from coming to spawn at places such as the estuaries and the mangrove areas.
“Fish species such as shrimps and crabs are diminishing while our mangroves have dried up due to the heat. Because of this, the fishes are not moving down as they should for us to catch them”, he lamented.

“We are now seeing sea erosion and sometimes we do not have a place to land our canoes”, says Abakah-Edu.
“Decades ago, with a little effort, we get a lot of fish. In the past, fishers go to sea and return the same day but now, they spend two to three days on the sea because they cannot get fish”, he explained.
Abakah-Edu added that “At first, we did not use to experience the impact of climate change, we were always hearing it on the radio but now we are practically experiencing the effects”,

“Now we have to spend a lot of money on one fishing expedition and we have to increase our efforts ether than that you will not get enough catch to offset your cost. A lot of fishers are running losses. Some go to sea throughout the week and still do not get the catch which was not so in the past”
“So, now we see that climate change has impacted the sea, it has impacted our living at the coast and our job as well. We are now believing what has been said about climate change”
55-year-old Kofi Tawia is a fisherman from Ekumfi Ekumpoano who has been fishing for the past 35 years. As other fishers say, Tawiah narrates how fish was abundant in the past. He says “In those days, we can go on a fishing expedition two times a day because we did not go far before we get fish, the fishing business was booming”.

However, he noted that in the past 20 years, things have changed but it has been worst in the last 15 years. As a result, fishers have devised other means to get catch fish, and gradually fishing efforts had increased tremendously. “Now it’s very difficult, we have to travel a long distance when we go on our fishing expedition.”, he said
“We spend about GHS10,000 on one fishing expedition. If we go and we do not get fish, we have to spend days on the seas”. This, he said was not so in the past. “The fish these days have become very scare, we suffer before we catch them”, he bemoaned.
Professor Joseph Aggrey-Fynn, Head of Department of fisheries and Aquatic Science, University of Cape Coast (UCC) aggress with the fishermen. He is also convinced that the decline in fish stock could partly blamed on the changes in the climate.

He noted that Ghana’s waters have been warm for years and gave a historical background to why certain species of fishes such as sardine and grid trigger fish suddenly disappeared from the sea.
He explained that for organisms in the sea, especially small pelagic, they become uncomfortable and they move to where they will feel okay with the slightest change in temperature of the water. “It is clear that the sardinellas have been reacting to these warm conditions in our waters”, he said.
Artisanal fishers in Ghana are working hard to adapt to the changes being witnessed in their business as a result of the changes in climate. Sadly, some of these adaptation strategies have not been the best as they contravene the laws and regulations governing the fisheries sector and in effect contributing to worsening the already bad situation.

The use of light to aggregate and harvest fish, for instance, has been in response to the disappearance of fish at the surface of the sea, while the use of small mesh size has been in response to the decreasing sizes of fish.
Veteran Papa Nketia also shared his thought on the impact of climate change on their business and narrated that “Two years ago, after the closed fishing season, a lot of fishers went to sea and came back empty handed, unlike first, this is the period of bumper harvest.
“We see that there are changes and are now witnessing it, and it is impacting our work, it is making our work harder.
“Now, it has become the survival of the fitters, everybody is thinking about how to get fish and we are using all sort of methods (IUU). If we do not do that, I tell you we will not get fish, we will be running losses. This is further deepening our woes”, he narrated.

This, Professor Aggrey-Fynn an associate professor of Fisheries and Aquatic science believes, is forcing artisanal fishers to indulge in IUU fishing practices.
“The issue of artisanal fishermen engaging in are coming up because of the fisher’s frustration in not getting what they are supposed to get. Their frustration is in the sense that they go to sea and do not get fish, they are using all sort of means, it does not mean what they are doing is right but they are supposed to survive”, he mentioned.

Increased risks

The negative consequences of climate change are making an already risky job of the fishers even more, risky. Artisanal fishers are witnessing bad weather days, due to climate change, which is affecting the frequency of embarking on fishing expedition or the number of times they spend at sea. Coastal floods, marine erosion, tidal waves, storm surges and extreme weather conditions impede smooth fishing expedition and operation.

Kwame Adu Afful is another veteran fisherman with 38 years of fishing experience. For him though risky, fishers’ risks have increased in recent times.
“When there are high tides, you cannot go fishing. The sea becomes rough, very rough. If you go and you do not take care, either the boat will capsize or your gear will be damaged which will cost you a lot, so we do not go fishing when we notice the weather is not favorable”, Kwame said.
Jacob shared his personal experiences and said “I remember a time when the sea was very rough. The wind was blowing from the East coming to the North, so we decided not to go to sea but some of us insisted that we go, but when we went, coming back to the shore was very difficult, we found it very difficult to land at the shore”

In the olden days, though there were high tides, the wind was not too strong as we see in recent times. Now, whenever you see a small cloud, it tends to be very serious compared to years past, he added.
Nii Adametey, also added that the high tides destroy their fishing gear. “If you anchor your canoe at the shore, and the tides come at night, it can destroy the canoe, the nets could be stuck in the sand and you cannot get them back, making us run losses”.
Support from the Ghana Metrological Agency (GMA)
To boost fishers understanding and the state of the ocean, the Ghana Metrological Agency (GMA) is providing fishers with regular and daily marine forecast through the Safety at Sea Service. The GMA provides forecast and training to some artisanal fishers to interpret, translate the forecast into local languages and share among artisanal fishers using WhatsApp platforms and community information centers.

The GMES and Africa project has provided fishers with used code (*920*88#) which enable them to asses information on the state of the ocean three days ahead. Additionally, the project has developed an App which help fishers to check for additional information on the state of the ocean before they set out to go on their expedition.
By these interventions, artisanal fishers are able to check whether the state of the ocean will be calm, rough or dangerous.

These interventions, according to the artisanal fishers have been very useful and timely to them. Nana Kweigya explained that, in the past, fishers have suffered damages to canoes, outboard motor and fishing gears due to tidal waves, storm surge but with the ocean state information that is provided, they are able to know the state of the ocean to decide whether to go to sea or not.
“With the ocean state information, we are able to tell if there will be a storm, strong winds or if it will rain heavily, so we stay out. So, by staying out, we are saving lives and properties being investment of artisanal fishers”, he said.

Nana Kweigya stressed that his organization was working hard with stakeholders to enhance early warning systems to ensure that safety at sea is a priority in artisanal fishing.
“We are working to bring as many as possible community information Centre operators into a network that will help in the dissemination of ocean state information and forecast being whether advice or warnings, to give fishers timely”, he stated.
This, he stated was a departure from the past where our forefathers put their feet in the sand and are able to tell whether there will be rains or not.

Adaptation Strategies

Tawiah, shares how the artisanal fishers are making use of technology to advance their job in the wake of climate change impacts. He explained that “We were using our own knowledge but now the trawl boasts have taught us and we are now using GPS, and other technology in determining the location of the fishes”.

These technologies, he said were helping the artisanal fishers to be able to compete with the trawl vessels. “This, is what is helping us to get some fish, if not that, you can spend even a week on the sea and still come back empty handed”, he said.
To avoid making huge losses made through several fishing expeditions, the artisanal fishers now go to sea with ice blocks. This way, they are able to spend days on the sea and come home convinced that their fish will still be fresh.
“We needed to find a way to reduce the loses because we are tired of returning back empty. Now, almost every fisherman goes to sea with ice, even though this is not what we want, it is helping us”, Nketiah stated.
“Now if you really want to get enough fish to break even or make profit, you have use ice block and spend about two or three days on the sea. Unlike the olden days where you do a return trip, today it is not like that”, Abekah-Edu also mentioned.

What needs to be done

It is important to acknowledge the impact of climate change in the fisheries sector to allow for stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive plan both in the short, medium and in the long term to address the impact.

Nana Kweigya talks about the need to enhance livelihood options for fishers to reduce the excessive dependent on fisheries as their sole livelihood activity.
Prof. Aggrey-Fynn agrees with Kweigya and said “In this era where their work is too difficult, they have to be exposed or encouraged to take an alternative livelihood” though I was going to be difficult for the traditional fishermen to accept.
Regardless, Prof Aggrey-Fynn thinks the sea work would not be as lucrative as it used to be moving forward and therefore stakeholder ought to find a way to help the fishermen to get an alternative livelihood.

Nana Kweigya further underscored that artisanal fisher must be adequately educated and provided information about climate change and what needs to be done in order not to worsen the situation.
“Without a good understanding of the changes that is happening, fishers will continue to resort to whatever option that guarantee them catch which may not be the best. It is important for fishers to have adequate information as to what is happening and they will be able”, he said.
Nana Kweigya also talks about adequate participation of fishers in fisheries governance and, management. For him, fishers must have the space to be part of the policies and programs from their conception stage, data collection and implementation.

He said it is the surest way to build confidence in the process stressing that, once fishers have confidence in the process, they were more likely to accept the decisions and contribute to the implementation of the various management measures.
Nii Adametey believes that artisanal fishers could look for extra business from the sea. For instance, he said artisanal fisher could venture into the aquaculture and the rearing of mad or catfish, shrimps along the coastal areas to support their marine fishing activities.

The artisanal fishers themselves admitted to engaging in all forms of bad practices. In that regard, John Eshun, a fisher from Axim suggested that “We have to stop our bad fishing practices and allow the nature to take its course for the sea to amend itself for us to have the positive effects”.
Abakah-Edu also said Government must strictly enforce the fisheries laws and regulations. For him, Government must find an antidote to the challenges in enforcement.
All the above-mentioned interventions, according to Prof Aggrey-Fynn would have to be a deliberate that the Government must pursue. He commended the Government of Ghana for construction of coastal sea defense but insisted that it must pursue other people centered interventions as well.

Report By Afedzi Abdullah

The post How climate change impact on fisheries is pushing artisanal fishers into IUU fishing in Ghana appeared first on iWatch Africa.

ACCRA, Ghana — At an open shed along the coast of Bortianor in Accra, one can hear the chatter of market women who hang around the landing beach most mornings in hope of buying fish to trade as fishers pull their nets miles away to the shore.

“Sometimes, it takes as long as four hours to bring our nets ashore,” artisanal fisherman George Kowukumeh said. “And over the years, we have witnessed a drastic reduction in our catch.”

There are currently about 150 fishing canoes operating at the Bortianor landing beach according to industry experts.

In Ghana, the artisanal fishing sector directly employ over 200,000 fishers, delivering 80 percent of total fish supply locally and provides livelihood to over 2 million people including thousands of market women in the value chain.

When it comes to fish, Ghanaian women have traditionally been confined to processing and retailing. The role of women is significant because they add value to fresh fish through processing, while distributing and preserving fish to ensure its availability long after the peak season and allowing it to reach consumers far from the landing beach.

However, the near collapse of the pelagic fish stock, which is the main target for artisanal fishers has left fishers and women in the value chain vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

A two-month investigation by Gideon Sarpong based on interviews with dozens of fishery experts, researchers, fishers and women in the value chain has shown declining income levels for thousands of fishing households partly blamed on climate change and the rise in ocean temperature. A non-existent government intervention program to support fishing communities, particularly women who are very vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change has left them to their fate.

Climate change impact on fishers and fishmongers

It is over three hours since the fishers began pulling their nets at the Bortianor landing beach. There is an obvious anxiety among the market women and fishmongers gathered at the shore who buy their fish directly from the fishers.

Agnes Lamptey, a fishmonger for over 30 years explains the reason for the anxiety: “when there is no catch, we do not get any fish to process for selling. We can’t even provide for our children. My children are in high school and are forced to stay at home when there is a meagre catch.”

Moments after the conversation with Agnes, the fishers manage to bring their catch to the shore. “The catch today is disappointing and full of garbage,” local fisher, George Kowukumeh said. “Several hours of very hard work has produced less than 500 cedis ($62) worth of fish for the 9-member crew, what do we do with this?”

Looking dejected and disappointed, some of the market women decide to wait a little longer for other fishing canoes that are yet to return to the shore. For the fishers, the disappointment is gradually becoming a routine as they quickly prepare to mend their nets.

In 2019, the Sustainable Fisheries Management research revealed that despite increasing fishing effort by the artisanal fishing fleet in Ghana’s waters, small pelagic fish catch has fallen by over 85 percent, from the peak in reported landings of 138,955 metric tonnes recorded in 1996. The researchers blamed climate change and other man-made activities such as illegal fishing as a major cause for the decline in pelagic fish stock in the country’s waters.

Dr. Opoku Pabi, lecturer and senior research fellow at the Institute for Environmental and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana explained that, “fish catch is strongly related to surface water and atmospheric temperatures; generally, the lower the temperatures, the higher the fish catch.”

“This does vary somewhat across species, however: the catch for Pelagic (round sardinella) peaks when sea water temperature is at its lowest” he added.

Data from a research paper he co-authored showed that Ghana has experienced a, “steady rise in atmospheric and sea water temperatures since the 1960s, with the latter increasing by an average of 0.011degree Celsius yearly.”

The paper also noted that the: “end of the rainy season” which traditionally signals the start of the main fishing season has become very “unpredictable due to variability in rainfall distribution patterns, exacerbating poverty and indebtedness among artisanal fishers and women in the value chain.”

Traditionally, women in the fishing communities across Ghana – particularly, the queen fishmongers – have owned boats and financed trips, guaranteeing them a portion of the catch.

But this traditional system is giving way as profits fall.  Fishmonger, Agnes Lamptey whose husband is also a fisherman counts her loses after investing in the day’s fishing trip.

She explained: “the fuel prices are expensive. I contributed 100 cedis ($12) to the day’s fishing trip and they returned with basically nothing. So can you imagine, I lose about 3000 cedis ($370) in a month if there’s no daily catch. We are really suffering especially, we the women. We need money to take care of our children and keep our business going.”

Steve Trent, chief executive of Environmental Justice Foundation, an NGO that monitors economic and environmental abuses has warned that any further decline in Ghana’s fish stock, particularly pelagic species would be, “catastrophic and have huge socio-economic costs.”

A 2021 study which focused on the effects of decline in fish landings on the livelihoods of coastal communities showed that decline in fish landings has “translated into low-income levels” for households that have directly depended on fishing over the years.

According to the study, 53 percent of fishing households maintained that they had seen a reduction in their incomes over the last five years.

Closed fishing season – a painful solution?

In response to the dwindling fish stock in Ghana’s waters, the Fisheries Ministry in April, 2022 announced a one month closed fishing season for artisanal fishers and semi-industrial vessels which began on July 1^st. The minister, Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson in a statement argued that the, “closed season was agreed on based on scientific evidence and stakeholder consensus to reduce the excessive pressure and over-exploitation of stocks in the marine sub-sector which will help replenish the fish stocks.”

Despite the consensus among various stakeholders on the need to protect spawners from capture during the breeding season, fishers and women in the value chain in several fishing communities including at Jamestown, Elmina, Tema and Bortianor have fiercely rejected this directive.

Jacob Tetteh, spokesperson for fishers at the Bortianor landing beach insisted that the closed season must be “scrapped” despite admitting to a drastic reduction in fish catch over the years.

 “The fisherfolks work is not like government work, what they get is what they spend in the house every day. So how will they survive during this period” he argued.

“What will happen to all the women and their kids who depend on the ocean for their livelihood? A loss of revenue for a single day affects the entire community.”

The fisheries minister did not respond to requests for comment.

The world has already warmed more than 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the preindustrial era, and last year the oceans contained more heat energy than at any point since record-keeping began six decades ago.

According to a study published in the Journal Science last April, if humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions continues and the ocean’s temperature continues to increase, roughly a “third of all marine animals could vanish within 300 years.”

Way forward

To reduce the vulnerability of climate change impact on Ghana’s fishery sector, particularly women in the value chain, Daniel Doku Nii Nortey, deputy director of coastal resources NGO Hen Mpoano, has recommended a retraining and a skills development program for fishers and women processors.

The state must invest in “alternative livelihood training programs such as soap making, hairdressing, tailoring etc. in coastal communities,” Daniel said. “These will help families diversify their source of livelihood.”

For the many fishers and women in coastal communities across Ghana, the struggle for survival stares them in the face each morning.

“It is a hopeless situation,” said fishmonger Janet Mensah who inherited the trade from her mother over 20 years ago.

“I do not know what the future holds for me and my children in this profession, it all doesn’t make sense to me again. We need help.”

Reporting and writing by Gideon Sarpong |  Follow @gideosarpong

The post How fishers & fishmongers are battling for survival on the frontier of climate change in Ghana appeared first on iWatch Africa.

“Truth is that the rubbish is too much. Sometimes we are not even able to breathe. We can’t do anything about it,” said Hassan, who moved from Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana to Accra over a decade ago.

Working as a scrap dealer in Ghana can sometimes be a rewarding venture despite its associated health risks. As scrap dealer, one can earn a daily average income of over GHC100 (17USD). This figure is quite high by Ghanaian standards where current daily minimum wage is GH¢ 12.53 (2USD).

Hassan, is among the hundreds of young men and women who travel from the northern part of Ghana to the capital city of Accra in search of jobs each year. He now spends his days sifting through e-waste that finds its way to the dump site, smashing old television sets, refrigerators and air conditioners in search of valuable parts to recover copper.

 He sometimes burns insulated cables although he insists – “that is now the job of the younger guys” at the site as he points in their direction.

According to the environmental watchdog organization, the Basel Action Network(BAN), an estimated that 352,474 metric tonnes of electronic waste (an equivalent of 2.5 billion smart phones) is illegally shipped from the EU to developing countries each year. The report noted that African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania were among the countries most targeted by Europe’s e-waste exporters.

The Agbogbloshie dump is as a result of the world’s increasing demand for electronic equipment as consumers continually upgrade their devices and discard older ones. These discarded electronics mainly from Europe and the United States often labeled as second-hand products are delivered in huge containers and end up on the shores of developing countries.

A four-month investigation by Gideon Sarpong based on interviews with dozens of environmental experts, import and export businessmen, government officials and review of environmental reports has revealed that despite the illegality of shipment of  electronic waste from the European Union (EU) to Africa, 64% of the EU’s e-waste end up on the continent each year.

The report shows that several e-waste recycling organisations in the UK have previously been engaged in illegal shipment of e-waste to Africa, where as port officials in Europe generally turn a blind eye to these shipments.

The investigation also shows that the EU’s recent  Guideline on the Transboundary Movement of WEEE led by Germany introduces a “Repairable Loophole” which risks undermining gains of the Basel Convention.

It also revealed that harmful refrigerants found in discarded cooling appliances has the capacity to warm the atmosphere thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, having already accounted for around 10% of global CO2 emissions. 

EU turns a blind eye to shipment of e-waste to Africa an Impact, impact on climate

Anthony Kemi, a Nigerian based in Florence, Italy is one of the many e-waste exporters based in Europe who collects discarded cooling appliances particularly fridges and ship to parts of Africa.

Despite cargo inspections by port officials in Italy it remains to be seen how this has effectively prevented the export of these discarded electronic appliances.

“I have never had any issue at the Livorno port in shipping discarded fridges to Nigeria,” Anthony disclosed. “As long as I make the requisite payments to the shipping authorities, I am fine.”

E-waste is deemed a hazardous waste by the EU due to toxic parts containing substances such as mercury, lead and flame retardants. The EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) forbids the export of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to non-EU countries; nevertheless, the evidence shows otherwise as 350,000 metric tonnes of e-waste leave the EU to developing countries annually.

Mr. Kofi Agyarko, Director of Renewable Energy and Climate Change at the Energy Commission in Ghana has described actions by the EU as “global hypocrisy.”

“If those things (e-waste) were valuable like gold, diamond that our brothers and sisters are smuggling to Africa, would they close their eyes.”

 “If those things (e-waste) were valuable like gold, diamond that our brothers and sisters are smuggling to Africa, would they close their eyes,” he asked.

Mr. Agyarko also revealed that between 2013 and 2014 when Ghana started confiscating used fridges and air conditioners at its ports, “not less than 1500 kilograms of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were recorded within a year and they all came from Europe.”

“The Europeans see e-waste as a problem because it is a burden on them. So, if you want to engage in the export, they will just close their eyes for you to take them away. After all, if you’re taking out garbage away from my house why should I fight you,” he argued.

Refrigerant gases have the capacity to warm the atmosphere – measured as global warming potential – is thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide, with some being up to 13,850 times more potent.

Industry experts say these harmful refrigerants are still widespread and increasing rapidly due to a global surge in demand for air conditioning, sluggish innovation from industry and inadequate legislation around their disposal.

According to Project Drawdown, a nonprofit that analyses climate solutions roughly 90% of refrigerant emissions occur at equipment’s end of life usually taking place in areas like Agbogbloshie and Kariakoo in Tanzania.

“The industry as a whole has had a huge impact on global warming,” says Clare Perry, senior campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a non-profit that investigates and campaigns against environmental abuse.

She says taken together refrigerant emissions have accounted for close to 11% of total warming emissions to date.

Shipment of e-waste to Africa by Recycling plants in the UK

Meanwhile, while Anthony collects his discarded cooling appliances from private households and ships to parts of Africa on a small scale, there is a bigger industrial practice in Europe where corporations and recycling organisations collect e-waste from user-friendly collection centers under the guise of recycling but ship these to Africa.

Environcom, UK’s largest waste collector has been previously accused by the Ghanaian government of shipping discarded fridges to Ghana after Ghana had instituted a ban on all e-waste into the country.

Several other UK government approved e-waste recycling organisations including; Bury St Edmunds Household Waste Recycling Site, Ipswich Household Waste Recy-cling Centre, Dawsholm Recycling Centre and Renfrewshire Recycling Centre have all been previously exposed for engaging in the illegal shipment of e-waste to several developing countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.

According to an investigation by BAN, these drop-off locations that are designed to aid consumers find a proper WEEE recycler were rather found to be shipping e-waste to several African countries. This was revealed with the aid of GPS trackers hidden in e-waste items presented for recycling.

“They go round to collect money to destroy or recycle these appliances but rather and re-package and send them to Ghana for money,” said Mr. Agyarko, Director of Renewable Energy at Ghana’s Energy Commission.

“Most of the cooling appliances that are to be disposed of are laden with CFCs and these organisations find it appropriate to dump them on the shores of Ghana and Africa. So that we will suffer from the environmental problems from the CFCs and die,” he added.

A 2016 study focused on the impact of e-waste on scrap dealers and residents at Agbogbloshie found a significant increase blood lead levels among both e-waste and non-e-waste workers at the site.

The report also called for an “increase in public awareness about the effects of exposure to lead from e-waste recycling.”

Meanwhile, Chris Smith, the National Intelligence Manager at UK’s Environment Agency has admitted that, the BAN investigation enabled the Agency to “quickly and efficiently close down four illegal waste operators who exported the electrical waste.”

The United Kingdom was found to be the most egregious violator of illegal shipments of hazardous consumer electronic scrap to vulnerable populations like Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania according to the report.

Other countries that also allowed such e-waste exports to developing countries include: Germany, Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Spain.

Jim Puckett, Executive Director of BAN, said the illegal shipments perpetuated an EU waste management regime “on the backs of the poor and vulnerable”.

“Weaker economies and communities are being exploited by richer one’s who are now intent on pressing for cradle to cradle and waste is food while turning a blind-eye to the fact that ‘recycling’ and ‘re-use’ and now “circular economy” are increasingly being mis-appropriated as green passwords to a global waste circus and horror show,” he explained.

“This flies in the face of EU claims to make continuous efforts to implement a circular economy which can only responsibly exist by eliminating … leakage from the system,” said Mr. Puckett.

Europe Undermines the Basel Convention 

In 1995, the Basel BAN Amendment was introduced by the Basel Convention Parties to prohibit the member states of the OECD, the EU and Liechtenstein from exporting hazardous waste to other countries.

Despite Europe’s previous success in placing the Ban Amendment into binding legislation even before its entry into international legal force, many experts believe that the introduction of a “Repairable Loophole” in 2019 risks undermining the Basel Convention.

The loophole contained in the Guideline on the Transboundary Movement of WEEE allows anyone to simply claim used electronic waste as ‘repairable’ and export it completely outside of the rules and obligations of the Basel Convention.

“No importing country would even be asked if it would like to receive container loads of broken e-waste destined for ‘repair’” says Jim Puckett.

The Guideline will guide unscrupulous traders to export all manner of hazardous broken or untested consumer electronics outside of the control procedures of the Basel Convention.

In a May, 2019 statement by Jim Puckett, he argued that “the Guideline will guide unscrupulous traders to export all manner of hazardous broken or untested consumer electronics outside of the control procedures of the Basel Convention simply by making a claim of “export for repair.”

“One can but fear that these efforts led by Germany, are a harbinger of Europe renouncing its leadership role in human rights and the environment.”

Germany’s Basel Convention representative at the Federal Environment Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ghana effort to deal with e-waste

So far in Ghana, lawmakers have introduced the Electronic Waste Control and Management law which aims to prevent Ghana from being used as a dumping ground for e-waste.

Ghana is by far one of the countries in the world most targeted and impacted by EU and US e-waste exporters.

The law introduced in 2016 has successfully reduced the importation of used cooling appliances to a minimum of 2 percent according to an Energy Commission survey. This was also confirmed by the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Samson Asaki Awingobit who also admitted that, the ban on used cooling appliances have significantly affected the livelihoods of importers.

“People who were into importation of second-hand fridges have all lost their jobs,” he disclosed.

Although the influx of used cooling appliances has significantly reduced across Ghana’s borders, the situation is still “not satisfactory,” according to the Energy Commission.

“Before we began the war, the used appliances market controlled over 80 percent market share. Until we hit zero, I will not say we have won but with 98 percent success, I will say we have made an enviable progress,” says Mr. Agyarko.

Ghana’s e-waste law also created a tax scheme named eco-levy imposed on electric and electronic equipment (EEE) coming into the country. The eco-levy is mainly to support the construction of e-waste recycling plants across the country.

In August 2018, President Akufo-Addo announced the commencement of the construction of a recycling e-waste management facility at Agbogbloshie with funds generated from the eco levy.

Checks at Agbogbloshie as at July, 2021, three years later indicate that work has not commenced.

Member of Parliament for the area, Nii Lante Vanderpuye expressed his disappointment that nothing has been done so far.

“Well, it is sad that this is the case. It was a project that was started with the NDC government, the John Mahama administration in 2016. Down the line five years now, nothing much has been done. I have rather seen the site being used as a dumping place for the Accra landing beach project. They virtually cutting the debris and dump it there,” the MP said.

Agbogbloshie E-Waste Site Demolished, and Way Forward

One month following my interview with Hassan Tampani in July 2021, the government forcefully evicted the over 4000 scrap dealers from the scrap yard at Agbobloshie.

Hassan, lost all his property during the eviction due to what he claims to be a “very short government notice of eviction.” With no support and compensation from the state and an alternative source of livelihood, his only option is to rebuild his scrap business at a new site.

 “The minister didn’t inform us that we were part of the eviction. We didn’t know about the eviction until about two days to the removal. He has not paid us anything. The minister is a very wicked man…,”said Hassan.

He added: “the scrap dealers have now contributed to buy a new land at Teacher Mante in the Eastern Region of Ghana.”

Hassan now hopes that a 50-acre land at Teacher Mante obtained at a cost of GHS 1 million cedis ($166,000) will soon be developed so he can restart his scrap business.

There is however a growing concern among some Ghanaians that the open burning of residual unrepairable fractions which led to significant pollution of water bodies and the environment at Agbogbloshie will be repeated at the new site.

Henry Kokofu, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency has however insisted that plans are in place to prevent the new site designated for the Scrap Dealers Association from being polluted by e-waste.

For Mr. Agyarko, the solution is a straightforward one and warns of dire consequences if no action is taken. The EU and particularly Britain must do more to, “prevent the export of e-waste into developing countries. The earlier they turn on a new leaf the better for us all.” Otherwise, “this whole talk about Paris agreement- agenda 1.5-degree Celsius temperature reduction becomes a fleeting slogan,” he said.

There are no boundaries in the atmosphere. The pollution doesn’t require visa nor resident permit.

“There are no boundaries in the atmosphere. The pollution doesn’t require visa nor resident permit. So, if you think that you can clean one part of the planet and pollute the other part of the planet and you think that you are living in a clean environment, that is a hoax.”

———————————————

Reporting and writing by Gideon Sarpong. Daniel Abugre Anyorigya (Ghana) and Leslie Olonyi (Kenya) contributed to the report.

This article was developed with the support of the Money Trail Project (www.money-trail.org).

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COVID-19 has greatly exacerbated debt vulnerabilities in EMDEs at a time when many countries are expected to scale up investment in climate related programs.

So far, 54 per cent of low-income countries are deemed to be in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress as of December 2020, a trend likely to continue into 2022.

In Ghana for example, the government plans to spend GHC35.8 billion (49.5 per cent) of its expected total revenue of GHC72.4 billion on servicing loan interests, while the Nigerian government has planned to spend ₦3.12 trillion (40 per cent) of the expected total revenue of ₦ 7.89 trillion on debt financing for 2021.

Faced with such a constrained fiscal space, developing countries have only a few options available. EMDEs need to focus on designing sustainable models of climate financing, especially aimed at accelerating and fully integrating climate-aligned structural change at the private sector.

Climate mainstreaming in the private financial sector

The broader private financial system in EMDEs, including commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies and micro-finance institutions can make a huge contribution when it comes to meeting the net zero goals by 2050.

The private financial sector in developing countries must aggressively align their lending portfolios with the Paris Agreement, building on the joint statement at the recent Finance in Common Summit of all public development banks.

So far, although many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have begun to integrate climate change policies into national development plans at the public level, very little has been done at the private financial level.

National governments should play a more active role in the various dimensions of Article 2.1c implementation through coordination, harmonisation and regulation. Governments should work closely with the private sector to set minimum rules that all players must follow.

At present, in EMDEs, 80 per cent of infrastructure investment is mostly publicly financed; private investment in infrastructure has stagnated over the past decade and amounts to less than $100 billion annually. The private financial sector must step up Paris-aligned infrastructure investments to reduce the pressure on public finance.

Debt-for-climate swap

Poverty is increasing for the first time in more than two decades, and levels of food insecurity is likely to double as a result of the deep economic consequences of COVID-19 (with as many as 265 million people pushed to the brink of starvation).

According to the 2020 Brooking Institute report, developing countries will be asked to pay $865 billion in debt service on medium and long-term debt in 2021 (of which $346 billion is owed or guaranteed by governments).

While the G20 decision to extend the Debt Service Suspension Initiative until the end of 2021 is welcomed, a permanent resolution of the debt issue is urgently needed—one which is fair, progressive and equitable, different from the structure of the HIPC Initiative in the 1990s.

The idea of a “debt-for-climate” swap was first conceived during the 1980s by the then Deputy Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund, Thomas Lovejoy, in the wake of the Latin American debt crisis.

Debt-for-climate swap is one option with unrealised potential that could be deployed further to reduce carbon emissions and promote different forms of sustainable finance, as well as to reinforce climate resilience. This could focus on countries that are able to service their debt and would be willing to redirect the debt service cash flows into mutually agreed climate initiatives in exchange for reduction or forgiveness of the debt.

The global pandemic implications for climate finance are immense, which is why it is important to deploy all available tools to build back better and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Extension of the $100 billion climate fund

The commitment by developed countries to jointly mobilise $100 billion in climate finance by 2020 to support developing countries is at the heart of the Paris Agreement. But a report by the Independent Expert Group on Climate Finance has noted that the $100 billion target has not been reached, which means that there must be a renewed push beyond 2020.

Coupled with failure to meet the $100 billion climate target, Oxfam has also reported that only around 20 per cent of reported public climate finance was estimated to be grants, compared to 80 per cent reported as loans and other non-grant instruments; of all reported climate finance, an estimated 40 per cent was non-concessional.

According to Oxfam, this is harming the economies of least developed countries by contributing to rising—and in many countries, unsustainable—debt levels.

A credible plan to improve climate financing to EMDEs would be essential to an agreement at COP26.

The following key considerations could guide discussions at COP26 in November:

• Debt-for-climate swaps should be considered a part key part of climate financing and counted as such, while governments in developed nations and actors in private bond markets should be encouraged to take a critical look at debt forgiveness programs aligned with Paris objectives.
• Developed countries should commit to significantly increase climate finance to EMDEs particularly concessionary and grant based support.
• There should be a renewed effort to increase financing for adaptation programs with a minimum of 50 per cent of their overall public climate finance contribution.
• Finally, there must be increased transparency when it comes to disclosure of the terms of loans and other instruments being used to provide climate finance by developed countries.

The path for climate finance post-2020 should be truly transformational: it should incorporate climate-aligned debt relief initiatives, accelerate grant-based finance and improve global accounting standards for all donors.

This was first published by the European University Institute, based in Florence, Italy

Gideon Sarpong is a Policy Leader Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute, Florence, Italy. He is also a co-founder of iWatch Africa. His research interests include climate finance, ocean climate policy and internet governance.

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This shows that despite the urgent need to transition to a net zero carbon world; climate financing policies particularly the ‘Carbon Border Adjustment’ mechanism must allow for a broad consultation and engagement with people whose livelihoods would be significantly impacted by the policy.

What is the proposed Carbon Border Adjustment (CBA) mechanism by the European Commission (EC)?

The CBA is an import tax on non-EU countries designed to ensure that European companies do not have competitive disadvantages compared to companies from countries with lax climate regulations, and to reduce the risk of carbon leakage. In her mission letter to Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni, EC President Ursula von der Leyen also noted that another objective of the CBA is to allow the EU reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) released into the Earth’s atmosphere, whilst ensuring that domestic efforts do not simply serve to drive production and GHGs emissions elsewhere.

While the core objective of the CBA will ultimately help countries transition to a decarbonised world, there are certain socio-economic risks and social justice questions pertaining to least developed countries (LDCs) that must be addressed.

It is in the interest of the EC that the CBA does not result in lower exports to the EU from LDCs. That would have a potentially negative impact on climate-vulnerable low-income countries which are already debt distressed as result of COVID-19, and will likely need years to recover from the pandemic.

The following consideration would help the EC introduce a CBA policy that is equitable, fair and progressive.

Commitments to the Paris Agreement

The commitment by developed countries to jointly mobilise $100 billion in climate finance by 2020 to support developing countries is at the heart of the Paris Agreement. The EC, in their design of the CBA should demonstrate regard for international commitments in the area of climate action and finance, taking into account that the accord recognises that countries have differentiated responsibilities.

Developing countries have so far lamented that developed countries are not living up to the agreements reached at COP16 in Cancún, and the formalised goal of mobilising jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020. The Independent Expert Group on Climate Finance has also noted in their 2020 report that the $100 billion target by 2020 has not been reached.

In 2020, Oxfam Climate Finance report noted that the terms on which developed countries are currently meeting the $100bn goal are highly questionable insisting that LDCs and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are receiving too little of the finance provided.

“Too much is being provided in the form of loans and other non-grant instruments, including to LDCs and SIDS. The world’s poorest countries and communities should not be forced to take out loans to protect themselves from the excess carbon emissions of rich countries,” the report stated.

This, according to Oxfam is harming the economies of LDCs by contributing to rising – and in many countries, unsustainable – debt levels.

As at the last quarter of 2020, 54% of low-income countries were deemed to be in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress; a trend which has continued into 2021.

The European Commission should assess its international commitment to the Paris Accord and improve its share of climate finance to LDCs. Any burden imposed on trade in the form of the CBA which fails to account for the negligible contribution of LDCs to the climate crisis will further plunge these regions into poverty risking the collapse of many of such economies.

The world’s poorest countries should not have to forgo life-saving aid to pay the costs of a climate crisis not of their making.

Climate Debt

Historically, between the period of 1751 to 2019, the EU has contributed about 22% of the total CO2 emissions, trailing the United States which is responsible for 25% of historical emissions due largely to industrialisation and population growth.

The situation is entirely different in Sub-Saharan Africa which has contributed only 3 per cent to global emissions during the period although it remains the most vulnerable to climate change.

This means that the proposed CBA by the EC which seeks to prevent carbon leakage and protect EU based companies must also necessarily be economically just and should not disproportionately impact climate-vulnerable countries that have historically done less harm to the environment.

A CBA that fails to account for climate debt and its potential impact on LDCs could rob developing countries of finance for health, education and other critical development goals.

Preferential Market Access – the European Union “Everything But Arms” Initiative

In 2001, the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative was introduced under the EU’s GSP scheme, granting LDCs duty- and quota-free access for almost all products. The Carbon Border Adjustment mechanism would apply to goods from all countries, even the Least Developed Countries that currently benefit from duty free entry in Europe under this same initiative.

A loss of access to EU’s preferential market by LDCs coupled with the constrained fiscal space as a result of COVID-19 could result in lower exports to the EU, with potential negative impacts on jobs if flanking measures as part of a just transition are not in place.

The Path Forward: CBA Exemption for LDCs

To design a carbon tax policy which will not have a disproportionate impact on people living in poverty, the EC could consider the following;

• Granting a Carbon Border Adjustment exemption to countries administering equivalent carbon taxes.
• LDCs whose national policies, practices or regulations have led to reduced GHG emissions aligning with the Paris accord goals should receive an exemption.
• Exempting LDCs from a CBA or returning all proceeds from the CBA applied on imports from developing countries to those countries to meet their own budgetary constraints in meeting mitigation and adaptation targets.

This was first published by the European University Institute, based in Florence, Italy

Gideon Sarpong is a Policy Leader Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute, Florence, Italy. He is a co-founder of iWatch Africa. His research interests include climate finance, ocean climate policy and internet governance.

The post EC proposed Carbon Border Adjustment mechanism: Key considerations for Least Developed Countries appeared first on iWatch Africa.

This year-long initiative seeks to influence policy decisions at the highest level of governance in Ghana and across the sub-region and will be a combination of virtual meetings and physical summits.

The theme for the maiden edition is; ‘’Navigating some critical sectors in 2021’ with guests sharing their expectations for the new year.

Co-founder of iWatch Africa, Gideon Sarpong believes that the dialogue series, “will be an important vehicle for talking through critical issues facing the region and finding areas of convergence for development.”

“I expect that these dialogue series would be an immersive experience with an end goal of designing practical blueprints across several domains for sustainable development,” he added.

The launch will be a virtual session and it is open to the public:

iWatch Africa is inviting you to the launch of its Policy Dialogue Series.

Topic: Navigating some critical sectors in 2021

Time: Saturday, January 16, 2021 02:00 PM GMT

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608831830?pwd=N3p2TVlYV0k0cW90TDBkQ3YwZ0JEUT09

Meeting ID: 896 0883 1830

Passcode: 257197

Source: iWatch Africa | Follow @iwatchafrica

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In this Part 1 series, We’ll be covering the key issues related to; Digital Rights in Africa, Climate Change, Expectations of Biden-Harris Administration and Global Security.

 Digital Rights in Africa in 2021

By Yohannes Eneyew Ayalew

Lecturer in Law, School of Law, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia | PhD Candidate, Monash Law | Open Internet Leader 2020/21

• Protection of human rights in the digital age

The 2021 marks the 40^th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Despite the African Charter lacks express provision on digital rights, yet the African Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa which was adopted in 2019 protects human rights in the digital age. As such, in the year 2021 African states could make significant steps including legislative measures ensuring human rights in the digital age.

• The rise of internet shutdowns

In the past few years, internet shutdowns were used as a go-to tactic for African states to perpetuate authoritarian survival and stifling the right to freedom of expression. Likewise, internet blackouts could be on the rise in the year 2021 since the internet shutdown in some countries is a tool for narrative control and chilling critical voices.

• Proliferation tech start-ups

In the year 2021, tech-start-ups will be throve robustly as there is growing increase in internet access and digital literacy across the continent.

• Use of drones and AI/machine learning in Africa

African States could deploy human-rights friendly artificial intelligence and support researches reinforcing AI. In light of Principle 39(6) of the African Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information; African States will employ human rights friendly AI, and other digital technologies than ever.

Building Back Better (Climate Change)

By Leslie Olonyi

Environment and Natural resources Lawyer | Arbitrator & Mediator | Mandela Washington Fellow.

 In 2020, a virus believed to be of zoonotic origin brought about an alarming loss of lives. 2021 will be a year of recovery, an opportunity to build back better and incorporate environmental consideration and climate change mitigation into all relevant levels of policy and decision making. A chance to stop the over politicisation of climate issues and the sacrifice of environmental integrity at the altar of economic growth. The two must go hand in hand and this opportunity must not be lost. The continual drift towards climate change tipping point of between 1- and 2-degrees warming is perilous, and a vaccine will not be the solution to save the planet from severe damage.

2021 kicks off the 2021–2030 UN proclaimed decade of Ecosystem Restoration where initiatives are planned to restore degraded as well as destroyed ecosystems. Restoration will improve food security, water bodies and simultaneously help remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Renewed commitment by the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases; the US to return to the Paris agreement and China pledging to be carbon neutral by 2060 are steps in the right direction if backed by concrete actions. The EU has embarked on a green new deal aimed at climate neutrality by 2050, however, the EU must be careful not to inadvertently outsource environmental damage and emissions to the mostly developing countries the EU massively imports from.

The Divestment from fossil fuels will continue as geothermal, solar, wind and storage technologies advance, including additional investments in renewable energy generation.

Global Security

By Gideon Sarpong 

Policy Leader Fellow, European University Institute | Open Internet Leader 2020/21

However polarizing a figure the outgoing US president may have been, Trump is leaving office with a more stabilized Middle East compared to his predecessor. Sustained de-escalation in Syria, the fall of Islamic State, the conditional agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban and several peace treaties between Israel and its Arab neighbours all point to a more stabilized region.

Although, I expect an escalation of cyber-attacks by the major global players; China, US and Russia in 2021, the real test of global security would be from Pyongyang. Previously, the Obama administration’s “strategic patience” doctrine was unsuccessful in halting North Korea’s pursuit of more powerful weapons.

Trump survived any major surprises from the North Korean regime in his four years and the world would keenly watch Biden’s approach to dealing with the Korea problem when the test comes.  Kim would definitely test the new US administration in 2021 and how Biden responds would have a significant impact on global security.

The biggest threat to global security in 2021 would be how the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action or the ‘Iran Deal’ is handled under the new US administration and how the Saudi-Israel- Arab faction reacts.

Security in Africa

Militant activities, sectarian violence and terrorist attacks including some State sanctioned crackdowns like what we are currently witnessing in Ethiopia is expected to dominate the headlines in Africa in 2021. The major change factor would be from Washington with a President-elect who is noted for his interventionist policies. United States under Biden would be emboldened to undertake more military adventurism and interventions across the continent which would also encourage the French to take further military risks around the continent.

As to whether these interventions would ultimately benefit the continent, it would be too early a call to make but the intervention in Libya and its subsequent fallout is available for the world to see.

Joe Biden election and US return to Multilateral Diplomacy; Implications for Africa

By Justice Kumordzi

International Relations Expert | Co-founder iWatch Africa

When President-Elect Joe Biden says “the US will re-engage the world”, it is stark opposite of his predecessor, President Donald Trump’s mantra of “America first” at face value. In reality, although a multilateral approach will be deployed by the incoming Biden administration, America’s interest will still remain paramount… after all, the US has only permanent interest, not permanent friends. The focus will still remain on containing China and Russia’s influence in global affairs.

But what does a Joe Biden presidency mean for Africa? Although most African nations are glad to see the back of a US President who never pretended to be interested in the region, nothing suggests that US-Africa relationship will change dramatically for the better with Biden as President. Africa since the departure of President Obama in 2017, has come to understand that the key to the continent’s development lies within and not from external sources.

The Biden administration will for sure return the US to the World Health Organization and the Paris Accord on Climate Change which is expected to influence early delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the Global South. I expect the United States will once again play a leading role in world affairs 2021, departing from an inward-looking policy under President Trump.

In Africa, I expect that the expertise of international and civil society organizations working in the areas of climate change, human rights and reproductive health would be aggressively sought under Biden-Harris Presidency over the next four years.

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The views/contents expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of iWatch Africa.

The post Predictions for 2021: Digital Rights, Global Security, Climate Change & Expectations of the Biden Administration – Part 1 appeared first on iWatch Africa.

The marine plastic litter recently hit the front burner, when the Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF) revealed that plastic pollution alone costs $13 billion a year in damages to marine ecosystems.

The forum in its documents detailing its preparation for the 2019 edition in Tunis, said: “90 per cent of ocean plastic waste originates from Asia and Africa, mainly due to mismanagement of waste and can be traced to just 10 rivers, including river Niger,”

According to ABEF, oceans are increasingly being recognised as a major driver of the world’s economic development, but conservative estimates for the next 12 years suggest that the ocean economy would add yearly global value of around $3 trillion and contribute some 40 million direct full time jobs to the global labour market.

It noted that African governments have a major role to play in tackling ocean pollution and plastic waste in particular, noting that Africa is the second largest continent with 26,000 nautical miles of coastlines and maritime zones under its jurisdiction, totaling 13 million km2.

It stressed that linking the issue of ocean pollution with the blue economy development approach could help meet its targets set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs and the Africa Union’s Vision 2063).

Founder & CEO, Blue Jay Communication, Mrs Leila Ben Hassen, said among the important actions to achieve a sustainable blue economy was to strengthen pan-African partnerships and encourage more international collaboration.

“Hence we have decided to focus in this edition on developing more synergies between private and public sectors, between regional and international companies, attracting experts and investors in the blue economy sectors, and, ultimately, creating more job opportunities for Africa’s youth and women,” she stated.

Meanwhile, iWatch Africa is set to unveil an ambitious initiative dedicated to promoting ocean conservation and protection of marine resources before close of 2020.

Co-founder of iWatch Africa, Gideon Sarpong explained that the new initiative, “will work closely with the Fisheries Commission and Ghana Maritime Authority as well as other relevant institutions in Ghana to deal with ocean conservation, over-fishing and education of the public on dangers of improper disposal of plastic waste.”

United Nation’s Environment estimates that 15 per cent of marine litter floats on the sea’s surface, 15 per cent remains in the water column and 70 per cent rests on the seabed.

According to another study, about 5.25 million plastic particles, weighing 268,940 tonnes in total, are currently floating in the world’s oceans.

Another concerned agency, Ocean Unite stated: “The vast swirls of plastic rubbish visible on the sea surface – horrifying as they are – represent just the tip of the iceberg. What lies beneath are the masses of micro beads and broken-down particles of plastic that are easily ingested by sea creatures, and impossible to remove.

“The urgently needed solution calls for a combination of enhanced awareness, reduced plastic use, and massively improved waste management. The most effective way to have less plastic in the Ocean is to use less plastic in the first place,” it stated.

Credit: iWatch Africa

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The WEF launched a global initiative to grow, restore and conserve 1 trillion trees around the world – in a bid to restore biodiversity and help fight climate change by 2050 during its last meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The 1t.org project aims to unite governments, non-governmental organisations, businesses and individuals in a “mass-scale nature restoration.”

iWatch Africa as part of its climate action will collaborate with several organisations including the WEF to plant 5000 trees in Ghana in the next five years.

According to recent figures by the United Nations, Africa stands to be severely impacted by climate change as close to 70 percent of the population directly depend on the climate for their livelihoods.

Project Director of iWatch Africa, Justice Kumordzi underscored the importance of this initiative during the open data day conference which was held in Accra.

“We are an organization dedicated to effecting lasting change in our environment. Our climate action will focus on greening the country through our trees planting exercise using the Global Forest Watch satellite data as a guide. We will also focus on ocean conservation and protection of marine resources. This is important in promoting food security in the next decade,” he explained.

In 2018, a Global Forest Watch report revealed that there was a, “60% increase in Ghana’s primary rain forest loss in 2018 compared to 2017, the highest in the world. The second highest was neighboring Côte d’Ivoire with a 28% increase.”

Gideon Sarpong, Policy and News Director of iWatch Africa stressed the need to focus on policy options that would deal with reducing the financing gap for climate change in Africa as well as incorporating ocean conservation models into local development plans.

“Currently, there is so much reliance on donor organisations in fighting climate change in Africa. I think we have to begin some work on domestic resource mobilization for climate change around the continent. More importantly, climate and ocean action which is at the core of our initiative must be incorporated into local development plans especially at the decentralized level. We are prepared to lead this charge,” he said.

The initiative was unveiled at the Kofi Annan ICT Center in Accra during the Open Data Day Forum in collaboration with GOIF with support from the Open Knowledge Foundation.

The open data day forum focused on leveraging public domain satellite and drone imagery to track deforestation and water pollution in Africa.

Credit: iWatch Africa

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