The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
A roadmap for resilient infrastructure in a changing climate
A new report co-written by UNOPS provides Ghana with a resilient infrastructure roadmap as the country adapts to climate change.
As a result of climate change, Ghana is expected to experience more severe climate hazards such as flooding, as well as more frequent and intense droughts. This has the potential to put years of progress toward growth and development targets at risk.
When infrastructure systems fail due to the impacts of climate change and environmental shocks, it is often women, girls and vulnerable groups who are disproportionately affected.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation – and in collaboration with the Global Center on Adaptation, University of Oxford and the UN Environment Programme – UNOPS has published a new report that outlines Ghana’s current and future needs for climate change adaptation.
Adapting to potential impacts of climate change will be an essential part of Ghana’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and other development objectives, including gender and inclusivity.
"We are proud to support the government of Ghana's efforts to build a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future for its people through this infrastructure roadmap," added Ms. Charles-Monwuba.
With a focus on the energy, water and transport sectors, the study considers infrastructure as an integrated system to develop a pipeline of climate-resilient projects, policies and capacity-building initiatives to advance climate adaptation. The roadmap includes a strong focus on solutions that work with nature and that safeguard physical and institutional components of Ghana’s infrastructure system. This is designed to be aligned with, and to inform, Ghana’s national strategic development and policy plans.
“Ghana is focused on building a more sustainable and resilient society by putting in place measures that ensure we adapt to climate change impacts on infrastructures such as roads, dams, power distribution lines, homes, drains and all structures that life revolves around,” said Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
“Safeguarding the physical and institutional components of Ghana’s infrastructure system will enable the country to successfully progress along a trajectory of sustained growth,” he added.
The report is further accompanied by a handover and training to government officials on the open-source data and tools used within the assessment.
The capacity to better understand the country’s vulnerability to climate hazards, and to respond through appropriate adaptation measures, will help build systemic resilience into government policy for decades to come, and may allow for more flexible, greener, or more affordable options for infrastructure decision makers.
