Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - Ghana would need more than 1.4 billion dollars for restoration purposes if bad environmental practices were not changed, Mr William Abaidoo, Public Relations Officer, Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday.

He said climate change was fast becoming a global and most devastating issue confronting the planet, earth.

"Scientists are already seeing signs of changing occurring more quickly than they expected; these signs range from high temperatures, low rainfall, drought and diseases leading to worsening economic conditions," he said.

Mr Abaidoo who was speaking at a day's seminar organized by Free World Foundation, an NGO, under the theme: "Youth and Climate Change" therefore called a for strong advocacy role by the youth to fight the global menace.

Climate change is basically caused by the mass injection of greenhouse gases into earth's atmosphere through human activities. These gases are capable of staying in the atmosphere for several thousands of years which are currently having adverse effects on the environment. He noted that, about 3.3 per cent of the population within the coastal zone stood the risk of erosion resulting in flooding and loss of infrastructure thereby affecting economic activities. Mr Abaidoo said this trend put the poor at risk relative to the rich adding, "The poor are highly vulnerable to environmental disasters".

He said the youth must develop interest in climate change issues, form environmental clubs to act as agents of change in places where climate change was higher.

Mr. Rashid Anyetei Odoi, Executive Director of the Foundation, said the 2006 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change revealed that ignoring climate change would cost the world 7.5 trillion dollars by 2050.

He said the phenomenon was real, adding, "The best local example that comes to mind is the recent power crisis our dear nation experienced".

Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, in a statement to mark the UN International Youth Day, said climate change could cause an unravelling of the progress made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, peace and security.

"Unless we make radical changes in the way we live, by the time the youth of 2008 reach my age, the world may well have become a rather inhospitable place," he cautioned.