The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), in collaboration with the French Embassy has held a climate change conference in Accra on the theme: “Climate change- the real issue facing Ghana and Africa as a whole.”

The conference, which was a prelude to the global climate change conference in Paris, provided the platform for exchange of information and ideas on climate change in Ghana and Africa, among stakeholders from the academia, government ministries and agencies, civil society organisation and the media.

Dr John Kwakye, Senior Research Fellow, IEA, said the impact of climate change is a global phenomenon which has no boundary.

He said in Africa for instance, climate change is threatening human activities, especially in the area of agriculture, energy, and healthcare.

He said the issue is an urgent challenge, which demands urgent attention and it is imperative that such issues are mainstreamed into the policies of African countries.

Mr Stephane Gompertez, Envoy of the French Government for Climate Change, said West Africa could not be excluded from the impact of climate change, as issues such as desertification, salinization of land due to sea erosion and food shortage has begun confronting the sub- region.

He said the Paris conference in France to be held in December would seek to get binding commitment from the international community to deal with the menace of climate change.

He said the commitment by the international community would contain mitigation and adaptation, to cope with consequences of climate change.

He said other expectations of the conference would include financial commitment and agenda of solution, all geared towards tackling the challenges of climate change.

Mr Frederic Clavier, French Ambassador, commended IEA for the collaboration, saying that every country has a role to play and urged all to come on board.