PwC Ghana in collaboration with the Embassy of France Ghana and UNDP Ghana, has held the 4th edition of the Ghana Sustainable Business Forum in Accra.
The conference was centred on the upcoming 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (CoP21) in Paris, with focus on private sector perspective.
The event provided insights on Ghana’s commitment to the CoP21 and highlighted Ghanaian-made climate-smart initiatives and the private sector’s role in contributing toward meeting these commitments.
François Pujolas, Ambassador of France to Ghana, recalled the major steps that have led to the Paris conference.
He also underlined the four pillars on which the Paris Climate Alliance should be based: namely national commitments, review and future commitments, financial chapter, and partnerships between all actors.
Mr. Dominic Sam, Country Director, UNDP Ghana, said policymakers need to increase the demand for low-carbon, climate resilient investment and create the necessary enabling environment for the local and international private sector to invest.
“We should highlight that it is not only finance that is needed from the private sector. Of equal importance is ensuring that the companies and firms make their businesses more sustainable,” he said.
Mr. Sam lauded the country for recognising the private sector’s importance in implementing its ambitious climate change agenda.
The INDC submitted to the UNFCCC indicates that US$3.2billion of local commercial facilities and US$3.8billion of international capital investment will be needed by 2030 for implementation.
He said his outfit is pleased to provide support to the Ghanaian government on a number of key initiatives, including development of the National Climate Change Policy Strategies.
In partnership with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Private Enterprise Federation, UNDP and the Ministry of Environment have developed a NAMA Investor Guide that provides a one-stop-shop on investment opportunities for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in the country.
Participants benefitted from best practices on integrating climate change considerations into business operations, and highlights of local climate-smart technology designed in Ghana for Ghanaians.
Participants also had the opportunity of learning about the findings from a survey carried out by PwC Ghana that seeks to highlight the business community’s readiness in the country regarding Global Climate Change and Sustainability issues.