Dubai: UAE has committed a $30 million investment to support Ghana’s efforts in biodiversity conservation and addressing climate change. The financial commitment aims to bolster Ghana’s environmental initiatives, enhance sustainable development, and help the West African nation meet its climate goals.
Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Samuel A. Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, signed a letter of intent formalizing the $30 million investment.
The signing took place in the presence of Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), who led COP28’s nature workstream, along with Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability.
The framework document outlines six key investment areas, including biodiversity corridors, reforestation, and agroecology, designed to deliver simultaneous benefits for climate, biodiversity, and community development. It also emphasizes a cross-cutting focus on gender equality and youth engagement.
As a part of Ghana’s Resilient Ghana nature-climate strategy, the document establishes metrics for measurement, reporting, and verification, leveraging Ghana’s pioneering Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) process to ensure transparency and accountability in achieving these goals.
Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi said that, “Our partnership with Ghana is a testament to the UAE’s focus on global biodiversity, climate, and development goals. It underscores our commitment to the UAE Consensus which calls for the ending and reversal of deforestation by 2030 and highlights the importance of the protection and preservation of biodiversity. Our investment in Ghana will not only bolster the country’s afforestation efforts but will also create a broader positive impact on local communities. By backing a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at forest protection and enhancement, we aim to strengthen local livelihoods and foster greater community engagement.”
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak stated that, “COP28 set a new precedent for coordinating action on nature and climate, as well as for anchoring investment in plans developed by nature-rich countries themselves, the UAE-Ghana partnership is a great example of the approach that will help to keep the target of 1.5 degrees within reach, while delivering on the SDGs and protecting biodiversity.”
UAE, alongside its partners, mobilized over $2 billion in funding for nature-climate projects, including a broader investment package supporting Ghana’s Resilient Ghana strategy.
Both UAE and Ghana are also active members of the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership, a public-private initiative aimed at coordinating investments in forest conservation and climate action. They are set to outline some of the initial projects under their bilateral partnership at COP29 in Baku this November, with further details to be shared at COP30 next year.
Ghanaian officials welcomed the support, noting that the investment would significantly enhance the country’s efforts to preserve its rich biodiversity while advancing its climate agenda. This partnership is expected to yield long-term benefits for both countries in the fight against climate change.