MELR urges media to promote just transition

The Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), Gloria Bortele Noi, has emphasised the pivotal role of the media in shaping public awareness toward a just transition to a green economy.

She made this statement during the just-ended media sensitisation and awareness-raising programme on the National Green Jobs Strategy, themed ‘Supporting Green Enterprises for Decent Job Creation’.

“The media can play a crucial role in ensuring a sustainable, green environment. The media can intensify education on issues of climate change and the requirements for a just transition. Through investigative journalism, the media can bring to light environmental issues that can influence decision-making.

“The media can play a significant role in promoting best practices by showcasing successful green initiatives, businesses and projects. The media can also facilitate dialogue by providing platforms for informed and constructive discussions, engaging experts, policy-makers and the public in meaningful conversations about the intersection of environmental sustainability and job creation. This is essential for raising awareness and fostering understanding,” she added.

The project, which is the ministry’s initiative, is sponsored by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation – a non-profit organisation. It aims to ensure policy alignment, coherence and coordination for the maximisation of green jobs as well as the development of employability skills, particularly for youths, women and people with disability, in order to capitalise on existing and emerging green job opportunities.

It also seeks to mobilise and facilitate access to sustainable funding for green businesses through cross-sector collaboration and cooperation.

Mrs. Noi emphasised the need for increased awareness on the implications of climate change. She also highlighted the country’s challenges, including illicit mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, which are fuelling global warming.

“As concerned citizens, it is imperative that we remain well-informed about climate change and its adverse effects on our environment and well-being. The knowledge of the measures and strategies to combat climate change will equip us to make informed decisions, especially in matters concerning the sustainability of the environment and labour market,” she added.

She concluded with a call to action, urging the media to be change agents in Ghana’s transition to a greener, more sustainable future.

The development partner of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Ghana, Awudu Dramani Musah, on his part, stated that his outfit is funding the National Green Jobs Strategy Programme with €150,000 to help educate Ghanaians about climate change reactions and opportunities for green economic development.

“At SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, via the GrEEn Project, we are happy to be associated with this very important strategy, which is the National Green Jobs Strategy. It is our hope that this strategy, when fully represented by all of us, will generate lots of interest in the GrEEn Project and businesses for a more sustainable future,” he noted.

The National Project Coordinator for the Just Transition Project of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gideon Mankralo, presenting on the topic ‘Climate Change (Green and Circular Economy) and Just Transition’, stated that heat stress will diminish workable hours in most locations and present an increased occupational safety and health risk by 2030.

“Due to boiling temperatures, some areas will become too hot to work. Under a conservative scenario of warming at 1.5 degrees, 1.9 percent of work hours will be lost in 2030 – up from 1.3 percent in 1995. Agriculture and construction will be hit the hardest,” he further said.

He also highlighted that the collapse of fisheries due to climate change could lead to the loss of 86 million jobs worldwide. This, he argued, highlights the significance of achieving a green economy through a just transition.

An estimated 18 million new green jobs could be generated globally to replace those lost during the economic transition.

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