By Alpha Abu
Sierra Leone’s precarious position as the 24th most vulnerable country in the world to Climate Change was re-amplified at the first-ever National Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue in Freetown this week.
The country was also tagged 26th amongst countries least-ready to adapt to climate change, prompting the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security to organise the two-day dialogue on 23-24 October that attracted development partners from across the world.
Representatives of Government Institutions, Civil Society, International Organisations, and Energy research and development Agencies, deliberated on the framework that would accelerate Sierra Leone’s eco-friendly energy generation and accessibility drive whilst at the same time making drastic improvements in the country’s climate change scenario, so as to help maximise efforts at Food Security.
Various Presenters/ Speakers at the dialogue discussed issues related to meeting Africa’s ambition of formulating and implementing policies that will transform the continent’s agriculture and food systems. Gas Emission Tracking advances in Soil Mapping, and other interventions done in other African countries by some research and development institutions were mentioned.
Some other key objectives highlighted at the dialogue were –the firm implementation of the Lungi and Newton Solar Power Plants, and that by 2024 and early 2025, to ensure 200 Health Centres and 500 Schools have Solar-Powered Energy through off-grid solutions across the country. It was also agreed that Energy Revenue be accelerated with the use of improved metering and collection through a local service provider- the Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA).
A Data Research Centre is to be established in Sierra Leone under Fourah Bay College that will link with partner universities in the West that will focus on strategizing so that the country would be able to break into the Carbon Market.
The essence of Policy Coherence, broad-based collaboration, and integrated approach amongst all the players including private investors in Sierra Leone’s energy transformation and climate change resilient initiatives was also stressed.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Local Government and Community Relations, Tamba Lamina spoke of the government’s policy actions and mitigating efforts against water pollution, soil erosion logging, and other harmful environmental practices in communities.
Lamina underscored the importance his ministry attaches to the dialogue and hoped all pertinent climate change actions would come to fruition.
Leader of Government Business in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Mathew Sahr Nyuma in his statement mentioned the laws enacted by Parliament that have addressed Land and Environmental issues. He said they will remain supportive of climate change interventions.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) policies were also discussed. IRENA will be holding a workshop for the $ 1 billion “Lives and Livelihoods Initiative” and the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) to be launched at Cop28 in which Sierra Leone will be one of the pilot countries.
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella who is Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Presidential Initiative on Climate Change Renewable Energy and Food Security chaired a series of panel discussions involving experts during the dialogue.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (25/10/23)
