An Associate Professor at the University of Ghana’s Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies, Dr Yaw Agyeman Boafo, has urged the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the education sector to strengthen collaboration and create more opportunities for young people to participate in climate action.
He said performances by senior high school students at Green Tales 2026 demonstrated a strong understanding of climate change and their potential to contribute to practical solutions to environmental challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr Boafo, who also participated in the judging and organisation of the programme, said the students’ poetry, drama and artwork reflected their understanding of climate-related challenges and possible solutions.
He noted that with additional resources and opportunities, students could apply their knowledge beyond the classroom to influence behavioural change and develop innovative responses to environmental problems in their communities.
He cited performances addressing plastic use, waste management and individual behaviour in rural and urban communities as examples of how young people could contribute to environmental action.
Dr Boafo stressed that awareness of climate issues should not be confined to formal classroom teaching but promoted through platforms such as churches, school clubs, drama groups and other community spaces.
On Ghana’s education curriculum, he acknowledged efforts by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to incorporate climate change and sustainable development but said more resources and practical learning opportunities were needed to deepen their impact.
He also called for greater investment in teacher training and capacity-building to equip educators with the knowledge and skills required to teach climate-related issues effectively.
According to him, students’ creative works should be showcased beyond their schools through exhibitions, drama performances and other public platforms, including television, to reach wider audiences and strengthen public understanding of environmental challenges.
He further urged government agencies, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to provide sponsorship and logistical support to expand Green Tales and similar initiatives to other regions of Ghana.
Dr Boafo specifically encouraged the EPA to work more closely with basic and senior high schools to broaden youth participation and promote practical environmental action.
He said expanding such initiatives nationally would enable more young people and communities to benefit while giving students platforms to demonstrate their creativity and contribute to solutions.
Green Tales, an initiative of The Climate Sociologist, uses education, culture and creative expression to make climate issues accessible to young people and encourage their participation in climate action.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
