Report By: Ishmael Barfi
Accra, Ghana – The Ghana Meteorological Agency’s (GMet) new Climate Atlas aims to guide decision-making across sectors like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development.
GMet Director-General Dr. Eric Asuman emphasized the atlas’s potential to assist policymakers and individuals in making informed choices on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
He stated, “If the Minister of Agriculture shares this atlas with district agricultural officers and extension officers, they can use the data to advise farmers on suitable crops, varieties, and strategies to keep their farming viable for the next 50 years.”
The Climate Atlas offers high-resolution forecasts for temperature, rainfall, and sea level rise, helping users plan for up to 100 years ahead. Dr. Asuman highlighted its importance for policymakers, saying, “It guides the government to make immediate decisions on emissions to prevent worsening conditions over the next 50 years.”
In an exclusive Climate Watch interview, Dr. Asuman indicated the atlas’s relevance across sectors, including energy, where it can influence hydroelectric planning and diversification.
He noted, “If temperatures rise, more people will use air conditioning, increasing power consumption. This should inform how much power we aim to generate by 2050.”
The Climate Atlas is also expected to help shape Ghana’s National Adaptation Plan by integrating climate considerations into development strategies. Dr. Asuman urged stakeholders to utilize the atlas, stating, “District assemblies should include this data in their long-term plans. Engineers designing roads should also consider this information.”
Finally, Dr. Asuman stressed the atlas’s role in building resilience to extreme weather, saying, “If we incorporate this information into our planning, we can enhance resilience. Ignoring it will leave us more vulnerable and less capable of coping with extreme weather events.”
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
