By Nasratu Kargbo
The Chairman of the Special Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security, Dr.Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella said climate change is not only an environmental issue, but a developmental problem.
Speaking at a Climate Conference on the 10th October 2023, the former MP said “We need to include climate issues and environmental issues in a number of issues across sectors in the country”
He explained that his office is charged with the responsibility of ensuring coordination and joint action in the various sectors and ministries.
“You cannot achieve agriculture without dealing with climate change and environmental issues” he said. He therefore emphasized the need for collaboration in order to achieve President Julius Maada Bio’s ‘Feed Salone’ agenda and tackle climate change.
Citing how collaboration is important, Dr.Yumkella explained that agriculture cannot thrive without energy, stating that they need energy for irrigation, plowing, storage amongst others.
“Our country is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and we feel its impact all across the country”, he said.
He spoke of extreme weather events having adverse effects and explained how Sierra Leone is presently experiencing heavy rains in October, with the tendency to affect agriculture, noting that farmers find it difficult to adjust. Yumkella added that a major flooding can wipe out a whole food production and destroy roads.
He said people are cutting down trees for cultivation and charcoal burning, saying in the Western Area, the forests are gone, whilst people have also cut down trees planted around dams.
The Former MP added that his office ensures that the President is briefed about happenings on the ground and gets the message, unlike information sometimes that he said does not explain the whole situation. “So we can help to filter that, we give the whole truth because we have no interest. We are just coordinators, facilitators and also we do due diligence” he said.
The chairman stated that things will not just happen, explaining that it takes time, citing Ghana as being a country that had to wait for thirty years to transform their energy sector, with 85%of the population having access to electricity.
Dr. Yumkella said there is political will to fight climate change and stated that the President has expressed determination to deal with climate change and environmental issues. He however admitted that Sierra Leone is most vulnerable to climate change, which is a threat to the country. The Conference was organized by Green Scenery and funded by Trocaire.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (13/10/23)
