By Ama KUDOM-AGYEMANG
By the close of the initial four months of this year, it becomes essential to revisit the key messages from three major globally recognized environmental events held annually: World Wetlands Day (February 2), World Water Day (March 22), and Earth Day (April 22).
They revealed a cohesive theme: the critical necessity to rejuvenate natural habitats, tackle global warming, and safeguard Earth’s vital support mechanisms.
Ranging from wetland preservation and water resource management to the promotion of renewable energy sources, their focuses for 2025 underscore an increasing worldwide agreement that environmental initiatives are crucial not merely for protecting nature itself, but also for enhancing overall human health and fortitude across the globe.
Earth Day: Speeding Up the Renewables Revolution
In Earth Day 2025, the latest observance of these events, there was a strong call for a global shift towards clean and sustainable energy sources. The initiative aimed to triple the production of renewable electricity globally by 2030.
As fossil fuel emissions exacerbate the climate emergency, Earth Day campaigners pressed authorities to focus on solar, wind, hydropower, tidal, and other renewable energy options.
The initiative also highlighted environmental justice, asserting that no community should be overlooked during the worldwide transition to a greener economic system.
Astrid Schomaker, who serves as the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), took the opportunity to highlight to the global audience how indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs)—including young people, women, and children—have maintained a harmonious relationship with the Earth over thousands of years.
She worried that “nowadays, they are particularly impacted by the environmental crises troubling our world.”
Ms. Schomaker highlighted that the methods and advancements implemented by IPLCs represent a vast repository of traditional wisdom which is essential for international initiatives aimed at stopping and reversing biodiversity decline as well as tackling climate change issues.
She went on to say that this function of IPLCs has been acknowledged in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted during COP 15 held in Montreal back in December 2022.
The framework recognizes “indigenous peoples and local communities as guardians of biodiversity and as collaborators in its preservation, revitalization, and responsible utilization.”
World Water Day: Protect Glaciers to Safeguard Global Freshwater Supplies
The World Water Day celebration in 2025 underscored the vital function of glaciers in maintaining fresh water resources essential for consumption, farming, manufacturing, natural habitats, and the overall water cycle globally.
Glaciers consist of gathered ice and snow that gradually moves downhill from mountainous regions into valleys and over land surfaces. These massive formations hold nearly 70% of our planet’s fresh water, functioning like natural storage systems that provide crucial meltwater for both human use and ecosystem requirements.
Nevertheless, global warming has caused faster glacier melt, resulting in an unprecedented loss of more than 600 gigatons of water in 2023—the highest recorded figure within half a century, as reported by the Global Water Partnership.
This swift and unequaled thawing is interfering with the water cycle, resulting in more erratic and severe weather conditions such as heightened occurrences of flooding, droughts, landslides, and rising sea levels.
According to UN-Water, this “endangers billions of people and numerous ecosystems while also posing a threat to water security.”
In Ghana and throughout the remainder of the Western African sub-region, the 2025 World Water Day highlighted that despite being distant, glaciers play a crucial role in the water cycle, sustaining our rivers and lakes.
As a result, their vanishing implies reduced water availability for public use, diminished water resources for industrial expansion, decreased hydropower production capabilities, and insufficient water supplies for farming activities.
Thus, the national durbar held in Accra to commemorate the day served as a platform to emphasize the urgent need for collective effort in protecting Ghana’s water resources and ensuring that each citizen has access to this vital element.
In light of the nation’s daily theme “Water Conservation: Let’s Make It Our Way of Life,” Deputy Minister of Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, stated, “This serves as an urgent reminder for all Ghanaians to strengthen their dedication towards restoring the degradation of our country’s aquatic resources.”
Adam Mutawakilu, the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), has called upon Ghanaians to reaffirm their dedication to safeguarding and preserving the country’s freshwater sources. He emphasized this point by stating, “Given that our water supplies are finite, immediate steps must be taken to guarantee long-term viability.”
Echoing similar concerns, the Acting Executive Director of the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Dr. Bob Alfa, highlighted his worry that Ghana’s water supply fell well short of the minimum yearly threshold needed for residents.
Presently, the water resources available per person amount to approximately 1700 cubic meters.
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/CAP/YR. This figure is significantly lower than the required per capita threshold of 1900 mᶟ.
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As mentioned by Dr. Alfa, ‘/cap/yr’ indicates that this situation primarily stems from the combined impacts of climate change and pollution, which mainly result from unauthorized mining activities.
World Wetlands Day: Safeguarding Wetlands for Human Well-being and Sustainability
The day’s festivities highlighted the significance of wetlands in sustaining an ecological equilibrium through their role in fostering biodiversity, managing water cycles, and combating climate change.
Worldwide, wetlands rank as some of the planet’s most fertile ecological systems; however, they simultaneously face severe threats. Consequently, the primary focus of this year’s campaign is to encourage decisive measures to protect these crucial environments for both present and coming generations.
In Ghana, the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission (FC), working alongside the Obame Community located within the Songor Lagoon Ramsar Site in Ada, celebrated World Wetlands Day 2025 through a ceremonial mangrove planting event followed by a durbar held at Dove Park in Ada Foah.
The address delivered on behalf of the Acting Chief Executive of the FC, Dr Hugh Brown, stated that this day serves as a reminder for everyone to take shared responsibility in protecting and rehabilitating wetlands, ensuring an enduring ecological system for both current and upcoming generations.
Regarding the condition of Ghana’s wetlands, he stated, “They are vanishing at a rate three times quicker than forests.” Therefore, it is essential for everyone to take an active role in conserving and restoring Ghana’s wetland ecosystems.
What do the group’s celebrations signify for Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa?
The group festivities vividly illustrate how the worldwide community is uniting behind the ideas of restoring ecosystems, promoting water collaboration, and transitioning to renewable energy sources in 2025. Sub-Saharan African nations, notably Ghana, find themselves at a pivotal juncture during this period.
These themes extend far beyond simple symbolism; they address critical development and environmental issues faced by nations such as Ghana. There is an immediate call for collaborative efforts in restoring ecosystems, which are under considerable strain from extensive degradation caused by factors including deforestation, farming practices, mining activities, infrastructure growth, and climate shifts.
This would entail reviewing measures related to ecosystem restoration within different urban planning and national development strategies as well as legal systems. If necessary, current policies and frameworks might require revision, amendment, or repeal.
Additionally, faced with growing pressures from climate change effects, population expansion, and urban development on water resources, the tricentennial celebrations suggested that proactive water management is essential and crucial.
This goes beyond protecting public health, ensuring food and energy security, and preserving the environment; it also aims to avoid possible social disputes. Additionally, it will bolster their resilience, stimulate economic growth, and uphold the pledge to leave nobody behind in the quest for sustainable development.
Regarding clean energy, although Ghana has progressed with hydropower and solar projects, disparities in energy accessibility persist, especially in rural regions.
Therefore, a considerable segment of the populace remains unreachable. However, according to Ghana’s Renewable Energy Master Plan, there is substantial potential for expanding solar and mini-grid initiatives. With these prospects come the critical requirement to generate green employment opportunities within the fields of energy, conservation, and climate resilience—opportunities particularly important for the country’s increasing young demographic.
A vital takeaway from this perspective is the drive towards a sustainable, equitable, and comprehensive development approach for Ghana and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
To achieve this, nations must enhance the effectiveness of the systems and institutions established to manage different sectors. This enhancement should be accompanied by improved environmental governance and stricter enforcement of regulations designed to safeguard biodiversity.
Community groups ought to receive suitable resources and education to help them adjust to climate change. It’s also crucial for regional and national frameworks to be rejuvenated so they can advocate for accessing climate financing. This will empower Africa to take charge of developing solutions rather than continually facing the repercussions.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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