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An overview of climate-sensitive sectors and its implications for future climate change risk and adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana

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Abstract

Understanding vulnerability to climate change (CC) is necessary to inform policy makers about appropriate strategies for mitigating and adapting to CC impact. However, research suggests that Ghana is more prone to the impact of CC, affecting vulnerable sectors and might not be able to achieve sustainable development goal (SDG) 11: sustainable cities and communities by 2030. This study synthesises scholarly literature and aims to examine the vulnerability to climate change, mitigation and adaptation practices focussing on agriculture, water and sanitation, forestry, and cities and infrastructure to proffer solutions to enhancing the sustainability of social–ecological systems in Ghana. The study has found that climate-sensitive sectors in Ghana remain vulnerable to climate change with limited adaptive capacity, for example, limited access to technologies and poor knowledge about CC in the agricultural sector; poor quality of water and sanitation services and infrastructural development; illegal logging and a lack of forest conservation practices; and poor maintenance of green and socio-economic infrastructure in the urban and rural areas. Further, the study highlights considerable variation by sectors, particularly with regard to agricultural sector. The study indicates that communicating mitigation and adaptation raises public awareness of the opportunity and threats brought about climate change. The study concludes by calling for the formulation and implementation of National Climate Change Communication Strategy (NCCCS) to govern the communication of climate adaptation plans in Ghana. Specific recommendations for the climate-sensitive sectors are presented in this study.

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Source: Jordi Perdigó/Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data

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Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous referees for their valuable suggestions

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Correspondence to Henry Mensah.

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Mensah, H., Nalumu, D.J., Simpeh, E.K. et al. An overview of climate-sensitive sectors and its implications for future climate change risk and adaptation in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana. SN Soc Sci 2, 90 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00395-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00395-8

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