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Climate innovation center launched in Ghana

Xinhua, May 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Ghana Climate Innovation Center, a technology hub, has been launched in the West African country in a bid to help over 100 local clean technology businesses develop and commercialize innovative solutions to climate change.

The center, the first of its kind in the country, was launched based on partnership among the World Bank, Ghana's Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, governments of Denmark and The Netherlands.

It will support the National Climate Change Policy over the next ten years by contributing to the production of clean energy.

It is also aimed at mitigating up to 660,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), the equivalent of the emissions of almost 140,000 cars for one year.

Ultimately, the center is expected to help more than 300,000 Ghanaians increase their resilience to climate change.

Henri Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Ghana said the center solidifies the role of the private sector in helping Ghana manage the effects of climate change.

"By enabling entrepreneurs and green innovators to test and scale new clean technologies, homegrown business solutions can help the country build climate resilience while also contributing to job creation and economic development," said Kerali.

Climate change could have a significant impact on Ghana's economy.

A World Bank report projected Ghana's agricultural Gross Domestic Product to decline by 3 to 8 percent by the middle of the century.

Coastal erosion from rising sea levels could result in significant loss of land and forced migration, while extreme weather events could further strain the country's infrastructure.

To reduce the long-term costs of climate change and create opportunities for sustainable growth, the center will provide local companies with the knowledge and resources they need to prototype, develop, and market innovative clean technologies in sectors like climate-smart agriculture, waste water treatment, and off-grid renewable energy.

The services offered by the center will include seed financing, policy interventions, and market connections, as well as technical and business training.

The center is part of the World Bank's climate technology program and its global network of climate innovation centers.

Other centers have been established in the Caribbean, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam. Endit