As part of its climate change and climate action advocacy mandate, the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) will host The GREEN RUN on Saturday, December 7th in Accra, to advocate on climate change and its seven related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The GREEN RUN is a 7 kilometre run conceived to raise awareness about climate change and its impacts in Ghana, as well as bring attention to the climate action solutions of Ghana’s leading businesses and entrepreneurs incubated by GCIC’s business incubator since 2016. Recognizing the seven SDGs relating to climate change, climate action and private enterprise, the GREEN RUN will total 7 kilometres, starting at El-Wak Stadium, Accra.
The Executive Director of GCIC, Ruka Sanusi, called on as many as are able to participate in the GREEN RUN, adding that, “with climate change, Africa has the most to lose, and we are most vulnerable to the impacts. Unless we take action, in the near future, climate change will contribute to decreases in food production, increased floods and inundation of coastal zones, spread of waterborne diseases as well changes in natural ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. It could also potentially lead to increased levels of internal rural/urban migration, and reduced levels of employment – for without environmental and ecological protection and prosperity, economic growth will be limited”.
Ms Sanusi also spoke about GCIC and explained what the Centre seeks to achieve. She said “In the short time that we have as a global community to limit global warming to at least 2 degrees Celsius, and as close to 1.5 degrees Celcius as possible, our work at GCIC is focused on contributing to that reduction, securing economic development as well as ecological prosperity through nurturing responsible enterprises – Ghanaians have innovative ideas around climate change and they want to make a difference.”
“In line with the mission of Ashesi University to raise ethical entrepreneurial leaders in Africa, at GCIC we are raising and supporting transformational entrepreneurs and influencing the development of an equally transformational entrepreneurial ecosystem – one which specifically responds to the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on everyday life in Ghana”. Whilst many people are aware of and experience the change in weather patterns, many are do not necessarily see nor are they aware of how our day to day lifestyles and consumer choices contributes to global warming. With the GREEN RUN, GCIC hopes to raise awareness on how we can take action and win the race again increased levels of global warming – whether as individuals, the government and public sector, consumers, manufacturers, enterprises and entrepreneurs
Founded in 2016, the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre is a pioneering business incubator with a unique focus of supporting SME ventures and entrepreneurs in Ghana’s Green Economy. Funded by a grant from the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands through the World Bank, GCIC’s is managed by a consortium led by Ashesi University, including Ernst and Young, SNV Ghana and the United Nations University.
