By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their strides towards honouring individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have made significant strides towards mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability in the country, the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development (GYC) has on Friday 3rd November, 2023 held its 1st National Climate Change Champions Award (NCCCA) at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Aberdeen in Freetown.
Speaking during the ceremony, Executive Director of the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development, Abdul Karim Marah said climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time as it poses a threat to the environment, economy, and overall well-being.
He said that the Climate Awards ceremony aims to highlight and acknowledge those who have taken up this challenge and are leading the way towards a more sustainable future, adding that in that regard they deemed it fit to celebrate the remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations who have dedicated their time, resources and expertise to combating climate change maintaining how their efforts have not only made a difference in their respective fields but have also inspired others to take action.
Abdul Karim Marah maintained that the Climate Awards ceremony serves as a platform to showcase innovative solutions, ground-breaking research, and impactful initiatives that address the various aspects of climate change, adding that from renewable energy projects to sustainable agriculture practices, from advocacy campaigns to policy reforms, each nominee has contributed in his or her unique way towards building a greener and more resilient world.
The Executive Director extended heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees who have been shortlisted for the Climate Awards, stating that their dedication, passion, and commitment are truly commendable as each one of them has played a crucial role in advancing the cause of climate action and inspiring others to join this important movement.
He thanked their sponsors, partners, and supporters who have made this event possible (UBA, RC-Bank, FCC, WANEP SL, Freetown Media, The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Environment and Climate Change etc.
In her remarks, the Mayor of the Freetown Municipality, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer applauded the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development (GYC)for their contributions towards addressing climate change in the country, she further commended them for recognizing individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have made significant strides towards mitigating climate change in the country.
She said that climate change affects all on a daily basis and that according to studies if something is not done to mitigate its effects, it will get worst.
She used the opportunity to plead to all present at the ceremony to make Freetown and by extension the country more resilient to the climate that is already affecting us as a country.
She said that GYC participated in their Freetown The Tree Town which they also supported the planting of trees in 2020 maintaining that by the end of November 2023 they would have planted 977,000 trees under the 1,000,000 Freetown the Tree Challenge of which she said that by 2024 they would have completed the 1,000,000 Freetown the Tree Town.
She said that one of the ways the country can mitigate climate change is by embarking on tree planting of which she noted that in weeks to come the Freetown City Council will embark on giving away trees to citizens in order for them to engage in tree planting.
In his keynote address, Hon. Momoh Bockarie representing the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change in Parliament commended the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development (GYC) for honouring individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have made significant strides towards mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability in the country.
He maintained that in the bid to reducing vulnerabilities, increasing opportunities for climate actions in the country, the President has demonstrated commitment by establishing the following intuitions which include the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the National Disaster Management Agency and the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security.
Hon. Momoh Bockarie revealed that the Government has also developed a National Climate Change policy, which has been validated by stakeholders and approved by cabinet.
He continued how the country is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, with a growing number of people at risk and significant impacts on the economy leading to a proposal made in Cluster Seven of the Country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) in 2019, which stressed the need for aligning environmental and climate Change issues and economic development plans to a centre stage for proactive efforts to mitigate the causes of global warming, and help vulnerable citizens in both rural and urban settings to effectively adapt to climate change.
One of the awardees, Evans Lyndon Baines-Johnson expressed appreciation to the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development (GYC) for honouring the significant strides they have made towards mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability in the country.
He assured all, on behalf of awardees, that they will continue in their various ways to work towards mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability in the country.
In her vote of thanks, the Global Youth Counterpart for Sustainable Development (GYC) Coordinator for Koinadugu District, Maria Kolleh Mansaray, extended thanks to their distinguished Committee Judges, who have meticulously evaluated the nominations and selected the deserving winners.
She concluded by congratulating all the winners of the National Climate Change Champion Awards, adding that their dedication and efforts are an inspiration to many and urged them to continue working together to combat climate change and build a better world for future generations.
