By: Joshua Senuvie ‘Brown Berry’
Former US Vice President Al Gore took the stage in Accra, Ghana, hosting the 54th Climate Reality Leadership Training from November 13–15, 2023. This event, part of a global initiative, aimed to equip individuals worldwide with insights and solutions to combat climate change.
Vice President Gore emphasized West Africa’s potential to lead the Sustainability Revolution in Africa, given its vulnerability to climate impacts.
Captivating the audience with a two-hour presentation at the West Africa Climate Reality Leadership Training, Al Gore urgently highlighted the global imperative for climate action. The event, organized by The Climate Reality Project and featuring insights from Phyllis Cuttino, President, and CEO of the organization, spotlighted Africa’s unique challenges in confronting the climate crisis.
Phyllis Cuttino shed light on the harsh reality that, despite contributing less than 3% of global carbon emissions, Africa bears a disproportionate burden of climate change effects. With 600 million people lacking electricity access, Ghana faces unique challenges in sustainable development but is making strides toward 100% electricity access by 2030.
Addressing the clean energy job disparity, Gore emphasized the need for global solutions. While Africa houses 60% of the world’s premier solar energy resource, it currently utilizes only 1%. The Climate Reality Project, launched in 2006, aims to address these disparities and catalyze global climate solutions.
Al Gore’s keynote delved into the alarming reality of climate change, citing human impacts equivalent to 750,000 Hiroshima-class atomic bombs of energy trapped by man-made global warming pollution daily. He explored regional climate trends, warning of the potential devastating consequences for West Africa by 2050.
The link between climate change, deforestation, and extreme weather events was emphasized, highlighting the vulnerability of West Africa to rising sea levels and the global food system’s inequalities.
Al Gore stressed the urgency of action, discussing the economic and environmental costs of the climate crisis. The event concluded with a clear call to action—a collective effort is needed to address disparities, implement sustainable solutions, and mitigate the severe consequences of the climate crisis.