The Head of the Department of Environmental Management and Technology at Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU), Prof. Stephen Agyefi-Mensah, has urged Ghanaians to take bold, decisive steps to safeguard the environment and ensure a sustainable climate future. He made the call while chairing the University’s celebration of World Environment Day 2026, held under the global theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”

Addressing the Deans, Directors, faculty, students, and invited guests, Prof. Agyefi-Mensah emphasised that World Environment Day, established by the United Nations in 1972, has become one of the largest platforms for environmental awareness and action worldwide. He noted that the day was not only a celebration of nature’s richness but also a reminder of humanity’s collective responsibility to protect it.

Prof. Agyefi-Mensah highlighted the urgent threat posed by climate change, citing rising temperatures, floods, droughts, deforestation, and pollution as pressing challenges. He stressed that nature itself offered solutions to these crises, pointing to forests, wetlands, and healthy ecosystems as vital tools for carbon absorption, flood control, biodiversity, and human well-being.

Turning to Ghana’s context, he underscored the timeliness of this year’s theme, noting that the country continued to grapple with flooding, prolonged dry seasons, coastal erosion, illegal mining, and biodiversity loss. These issues, he said, directly impacted agriculture, food security, public health, and national development.

To localise the global theme, the Department adopted the sub-theme “Climate Action for Ghana’s Green Transition.” Prof. Agyefi-Mensah explained that the green transition required rethinking production, consumption, and urban development, while embracing sustainable energy, climate-smart agriculture, responsible mining, proper waste management, and protection of forests and water bodies. He further called for innovation, environmental education, and stronger partnerships between government, academia, industry, traditional authorities, and communities.

“This celebration calls on all of us — governments, institutions, businesses, communities, and individuals — to adopt environmentally responsible practices. Let us reduce waste, plant more trees, conserve water, protect biodiversity and support sustainable innovations that will secure a healthier planet for future generations,” he urged.

Prof. Agyefi-Mensah concluded by encouraging participants to be inspired by nature to act boldly for the climate, and to work together for a greener, safer, and more sustainable future.

The event concluded with a tree-planting exercise and a sensitisation tour on Sustainable Climate Action by staff and students at the University

Source: Directorate of Public Affairs, CCTU
Date: June 22, 2026