Students and Market Women taught about renewable energy by 350 GROC

The Renewable Energy Master Plan will be implemented by 2030 by the government through a 10 percent penetration of renewable energy into Ghana's electricity mix. However, women and youth of the society are excluded from the country's shift to a greener and cleaner energy mix at the leadership and policy implementation levels.

A non-profit environmental youth network called 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon has taken charge to educate the market women who consume the majority of household energy, about the adoption of renewable energy.

Almost 30 percent of the households deal with energy and resources poverty, with a vast number of these households living in developing nations. These impact the education and economic opportunities for girls and women causing them to suffer acute health risks.

Ghana has ample amounts of renewable resources but lacks to make proper usage of them for energy generation, as many households still rely on traditional and environmentally hazardous energy sources. The nation is using only 2 percent of energy from renewable sources.

John Agyekum Kuffour, the Ashanti Regional Director of 350 GROC stated that the early exposure of women can lead to speeding up Ghana's goal of 10 percent renewable energy penetration. The global south, particularly in Africa is suffering from the negative impacts of the changing climate.

Women make up to 80 percent of people who are displaced by the change of climate, as reported by the United Nations Environment. Portia Adu-Mensah, the National Coordinator of 350 GROC said that climate action is essential for all.

The Climate Change Learning Programme was started by the Government in 2019 to speed up the empowerment of youth for climate change mitigation and solutions.

To educate the students about climate change and its consequences, the group visited some second-cycle institutions in the Ashanti region. Adam Yussif, the Ashanti region head of STEM education has spoken about the importance of integrating climate-based learning into the curriculum of school.