The Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy has called on developing countries to employ innovations to fight climate change.

“It is necessary to think of innovations that will bring people out of poverty and not create further impoverishment”.

The Administrator was speaking to the media after a panel discussion on the topic: “Opportunity and Innovation: How the US is leading Global Efforts to Respond to Climate Change” at the University of Cape Coast.

Gina McCarthy was of the view that it was time to be smarter in looking for solutions to the challenges that confront the environment or climate to create a safe and secured future.  According to her, the US for example, had reduced air pollution by as much as 70% and added that they would work together with Ghana to fight climate change. “We are here to support Ghana finding solutions to climate change challenges.

She said her mission in Ghana was to share best practices of the US with her Ghanaian counterparts so that together they could all determine solutions to the environmental problems of the country.

As part of the visit, she would also engage women fish processors who use improved fish smokers that reduce emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, decrease post-harvest losses of fish, and have higher efficiencies in fuel-wood utilization which contribute to improved health and profit margins among women traders.

In addition to this, she would have discussions with officials of the Ministry for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency on matters that bother on the environment.  She would also participate in other activities to be organised by some Ghanaian authorities. All these are meant to find out how the US could help Ghana to reduce carbon emissions.

Gina McCarthy and her entourage had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ghartey Ampiah. Discussions at the meeting centered on collaboration between UCC and her agency to effectively contribute to improving the environment to ensure food sufficiency, prevent post-harvest losses and also promote good health among Ghanaians.

Present at the meeting were the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K. T. Oduro; Dean, School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Johnson Boampong; Dr. Dennis Aheto who is the Project Manager USAID/UCC Fisheries and Coastal Management Capacity Building Support Project and also the Coordinator of the Centre for Coastal Management and Head, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences,Dr. Noble Asare.