The president of Côte d'Ivoire's National Commission for Climate Change (CNLCC) steering committee, Georges Koffi Bolamo, has called on members to take action on environmental urgencies. He made the remarks at the end of a capacity-building workshop held in Grand-Bassam on September 24-25, 2026. The workshop, organized by the CNLCC and the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, focused on governance, transparency, and access to climate finance.
The workshop aimed to equip CNLCC members with knowledge on climate change issues to guide public decisions and choices. Bolamo emphasized the need to make the CNLCC an active network of interconnected experts and actors. He urged members to demystify climate issues, which are often perceived as abstract or reserved for specialists. Côte d'Ivoire faces real threats, including declining agricultural yields, desertification, and coastal erosion.
Bolamo described CNLCC members as "commandos of the fight against climate change" and called on them to invest fully in the cause. He announced a continuous training program through regular webinars. The workshop's closing ceremony marked the beginning of the CNLCC's second ordinary session of 2026, chaired by Bolamo. The session reviewed urgent matters, including preparations for upcoming Conferences of Parties (COP) and harmonizing Côte d'Ivoire's message.
Discussions focused on the preparation of the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and the National Climate Report (RNC). The BTR responds to international obligations under the Paris Agreement, while the RNC tracks the country's climate actions and their impact. Members were briefed on the complementarity of the two reports. A reflection was initiated on the nexus between climate, peace, security, and gender.
The reflection aims to better protect vulnerable populations from social tensions linked to climate change. The goal is to address conflicts over land and water access, which primarily affect women and rural populations. The CNLCC steering committee brings together various stakeholders to coordinate climate change actions in Côte d'Ivoire. The committee's actions are supported by international partners, including the European Union.
The European Union provided technical and financial support through the Low-Carbon Transition project, implemented by Expertise France. The project aims to support Côte d'Ivoire's transition to a low-carbon economy. Bolamo emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to address climate change challenges. He called on CNLCC members to work together to achieve concrete results.
The CNLCC's actions will focus on implementing concrete projects to address climate change impacts. The committee will work with various stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, and the private sector. The goal is to develop and implement effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Key points
- Côte d'Ivoire's climate change committee urged to take action on environmental urgencies
- Committee aims to develop effective climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
- International partners support Côte d'Ivoire's climate change actions
