The Ghana Climate Literacy Portal (GCLP) is Ghana's first national, open-access digital learning platform that provides free, self-paced education on climate change. The platform empowers citizens to understand, respond to, and lead climate action. It was through the Climate Activist Program (CAP 26) organised by Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) that the writer, Sampson Boamah, first heard about the GCLP platform. He was required to take a course on the platform to complete his application.
The course, Climate 101, is an introduction to climate science, presented by Professor Yaw Agyeman Boafo from the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies at the University of Ghana. The course has eight modules, each accompanied by a quiz that requires a 70% pass mark to proceed. Despite initial reservations, Boamah found the course easy to complete and was able to upload his certificate to complete the application process. His application was successful, and he participated in the program in Tamale.
After the program, Boamah returned to the portal to rewatch the course without taking the quiz, which helped him gain a better understanding of the material. He found that the platform covered four of the six important elements of Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), including education, public access to information, awareness raising, and training. The GCLP platform is in line with Article six of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, which emphasize the importance of climate education and training.
In addition to Climate 101, the GCLP platform offers three other courses taught by experts in the climate space. These courses include climate advocacy, built environment, climate adaptation and resilience, and climate negotiations. The courses are taught by professionals from institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana (EPA Ghana), the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), and the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change.
Boamah has taken all four courses on the platform and credits them with having a significant impact on his understanding of climate change and his desire to take action. He has become more conscious of his energy consumption and has written about climate change subjects such as proforestation and waste trafficking in Ghana. The platform has ignited his passion for climate action and has enabled him to contribute to climate-change write-ups.
The GCLP platform is a valuable resource for anyone looking to gain knowledge about climate change and take action. It provides a foundation for understanding climate change and empowers citizens to make a difference. Boamah urges those interested in climate action to start with the GCLP platform, which offers free and accessible education on climate change.
The GCLP platform is a collaborative effort between various institutions and partners, and its impact is expected to be significant. By providing free access to climate education, the platform can help raise awareness about climate change and empower citizens to take action. As Boamah notes, the platform has the potential to lay the foundation for greater works in climate action.
Key points
- The Ghana Climate Literacy Portal provides free, self-paced education on climate change and empowers citizens to take action.
- The platform offers four courses, including climate advocacy, built environment, climate adaptation and resilience, and climate negotiations.
- The platform is in line with international agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.
