A medical geographer is accusing developed countries of doing little to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Prof Dr. Dr. Daniel Buor is worried attempts to reduce global temperature by 1.2 degrees Celsius appears unachievable due to what he describes as selfish economic interest on the part of developed countries.

He was speaking at the first International Conference on Geography and development (INCOGaD) 2018.

Though Prof. Buor observes several agreements have been signed, their effects are yet to be felt on especially low income countries which are worst hit.

”The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) has not improved in the major industrialised nations. The commitment level is low. Their industrial activities amount to environmental injustice,” he said.

He entreated developing countries to put monitoring systems in place to reduce the health impact of climate change.

Sanitation and water infrastructural facilities, he said must be improved to reduce the level of pollution and resultant health effects.

Current and emerging societal challenges such as food security, climate change, health, natural resources, energy, urbanisation, and disasters call for innovations in critical themes in geography, social and physical sciences.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Sam Huston State University of Texas, USA and the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, is hosting the programme.

It is under the theme: Climate change and sustainable Development.

The conference seeks to share scholarly and practical ideas to tackle critical societal problems within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).  

Head of Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST, Dr Divine Odame Appiah, believes the engagement will result in sharing of ideas to create the knowledge embedded with innovations and solutions for tackling societal challenges.

Reader in Globalisation and Global youth work, De Montfort University, Dr Momodou Sallah called for a sustainable use of the resources and strengthening of institutions.