A forum on climate change and energy has been held in Accra for students and selected youth groups. The forum, under the theme, 'Empowering the youth with information for sustainable development', was organised by the Evergreen Club of Ghana (ECOG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment. Speaking at the forum, Mr. Lewis Enu-Kwesi, Associate Professor of the Botany Department of the University of Ghana, stressed that climate change is real and a global problem, and there is the need for a concerted effort from all people to address the issue. He pointed out the need for Ghanaians to protect the environment from pollution and to plant more trees to serve as a sink for carbon dioxide. Ms Sakeena K. Bonsu, National Director of ECOG, in a welcome address, noted that sustainable development issues have once again taken centre stage in world affairs as evidenced by the number of international and national programme or activities currently taking place and the types and the types of personalities involved in the global effort to combat climate change. The issue also received much attention during the tenure of office of Mr. Kofi Annan as the UN Secretary General. ECOG is particularly targeting the youth for education on sustainable development as they have the propensity of carrying on the education at home and at school level. "They also have great potential, which can be tapped for producing the necessary change desired to ensure sustainable development," Ms Bonsu said. Addressing the issue of climate change, Mr. Emmanuel Arthur, a Programmes Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency, suggested that sustainable development should be the focus of all development actions. "In planning, we should look at the needs of future generations," he said. Speaking on the energy crisis in Ghana, Mr. Amoako Baah, a Principal Engineer of the Volta River Authority, emphasised the need to use energy judiciously to ensure sustainable supply. Source: The Ghanaian Times