Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has called for urgent action to tackle climate change and environmental degradation, warning that the effects are already being felt across the world.
Speaking at the World Environment Day 2026 National and African Climate Dialogue on Friday, June 5, Dr Kokofu said environmental sustainability must remain a shared responsibility, with citizens, governments and institutions all playing active roles.
He noted that environmental governance has evolved over the years from preservation and conservation to sustainability, which focuses on ensuring the responsible use and management of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
“We cannot, as a people, continue to do what we’re doing every day at the same time and achieve any better results,” he said.
According to him, World Environment Day serves as a reminder of the challenges involved in managing both the natural and built environment, stressing that human survival depends heavily on the quality of natural resources.
“Our basic and fundamental survival on this earth depends on what goes around us, what is around us, our river bodies, our soils, the quality of the air,” he stated.
Dr Kokofu said climate change remains one of the most pressing environmental threats facing the world today, adding that its impacts are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
“The effects of climate change are so real and open and it’s happening right in front of all of us to the extent that we cannot ignore the catastrophes any longer,” he said.
He referenced scientific findings that warn of severe consequences if global temperatures rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“Beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius of global temperatures is going to be inimical, very devastating to humankind,” he noted.
The former EPA boss urged citizens to move beyond discussions and focus on practical actions to address climate challenges through adaptation and mitigation measures.
“The world has moved on over the years from science to action, what really needs to be done, and if you are talking about climate change and its effects and how to combat it, then it is adaptation and mitigation,” he said.
Dr Kokofu also underscored the importance of environmental education, particularly among young people, saying he has consistently advocated for introducing environmental protection awareness at an early age.
“This is not a time to leave anybody behind. We have got to be on board, and I’ve always advocated for catching them young in this environmental protection and environmental management conversation,” he stated.
He further called for stronger communication and public awareness efforts to ensure climate and environmental issues reach people at all levels of society.
“Let us all begin to act decisively as the state goes ahead to provide the policies that will get us along,” he urged.
The World Environment Day 2026 National and African Climate Dialogue brought together policymakers, environmental experts, civil society groups and other stakeholders to discuss solutions to climate change and environmental degradation.
