The convergence, organised by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), aims to present the study results for discussion, get feedback from stakeholders and validate of the analysis.
Speaking at the Metzy Resort Hotel in Kololi, Alpha Jallow, Director of Climate Change at MECCNAR, explained that climate change is real, saying his ministry is grateful for the cooperation with the IOM and the Ministry of Trade.
Mr Jallow continued that G20 countries should double their efforts and reduce their emission to 43% from now to 2030.
“If we will succeed in reducing global temperature rise to 1.5 as highlighted in the Paris Agreement, whether we achieve it or not, we will witness it.”
Stephen Matete, the programme coordinator for Immigration Border Management and Counter Trafficking at the IOM, stated that the validation was part of the going efforts to generate knowledge between climate change and migration.
He added that the study at origin and destination within the Gambia aims at identifying green jobs, and nature-based livelihood opportunities.
“The study formed the second part of a larger assessment under the project building evidence and enhancing capacities to formulate a response on environmental migration in The Gambia.”
Basiru Secka, director of employment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment also reiterated that the policies would address employment and improve the standard of living for Gambians.
He said the issue of unemployment and labour force has been considered serious development challenges in The Gambia, adding that Job creation has become an objective in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 to 2022.
