AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HOUSING SECTOR IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Richard Nalarb Yakubu

doi:10.15551/pesd2019132022

Abstract

The study examined adaptation and mitigation of climate change in the housing sector from an institutional perspective in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study employed descriptive research design within the qualitative approach. The data was acquired through in-depth interviews and document study. Officials from the regional Department of Rural Housing (DRU) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were interviewed. The study revealed that there was a high priority on technical training on housing construction, promoting the use of impact-resistant building materials, passive solar design as well as surface and underground tanks as adaptation measures while promoting the use of energy efficient household appliances was the only climate change mitigation measure in the housing sector. The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies on the other hand did not have specific institutional structures within the assemblies to deal with climate change issues in the housing sector. The study identified an insufficient finances, ineffective fiscal decentralization as well as logistics and equipment as the main challenges faced by the DRU in climate change response in the region. The study recommends that the department should be adequately resourced financially as well as working logistics and equipment to undertake their core functions

Highlights

Climate change is a threat to national development (Dumenu & Obeng, 2016) and an environmental challenge facing humanity in the current century (Hamin & Gurran, 2009; Holmner et al, 2012)
4.1 Main Functions of the Department of Rural Housing The Department of Rural Housing (DRH) until it decentralization has been an agency under the Ministry of Works and Housing
Adaptation to climate change in the housing sector is a step in the right direction in view of the imminent effects and impacts of climate change on the sector in the region

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is a threat to national development (Dumenu & Obeng, 2016) and an environmental challenge facing humanity in the current century (Hamin & Gurran, 2009; Holmner et al, 2012). The effects and impacts of climate change are disproportionate within and across countries as well as among the rich and the poor in society. The residential sector and the quest of the growing population for residence have the tendency to aggravate the climate change situation. This will in turn have significant impact on building designs, cooling and ability of buildings to withstand more extreme conditions of climate in the future which have been predicted to worsen in the business as usual scenario. New insights on the design of residential building taking cognizance of the need for low carbon dioxide is imperative while aiming at adapting existing residential facilities to the current effects and impacts of climate change (Kinnane, Grey & Dyer, 2016)

Methods

Results

Conclusion