PI-CREF’s Director Highlights Collaboration at EPA’s Conference to Tackle Climate Challenges

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently concluded a two-day conference focused on Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA), bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss the crucial role of collaboration in advancing environmental progress.

Mr. Fuad Yusuf Bangura, the Director of Climate Change at the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF), participated in a panel discussion titled “Next-Gen Climate and Biodiversity Commitments: Seeking Partners for NDC, LT-LEDS, and NBSAP Development.”

During the discussion, Mr. Bangura identified several challenges that Sierra Leone faces in meeting its climate commitments, which include limited data, capacity gaps, weak enforcement of regulations, and financial constraints.

He emphasized the importance of PI-CREF in enhancing coordination among various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as fostering partnerships for climate action. Established by President Julius Maada Bio, asserted that the PI-CREF aimed to reduce overlap and duplication in environmental initiatives.

Mr. Bangura announced the development of an interactive collaboration tracking tool designed to improve coordination among institutions involved in climate change and environmental issues. “This tool will track collaborations and help synchronize the efforts of these institutions, thereby preventing overlap,” he stated. He clarified that the tool will differ from the government-wide performance tracker, as he said it is specifically designed for climate-related challenges.

He went further to recognized the vital role of PI-CREF’s Chairman in mobilizing support for climate programs, affirming that the Chairman has successfully leveraged resources, particularly through the annual PI-CREF Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue (CRET), which he said gathers international funding partners dedicated to addressing climate concerns in Sierra Leone.

The EPA’s CLA Conference provided a valuable platform for building trust, fostering investment, and allowing partners to share ideas and collaborate on solutions to climate change issues.