Abidjan, June 5, 2026 (AIP) – Côte d’Ivoire reaffirmed on Friday, June 5, 2026, its ambition to build a resilient, low-carbon and environmentally friendly economy, on the occasion of the celebration of World Environment Day, marked this year by the global theme “Air – Climate Action”.
In a statement read by the Minister of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition, Abou Bamba, the Ivorian government reiterated its commitment to making the ecological transition a lever for sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Faced with the increasingly visible effects of climate change, including irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, degradation of agricultural land, coastal erosion and recurring floods, the authorities intend to accelerate reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience.
“Our ambition is clear: to build a resilient, low-carbon and environmentally friendly economy,” the government stated, stressing that this vision is in line with Côte d’Ivoire’s international commitments, particularly those stemming from the Paris Climate Agreement.
According to the minister, several structural measures have been adopted to support this transition. These include the new Environmental Code, the law on combating climate change, the creation of the National Commission for Combating Climate Change, and the strengthening of environmental and social assessment procedures.
Côte d’Ivoire is also implementing its third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33.07% by 2035, while aiming for long-term carbon neutrality.
The government also highlighted the establishment of the Green Climate Fund’s regional Africa office in Abidjan, which reinforces the country’s position as an African hub for climate finance.
Regarding air quality, the central theme of this edition, the authorities indicated that they had deployed a monitoring system through dedicated sensors, while the Ivorian Anti-Pollution Center (CIAPOL) continues regular checks of facilities likely to emit atmospheric pollutants.
The minister, however, acknowledged that government action alone would not be sufficient to meet environmental challenges. He called on the public, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society organizations to adopt more responsible behaviors in order to reduce various forms of pollution.
Placed under the national theme “Let’s be the solution, not the pollution!”, this celebration is intended as a call for collective action for the preservation of natural resources and the improvement of the quality of life of the population.
For the Ivorian authorities, the ecological transition also represents an opportunity to create green jobs, strengthen food security and develop promising sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable transport and green construction.
The government has finally invited citizens to report environmental offences via the toll-free number 1372, reaffirming that building a “great nation” necessarily involves preserving the environment and natural resources.
(AIP)
