From Above, Accra, Dhaka, Delhi Look Like Barren Concrete Jungles, All Because of Climate Vulnerability, Says Nasheed

From a plane descending over Accra, one might expect to see a patchwork of streets, parks, water bodies, and neighborhoods bustling with life. Instead, Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and former President of the Maldives, observed a different reality: gray concrete, sparse trees, and shrinking green spaces.

“When I landed here, seeing from the airplane, it was sad. You saw Accra, a barren concrete jungle, like my own little city, the capital city of the Maldives, Malé,” Nasheed said during his visit to Ghana’s capital. 

His comments reflect a growing concern across climate-vulnerable nations, where rapid urbanization and unchecked development are intensifying climate risks, from rising temperatures to flooding and heatwaves.

Concrete-heavy cities trap heat, reduce natural drainage, and limit the cooling effects of trees and vegetation. Across South Asia, West Africa, and island nations, urban landscapes increasingly resemble “barren concrete jungles,” a phenomenon Nasheed says threatens both human health and economic resilience.

Yet in Accra, he pointed to a homegrown initiative offering hope: the Ghana Garden & Flower Movement, a national platform led by Strategic Communications Africa (Stratcomm Africa) under founder Madam Esther Cobbah. The movement has transformed perceptions of gardening, turning it from a personal hobby into a tool for climate resilience, urban beautification, and economic development.

“This is not an ordinary garden show. It’s planet-saving work that you have embarked upon,” Nasheed said, praising the movement’s efforts. Through the Ghana Garden & Flower Show, the initiative promotes the creation of urban green spaces, supports women and youth-led horticultural businesses, and fosters community engagement, demonstrating that environmental stewardship and economic opportunity can go hand in hand.

For Nasheed, addressing climate vulnerability does not require austerity or economic sacrifice. “You cannot become resilient if you are poor. You have to be prosperous,” he emphasized, underscoring the principle behind Climate Prosperity Plans, which Ghana and other vulnerable countries are implementing. These plans aim to achieve economic growth with lower environmental impact, demonstrating that sustainability and prosperity can coexist.

The Ghana Garden & Flower Movement exemplifies this approach. From modest beginnings, it has grown into a flagship national event, attracting thousands of visitors, from government officials and business leaders to families and international partners. The initiative has nurtured green entrepreneurs, provided platforms for florists and horticulturists, and introduced children to environmental education, helping cultivate a culture of sustainability from an early age.

Beyond local impact, the movement aligns with broader financial and policy innovations in climate action. Nasheed advocates for debt-to-environment swaps, carbon bonds, and green finance mechanisms, which allow countries to invest in climate resilience while managing debt obligations. 

As cities like Accra, Dhaka, and Delhi expand, the challenge of balancing development with sustainability grows ever more urgent. Initiatives like the Ghana Garden & Flower Movement demonstrate how urban spaces can be reimagined as green, productive, and resilient ecosystems, combining environmental, economic, and social benefits.

By integrating green infrastructure with financial incentives, Ghana could be creating a model for climate-conscious urban development, showing that concrete jungles can be transformed into thriving urban forests, offering hope, prosperity, and a blueprint for other climate-vulnerable nations.

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