By Oke Peter
Climate change experts have called for the establishment of ‘Eco Innovation Fair’ aimed at generating supports and ideas that will help in tackling climate change in Nigeria.
The call was made at the 2018 Pre-Conference of Parties Dialogue (PRE-COP24) organised by the Centre for Agriculture and Climate Change (CACC) and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), ahead of the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC), that will take place between December 3 and 14, at Katowice, Poland.
The event themed: ‘NDCs implementation by nations: Nigeria’s progress’, was organised to enable the stakeholders, private sector and civil society to discuss and understand the position of Nigeria’s ratification and implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The event was held at the United Nation Information Centre, (UNIC), Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday.
The Director of UNIC, Ronald Kayanja, in his opening remarks said concerted efforts should be geared towards preparing Nigeria’s participation at the UNCCC. The panelists at the event discussed: Nigeria’s NDCs performance, Blockchain technology and the future of climate finance and carbon markets in Nigeria.
While speaking, Dr Feyi Oni of the University of Lagos, highlighted progress made so far by the Federal Government in the fight against climate change. He also called for the private sector’s participation, saying “Government cannot do it alone; there should be proper orientation and awareness on the dangers of pollution, flood management, green house emission and waste disposal system, among others at the grassroots and communities.”
“Let us maximise the sun advantage to our benefit. To fight climate change, we must work on sustainable development and action plans with integrated efforts to activate, implement and monitor compliances in order to meet the set goal, ” he said.
Also, a member of the panel and GCF Africa Observer, Mrs Titi Akosa maintained that the implementation of the Pre-COP24 is more important than an attendance, “the Federal Government should raise negotiators that would bargain and protect her interest at the UNCCC conference, taking into consideration the Paris Rule Book, which stipulates December 2018 deadline for parties to operationalise the climate accord. Do we have the capacity to access the GFC?” She stated further that Nigeria should do more to reduce green house emission.”
“We should establish a ‘Climate Finance Plan’ that will respond to emergencies and encourage pilot projects from communities and individuals that would be presented at the ptoposed ‘Eco Innovation Fair” to tackle climate change.
Commenting, a panelist, Dr Odey said: “We should be conversant with information dissemination, advocacy and waste disposal and present our challenges to the world in a more serious way.”
Also, a climate consult, Chinma George in her contribution said: “We should focus on renewable and sustainable energy, reduction of carbon pollution and prepare for the consequences of global warming. Nigeria needs about $142 billion to fight the climate change.”
“Nigerians must also be educated on the dangers of climate change. Inclusion of climate change-related subjects into our educational curriculum would help in creating awareness and build capacity.”
The Director of CACC, Mr Innocent Azih, who moderated the session, commended participants with a promise to organise more senstitisation workshops that would equip Nigerians ahead of the UNCCC conference.
Participants at the event include climate change experts, environmentalists, non-governmental organisations (NGO), climate consultants and individuals, among others.
