A group of three civil society organisations (CSOs) have sensitised the residents of Sabon Gari in Kaduna State, on net zero emissions reduction to mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.
The group which includes; Connected Advocacy (CA), International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) and 21ist Century Issues, are engaged in a national campaign to raise awareness on net zero in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said that the Executive Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government Council, Hon. Muhammad Usman, in his address of welcome, appreciated the CSOs for choosing the council for the advocacy programme.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Council, Hon. Hassan Abdul, the chairman said that global warming was having a grip on the world and if urgent action was not taken it would become a catastrophe for us all.
According to him, the current changes in our weather patterns and droughts are the resultant effects of climate change.
He said that the fight against climate change was not for the government alone to solve, adding that it requires collective effort to reduce our carbon footprints and emissions to net-zero.
While delivering his keynote address, Prince Israel Orekha, who represented other CSOs, highlighted the importance of community engagement as part of a sustainable life style.
“We cannot run away from the impact of climate change because it’s here with us.”
“We need to take action to mitigate its effect.
“Net-zero is the target, so we all must embrace good practice which starts from thinking afforestation, sustainable tree planting exercise, waste management, and recycling.
“Transiting to clean and just renewable energy, the use of solar powered homes and cars to mention but a few,” Orekha said.
The executive director said that moving forward to achieving net-zero required the engagement of all people, especially at the community or grass root level for implementable climate action plan.
He said that to achieve deep emission cuts or net zero green house gas (GHG) emission reduction, in accordance with the Paris Agreement, countries were in the process of articulating their long-term low carbon emission strategies.
He noted that Nigeria is in the process of harmonizing its own low-emission strategies and complementary plans.
Orekha urged all stakeholders including CSOs and the local communities to support Nigeria on the road to low-carbon development.
He said that for the reasons stated above that the consortium of CSOs started championing the awareness on net-zero carbon emission reduction in Nigeria.
He said that the goal of the project is to provide information and tools to communities, media, and CSOs to take action for deep emission reductions in Nigeria.
He added that the project also aimed at providing feedback from communities, the media, and CSOs to policymakers on mainstreaming community concerns into long-term mitigation strategies for Nigeria.
Orekha said that the residents of Sabon Gari urged the state or local government during the feedback session, to establish a functional waste collection point and to make trucks available to pick up wastes from homes.
Other recommendations and commitment by the community included:
- The need for the traditional system of nature based solution to be strengthened.
- Government should enforce environmentally friendly practices to ensure compliance to reduce emission that will project people and planet.
- More investment into affordable renewable energy for local communities should be encouraged
- Commitment to step-down the training to various community units and their families to adopt a sustainable eco-friendly life style.
- Pledges to improve conservation of forest, planting of more trees and nurture them to maturity.
- Commitment to rotational farming system, organic waste for improving farming to reduce the level of bush burning,
Orekha also said that the residents also promised to adopt the triple “R,” Reuse, Reduce and Recycle in waste management leading to the adoption of a circular economy.
The consortium of CSOs started the net-zero emission reduction campaign with a media parley in Lagos to build their capacity on reporting Nigeria’s long term emission reduction strategy.
The CSOs also took the campaign to Egor Community in Edo state on July 10 to drive home the message at the grass root level.
