Connected Advocacy has held a capacity building workshop at Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State on carbon emission reduction strategies.
The workshop, which held on June 14 in the oil-rich Rivers State is targeted at localizing the country’s net zero commitment by devicing achievable decarbonization plans that are implementable locally.
At an engagement session held at the Local Government Council Hall, LGA staff and community representatives came together to discuss climate change, emission reduction strategies, environmental impact assessment, and potential collaborative opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Prince Orehka, the Executive Director of Connected Advocacy underscored the significance of emission reduction and the role of the local government in scaling up decarbonization.
Also speaking, Ms. Evelyn Williams, the facilitator, gave an expose of Nigeria’s Net-Zero Commitment.
Williams x-rayed the science of climate change, its impacts, and the importance of emissions reduction.
She also reviewed existing national and local climate-related policies and regulations, identifying gaps and opportunities for policy alignment.
She emphasized the critical role of Local Governments in achieving Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.
Williams explained the concept of emissions inventory, targets, and strategies.
She discussed the assessment of local emission, stakeholders, and collaboration opportunities, adding that stakeholder engagement and collaboration were critical in developing effective climate action plans.
The third presentation centered on developing an achievable climate action plan where Williams explained the principles of effective climate action planning, integrating mitigation and adaptation strategies.
She discussed the steps to develop an action plan, using emissions inventory, emission reduction goals, implementation strategies, and monitoring and reporting.
During the training session, which was very interactive, participants identified the role of Local Governments in climate action, strategies for LGA climate action, and principles of effective climate action planning.
Williams emphasized the critical role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in identifying potential environmental impacts and developing strategies to mitigate them.
The training achieved its objectives, enhancing the understanding of council staff on climate change, emissions reduction, and Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.
Participants gained insights into developing tailored climate action plans and aligning policies with national and international climate commitments.
The training recommended that:
– Ahoada East LGA should establish a climate change desk to coordinate climate-related activities and develop a climate action plan.
– The LGA should demand environmental impact assessment reports from investors and companies operating in the area.
–
– CAYED should provide technical support to the LGA in developing its climate action plan.
Prince Orekha implored participants to embrace the opportunity and develop a plan or pathway for the LGA towards emission reduction, aligning with Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.
