A constitutional lawyer and author, Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN), has declared that the funding of State High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal by state governments are clearly unconstitutional.
Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN)
According to him, such funding exposes those courts to undue manipulation and near-asphyxiation by state governors, thereby compromising the rule of law and due process.
He, therefore, called on the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to collect and collate all capital and recurrent expenditures of courts from their various heads, make a consolidated budget and present it to the Budget Office for inclusion in the yet to be submitted 2018 Federal budget.
In a statement he signed, he insisted that, by section 6(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, judicial powers of the Federation are to be exercised by “the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation”.
He said: “The phrase ‘to which this section relates’ becomes consummated when we look at subsection (5) of that same section – which has listed the mentioned ‘Federal’ courts, including the State High Courts, the Sharia Courts of Appeal and the Customary Courts of Appeal of the various States. This then means that these courts are Federal Courts, established by the Constitution to operate at the State level.
“To cement this fact, section 84(1) and (4) of the same Constitution has placed payment of remuneration, salaries and allowances of all Judicial Officers manning superior courts of record in Nigeria, including the Courts hereby discussed, on the doorsteps of the Federal Government. If these Courts were mere State Courts, the States would have been saddled with the responsibility of paying the salaries and emoluments of the Judicial Officers manning them.”
The Courts, he said, are not State Courts and maintained that State Governments have no constitutional duty or power to provide for them in their annual budgets.
According to him, section 81(1) of the Constitution, mandates the President of Nigeria not to lie before the National Assembly in each financial year estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the Federation for the next financial year.
The Attorney General (AG) of Oyo state, Oluwaseun Abimbola, and the Director of Investment, the Ministry of Finance, Yinka Fatoki, who were subpoenaed by Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, have appeared before the court to present vital documents in relation to the ongoing criminal trial of a former governor of the state, Chief Rasheedi Ladoja.
Chief Rashidi Ladoja
The documents presented were photocopies of checks from Zenith Bank Plc, and bond documents from Fountain Security Limited, among others. Ladoja and his former Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi, are being tried for unlawful conversion of N4.7 billion belonging to the Oyo State Government to theirs.
Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel for Akanbi, had asked the court at the last proceeding to summon the officials to tender some documents as exhibits.
So, upon the presentation of the documents by Mr. Fatoki, the defense lawyer, sought to tender same as evidence in defense of his client, a move which was objected to by lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oluwafemi Olabisi.
Olabisi said: “I have no objection to the first 12 documents but starting from Zenith Bank checks to the last page, I have series of objections. The next few pages are photocopies of managers’ checks. They have no relevant to this case.”
The prosecutor also said some of the certified documents were not properly signed and dated hence failed to abide by the necessary authorities guiding certification of documents.
“My lord,” he said, “the remaining part has to do with Fountain Security Limited. It is taken that Fountain Security is a private company that has no nexus with the subpoenaed person that has brought these documents. The document was not addressed to Oyo state government or even the 2nd defendant in this matter.”
He went further: “I also wish to point your lordship to what looks like an insertion on the face of the document. The handwriting at the left corner of the document, I urged this honourable court to discountenance the hand written insertion on the document.”
He therefore urged the court to discountenance the “irrelevant” documents attached to the bundle.
Olumide-Fusika opposed the submission of prosecuting counsel, stating that prosecution cannot dismantle the bundle of documents as presented because he is neither a staff of Oyo state government nor that of Fountain Security Limited.
“For counsel to say that one document is relevant and the other is not relevant amounts to testifying. I do not understand the objection. He does not work for Oyo state neither does he know their records. They have produced what they have in their records as ordered by this court on 6 of October 2017,” Akanbi’s counsel opposed.
He also urged the court to discountenance the objection of the counsel for prosecution.
However, having listened to the argument of both counsel, the presiding judge ruled that there is prima facie evidence that the documents are relevant to the case. He therefore admitted the document as evidence, adding that the documents would be taken as a single bundle.
Consequently, he adjourned the matter till October 20 for continuation of trial.
Ladoja and Akanbi are facing an eight count charge bordering on money laundering and unlawful conversion of funds belonging to the Oyo State Government to their own.
In one of the counts, Ladoja and Akanbi were accused of converting a sum of N1,932,940,032.48, belonging to Oyo State Government for personal use.
The EFCC claimed that they retained the money sometime in 2007, despite their knowledge that it was proceed of a criminal conduct.
In another instance, Ladoja was accused of removing the sum of £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja, who was at the time in London.
The ex-governor was also accused of converting the sum of N42m, belonging to the state, to his own and subsequently used it to purchase an armored Land Cruiser jeep.
He was also accused of converting a sum of N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at separate times in 2007 to his own.
The commission claimed that Ladoja transferred the N77, 850,000 to one Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The EFCC told the court that Ladoja and Akanbi acted contrary to sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and were liable to be punished under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2) of the same Act.
The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Monday, October 9, 2017 the establishment of a new High-level global Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). The announcement came at the 64th Session of WHO’s Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean being held in Islamabad, Pakistan from October 9 to 12.
Dr Sania Nishtar, a prominent global advocate for action against NCDs, will chair the High-level global Commission
The commission’s aim is to identify innovative ways to curb the world’s biggest causes of death and extend life expectancy for millions of people. The commission will support ongoing political efforts to accelerate action on cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and respiratory disease, as well as reducing suffering from mental health issues and the impacts of violence and injuries.
The High-level global Commission will be chaired by Dr Sania Nishtar, a prominent global advocate for action against NCDs, former Federal Minister of the government of Pakistan and civil society leader. Dr Nishtar has also previously served as co-chair of the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity.
According to the WHO, NCDs kill approximately 40 million people globally each year, accounting for 70% of all deaths. It adds that about 15 million of those deaths are in people between the ages of 30 and 69. Low- and middle-income countries are particularly affected by NCDs with more than 80% of all deaths from NCDs occurring in these countries. Violence and injuries take an overwhelming toll on young people, particularly boys.
In 2015, world leaders committed to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent WHO reports indicate that the world will struggle to meet that target.
“We urgently need new approaches and action on a dramatically different scale if we are to stop people dying unnecessarily from noncommunicable diseases,” said Dr Tedros.
“I am committed to engaging the very best people in the world to address our health challenges,” he added. “So, I am especially pleased that Dr Nishtar has agreed to lead this commission. I know she will bring impressive knowledge, credibility, and commitment to this effort.”
Later this month, ministers and other health leaders from around the world will review progress in Montevideo, Uruguay at the WHO Global Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases, co-hosted by WHO and the President of Uruguay. Governments and other stakeholders will meet again at the third United Nations High-level meeting on NCDs in 2018.
The Swiss Confederation on Friday, October 6, 2017 deposited its instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, making the federal republic the 168th Party to the global treaty.
Doris Leuthard, President of Switzerland
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Switzerland’s ratification will come into force on November 5, 2017.
Previously, the Czech Republic (167th), Dominican Republic (166th) and Cape Verde (165th) had deposited their instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Before the duo, Myanmar (161st), Bhutan (162nd), Ecuador (163rd) and Liechenstien (164th) had also ratified the treaty.
The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, 30 days after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of the total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.
The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention (UNFCCC) and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.
The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, October 9, 2017 arraigned two businessmen and at the Federal High Court, Lagos State, for allegedly inducing a financial institution to deliver to a firm, Danium Energy Services Limited, N1.5 billion under a false pretence.
The Federal High Court in Lagos
Also arraigned before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo were two firms.
The suspects had caused the banks to believe that Total Nigeria Plc vide a letter dated October 5, 2016 with the reference number OPS/SUP/10/16/361 contracted Danium Energy Services Limited to supply 10, 000 Metric Tons of Automotive Gas Oil for the sum of N1.9 billion and therefore needed the fund to get it done.
Those arraigned on a 10-count charge are Ogbor Kehinde Eliot, Godwin Okoronkwo, Danium Energy Services Limited and Petrosol Energy Limited.
According to the charge dated October 3, 2017 and designated CB: 3000/EFCC/LS/CTGI/STF/LD/VOL.01/, the defendants were also said to have conspired and defrauded the financial institution.
The EFCC said Eliot and Danium Energy Services Limited on or about January 30, 2017 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, conspired amongst themselves to induce the new generation bank to deliver to Danium Energy Services Limited a sum to the tune of N3.3 billion under the false pretence that Total Nigeria Plc vide a letter dated January 30, 2017 contracted the energy firm to supply 15,000 Metric Tons of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for the sum of N4.1 billion.
Eliot and the energy firm were said to have on February 3, 2017 induced the said bank to deliver to Danium Energy Services the sum of N3.3 billion under the false pretence that Total Nigeria Plc vide a letter dated January 30, 2017 contracted the energy firm to supply 15,000 metric tons of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) for the sum of N4.1 billion among others.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In her ruling, Justice Oguntoyinbo ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the EFCC until Wednesday, October 11, 2017 for their bail application will be heard.
The Zenaga Foundation is the latest organisation to commit to becoming climate neutral through the UN’s Climate Neutral Now Initiative, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Kai Zimmermann, the CEO of Zenaga Foundation
The foundation, which promotes reforestation, clean energy and other forms of sustainability, is said to be the first organisation operating in Senegal to commit to climate neutrality. Its projects include providing schools with clean solar energy, installing solar pumps to access clean water and providing learning material about climate action for school children.
“Climate Neutral Now addresses the core of the promise of the Paris Climate Change Agreement: developing a climate-neutral society before the middle of the century to ensure that we meet the objective of staying below a 2 degrees Celsius global average temperature rise, and ideally under 1.5 degrees Celsius,” said Kai Zimmermann, the CEO of the organisation.
The UNFCCC adds that, as a not-for-profit enterprise, the Zenaga Foundation has committed itself to contributing to global climate action by reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, as well as balancing the remaining emissions with the help of UN-certified emission reduction projects.
Mr Zimmermann would like other stakeholders to support the Climate Neutral Now initiative, which the UNFCCC leads.
“Everyone can contribute to the activities that promote the sustainable development of our society and developing countries through a donation to the Zenaga Foundation or through credible compensation for CO2 emissions,” he said.
Niclas Svenningsen, manager of the Climate Neutral Now initiative, said: “We are glad and honored to welcome the first organisation operating in Senegal. It is inspiring to see how big and small organizations from all over the world are stepping up to the challenge and contributing voluntarily to help us move toward global climate neutrality. We congratulate Zenaga Foundation for its vision and commitment.”
Having seen first-hand the destruction wrought by the recent hurricanes in the Caribbean, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Saturday, October 7, 2017 called for the full mobilisation of the international community to support the people of the affected areas, while stressing the need to accelerate climate action.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, walks through Codrington town in Barbuda to see firsthand the devastation left behind by Hurricane Irma. Photo credit: UN/Rick Bajornas
“I have just witnessed a level of devastation that I have never seen in my life,” Mr. Guterres told a press conference following a visit to storm-battered Barbuda.
“I have been in areas torn by conflict. In my own country, I have seen earthquakes, I’ve seen storms (…) I have never seen such a high-level of devastation like the one that I witnessed in Barbuda,” he stated.
“This must make us think seriously,” added Mr. Guterres, after is arrival for a two-day visit to Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica to survey the damage and to assess what more the UN can do to help people recover from the back-to-back, Category 5 hurricanes that struck the region recently.
The Secretary-General cited “a clear link” between the level of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, including CO2, the temperature of the water and the intensity of the rainstorms and of the different hurricanes in the region and in other parts of the world.
Hurricane Irma, which struck the region in early September, had winds of 300 km per hour for 37 hours – the longest such period ever recorded.
“So the link between climate change and the devastation we are witnessing is clear, and there is a collective responsibility of the international community to stop this suicidal development,” stated Mr. Guterres.
“And for that, it is essential that the Paris Agreement on climate change is fully endorsed and respected but also to recognise that the commitments made in Paris are not enough,” he said.
Mr. Guterres also stressed the need to mobilise resources, including through innovative financial mechanisms, so that people can rebuild their lives, noting that middle-income countries such as Antigua and Barbuda cannot do it alone.
“This is an obligation of the international community, because they are suffering the effects of climate change but they have not contributed to it.”
In Barbuda, the Secretary-General walked through Codrington town and met with some of the returnees. The island’s 1,600 residents were evacuated to Antigua before Hurricane Irma struck last month. In Antigua, many of the displaced are staying in shelters, while others with family and friends. Some residents have been traveling back to Barbuda to check on their homes and lands.
Since the disasters struck, the UN and partners have delivered relief by both air and the sea, reaching thousands across the region with food, water purification tablets, water storage tanks, tents, school kits, mosquito nets and cash assistance. They also launched a $113.9 million appeal to cover humanitarian needs for the immediate period ahead. The UN family is also supporting those staying in the shelters.
Mr. Guterres had a chance to meet with some of the displaced during a visit to the National Technical Training Centr in Antigua, which is currently sheltering 112 people, and even got a lesson from some of the younger residents in “warri” – a game that was brought over to the region from Africa and is played with 48 seeds on a rectangular board with 12 receptacles or “houses.”
“The most immediate need they have right now is privacy,” Samantha Burnette, who manages the shelter at the Training Centre, told UN News. “Most of them are complaining that they have been bunking with a lot of people. So they don’t have the space they need.”
Most of the residents have made up their mind to stay out the year in Antigua. “Some of them are saying there’s nothing in Barbuda to go back to right now,” said Ms. Burnette. “They don’t mind going back but after it has been rebuilt. Some of them are willing to go back as it is now. But the majority are here and they don’t want to move and go nowhere. If they do go over, it’s just for the day and they come back.”
Despite the difficulties they have gone through, the residents have adjusted well to their new situation, Ms. Burnette said. “I really feel they have adjusted themselves well. You can see they are smiling a little more now.”
The EU and India have adopted a historic Leaders’ Joint Statement on clean energy and climate change. The statement was endorsed by leaders at the EU-India summit in Delhi on Friday, October 6, 2017.
European Commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Cañete
India and the EU are major players in the clean energy transition and the global efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Both have been instrumental in the swift ratification of the Paris Agreement.
European Commissioner for climate action and energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, said: “This first-ever statement is testimony of our highest political commitment to the Paris Agreement and the clean energy transition. Today, the EU and India are joining forces to help put the Paris Agreement into practice and bolster energy cooperation, including new fields of cooperation on energy efficiency, smart grids and low-emissions mobility. By working together, we can make a difference and jointly lead the global clean energy race.”
Building on the ratification of the Paris Agreement and the Joint Declaration on a Clean Energy and Climate Partnership adopted in 2016, both sides consider climate action and the clean energy transition as an imperative for the future development of their societies.
They confirmed their commitments under the Paris Agreement and agreed to step up cooperation to enhance its implementation and meet its ambitious goals.
They welcomed the progress on the Clean Energy and Climate Partnership since last year’s summit and reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing cooperation on renewable energy, smart grids, energy efficiency and the cost-effective deployment of offshore wind energy in India.
The EU and India agreed to further develop the Partnership, notably through facilitating EU-India business-to-business interaction on the implementation of climate action commitments and the clean energy sector and through expanding the cooperation to other areas including green cooling, solar pumping, energy storage and advanced biofuels.
There is a clear window of opportunity to develop and establish a strong partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance resilience to climate change. Building on existing dialogue, the EU and India will pursue constructive collaboration on the implementation of India’s national climate plan. Upcoming events in this context include expert meetings, conferences and a study visit to Europe for Indian officials.
Furthermore, the EU and India will work together to advance the implementation of the International Solar Alliance launched at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in 2015. In this context, they intend to cooperate on approaches to de-risk financing of clean energy investment.
Ministers and Heads of Delegation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group on Thursday, October 5, 2017 met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss the priorities of the LDC group in preparation for the international climate negotiations scheduled for Bonn, Germany in November 2017.
Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, Gebru Jember Endalew
Chair of the LDC Group, Mr. Gebru Jember Endalew, described the meeting as “very successful”, with Ministers discussing all of the key issues of the negotiations and expressing their countries’ dedication to ambitious climate action.
He said: “Today, Ministers from across the world’s 47 poorest countries have demonstrated how LDCs are continuing to take the lead on ambitious climate action, pursuing sustainable, low carbon and climate resilient pathways to protect our people and our planet.
“It is clear that LDCs face unique and unprecedented challenges in working to lift our people out of poverty while achieving sustainable development. Ministers here in Addis Ababa have identified the need for global solidarity and the support of the international community to help LDCs achieve our ambitious climate plans. Ministers have also highlighted that the global response to climate change must be fair and equitable, with countries acting in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility for climate change and capacity to respond.
“Under the Paris Agreement the world has laid out a vision for achieving a greener, healthier and brighter future for all – the LDCs hope that the upcoming negotiations will generate finance and other support to ensure all countries of the world can make this vision a reality.”
According to him, the LDC group is fully committed to supporting Fiji – the first island nation to hold the presidency of the Conference of the Parties – to reach successful outcomes this November.
At the close of Addis Ababa meeting, delegates issued a Communique, as well as Key Messages for COP 23.
Addis-Ababa LDC Ministerial Communiqué on Climate Change
We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Least Developed Country Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), having met in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 October 2017 in preparation for the 23rd Session of Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC to be presided over by the Government of Fiji in November 2017 (COP23):
Affirm that the global response to climate change must be fair and equitable to advance the interests and aspirations of poor and vulnerable countries and peoples;
Note with serious concern that the adverse impacts of climate change continue to worsen, as experienced through severe droughts and unprecedented rainfalls, storms and flooding around the world this year, particularly in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, resulting in great loss of life and tens of billions of dollars in damage to economies and infrastructure;
Emphasise that scientific research increasingly attributes the occurrence of heat extremes, drought, flooding, sea level rise and other slow onset and extreme events to human-induced climate change;
Further emphasise that this decade and the last four years have been the hottest in recorded history as global temperatures continue to rise year-on-year;
Note with continued concern the large gap between the level of ambition needed to reach the long-term goal of pursuing efforts to limit warming to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and the current low level of ambition that is projected to result in an increase of at least 2.8°C in global temperature by 2100, even with the full implementation of current emission reduction pledges and commitments;
Encouraged by the 170 Parties that have ratified the Paris Agreement and urge all countries that have not yet done so to ratify as soon as possible;
Appreciate the recent announcements by many countries of renewed political commitment to the Paris Agreement despite the challenging political context, and recognise the value of this leadership to the UNFCCC process;
Re-emphasise the need for higher climate ambition by all countries in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility for climate change and capacity to respond, in order to close the emissions gap to avoid further devastating climate change impacts;
Affirm our commitment to continue to lead on ambitious climate action in our countries; accelerating the transition to low carbon, climate resilient development to protect our citizens and sustain our economies;
Emphasise that as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) we face the unique and unprecedented challenge of lifting our people out of poverty while achieving sustainable development without relying on fossil fuels and therefore global solidarity and the support of the international community are critical for the achievement of our ambitious climate plans;
Further emphasise that for an equitable and effective global transition to a zero-carbon society, the LDCs must be supported to deliver and implement the ambitious climate commitments in our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate plans;
Call on all Parties to the Paris Agreement to communicate new and updated NDCs before 2020 with a view to increasing their contributions and addressing the current ambition gap, and to be informed by the outputs of the facilitative dialogue to be convened in 2018;
Welcome the mid-century, long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies communicated by some Parties, and call on all Parties to do the same by 2020;
Commit to developing long-term climate strategies and call for developed countries and international partners to support this process;
Reiterate that adaptation and loss and damage are crucial components of the global response to climate change, especially for LDCs which are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, and that there is a need to support developing countries in addressing current and future climate change impacts;
Stress that climate action enables the delivery of the full range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that coherent integration of NDCs and SDGs into national economic planning is a priority for all Parties;
Urge all developed country Parties to support LDCs in implementing their national climate change policies, measures and strategies, by fully implementing commitments relating to financial, capacity building and technological support;
Note with concern that trillions of dollars in climate finance is required to implement the NDCs of developing countries. Over USD 200 billion is needed only for LDC adaptation actions costed to date, recognising that some LDCs have only partially costed their needs or not costed them at all;
Further note with serious concern the limited resources available under the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) for immediate climate adaptation actions and call for urgent contributions to the LDCF;
Stress the need for facilitating access to climate finance by further streamlining and simplifying the application, approval and disbursement processes of the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility;
Further stress that a decision must be taken at COP23 to fully integrate the Adaptation Fund into the Paris Agreement architecture;
Express the readiness of all LDCs to formulate National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) by 2020;
Call on developed country Parties and all international partners to provide support to the LDCs to formulate NAPs and implement their actions;
Note with concern the lack of progress in phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, particularly in those countries that have pledged to eliminate them in the context of the global transition to net zero emissions by mid-century required to achieve the long-term temperature goal;
Further urge all international partners to provide support to LDCs in the spirit of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries to ensure all LDCs engage effectively in low emission and climate resilient development that will protect the lives of our populations, economies and systems;
Reassert the urgent need for technology development and transfer to enable developing countries, and in particular the LDCs, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change;
Stress the need for capacity building to enhance knowledge and awareness, and enable the LDCs to implement climate change actions;
Further stress that the LDC Group fully supports the adoption of a robust gender action plan at COP23;
Recognise that the global uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technology needs to happen more rapidly and that developing countries need greater financial and technical support to reap the benefits of these technologies in the context of low emission sustainable development;
Welcome progress on, andremain committed to taking forward the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development and urge the global community to support the LDCs in implementing this Initiative;
Remain committed to collective effort to progress the negotiations on the work programme of the Paris Agreement and full and active engagement for achieving successful outcomes at COP23;
Remain committed to completing the work programme and the adoption of the rules of the Paris Agreement at the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in 2018 as agreed at COP21;
Further call on all Parties to the Kyoto Protocol to urgently ratify the Doha Amendment to bring the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period into force;
Encourage all countries to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol;
Endorse the key messages of the LDC Group in the context of COP23, as contained in the annex to this communiqué;
Thank the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the great hospitality and facilitation of this important LDC ministerial meeting.
Issued this 05 October 2017 in Addis-Ababa, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Key messages of the LDC Group for COP 23
General
The urgency of action on climate change has never been clearer. The world has experienced devastating events exacerbated by climate change over the past year, creating irreversible loss and damage.
The 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have contributed negligible emissions but feel the impacts of climate change acutely due to their low social and economic development and severe capacity constraints.
The full implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement by all Parties is vital to protect present and future generations in LDCs and across the world. This demands fair, equitable and ambitious action by all Parties that is proportionate to the scale of the challenge before us, including in the pre-2020 period.
The Paris Agreement was the culmination of a global effort and groundswell of momentum to effectively address climate change. Eighty-five percent of all countries have ratified the Paris Agreement and some LDCs have communicated ambitious climate plans beyond their fair share.
Any decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement or decrease ambition in communicated climate action plans will severely damage the global solidarity achieved.
An effective global response to climate change is inextricably linked to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as climate change creates new and additional costs that exacerbate existing development challenges. Achieving a low-emissions and resilient future can simultaneously lift vulnerable communities in LDCs and across the world out of poverty.
Mitigation
The current level of global ambition does not put us on a track to limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Parties must commit to more ambitious emission reduction targets and urgently peak global emissions to close the mitigation gap and secure emission pathways consistent with limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C.
Parties should raise their ambition on action and support through revision of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before 2020 in a manner that is consistent with their responsibility and capacity to respond.
Urgent emission reductions are vital to minimise adverse impacts on LDCs and vulnerable populations by reducing the future cost of for adaptation and minimising unavoidable loss and damage.
Accelerated financial, capacity building and technological support is urgently needed for developing countries, in particular for LDCs, to enhance mitigation action.
By the end of 23rd Session of Conference of the Parties, the process for the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue must be clearly laid out. The Facilitative Dialogue must provide collective guidance on the global effort needed to put the world on a pathway to below 1.5°C of temperature increase by informing the ambition of the Parties’ NDCs.
The use of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes must ensure environmental integrity, must relate to emissions reductions included in NDCs that are quantified and measured against an absolute baseline or baseline scenario and must be in line with accounting guidance developed under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement.
Adaptation
Adaptation must be addressed in a balanced manner with mitigation, with respect to both action and support and with a view to achieving the global goal on adaptation.
LDCs need further financial, technological and capacity building support in planning, developing and implementing their national adaptation plans and other adaptation actions.
The Adaptation Fund has been a strong pillar in promoting and generating experience towards concrete adaptation actions in developing countries and needs to be fully integrated into the Paris Agreement architecture.
Loss and damage
Loss and damage is a crucial component of the global response to climate change and an important part of the Paris Agreement.
The LDCs have limited financial, technological, human and institutional capacities to deal with loss and damage arising from the impacts of climate change.
Scaled up financial support for loss and damage is urgently required, including a permanent source of finance and delivery mechanism.
Loss and damage needs to be incorporated into all relevant processes under the Paris Agreement, including the enhanced transparency framework and the global stocktake.
The Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage must be enabled to address broader loss and damage issues.
Climate finance
Climate finance is key to the implementation of the Convention, Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Convention and the Paris Agreement clearly recognise the special circumstances and needs of the LDCs and this recognition must be adhered to in every delivery mechanism of the climate finance.
Developed countries must fully implement their commitment to mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020. Clear pathways to meeting the targets are missing and urgent scaling up of the funding is needed.
Accessible, adequate, predictable and sustainable climate finance for developing countries is essential and should be allocated between adaptation and mitigation in a balanced manner. This finance must also be new and additional to existing to Official Development Assistance, and should be filled primarily from public sources and be grant-based.
Funds such as the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility must simplify the application, approval and disbursement processes, particularly for LDCs.
The Least Developed Countries Fund is a dedicated source of funding for LDCs and needs to be adequately resourced. This fund remains severely under resourced.
Technology
Access to environmentally sound technology is indispensable to LDCs and other developing countries to enable emission reductions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.
All LDCs must be supported to develop and implement technology related plans and strategies.
Increased funding that is earmarked for technology development and transfer is needed to access mitigation and adaptation technologies, and support innovation, the enhancement of endogenous technologies and collaborative approaches to research and development.
The Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility need to elaborate simplified procedures to enable LDCs to access financial support for technology development and transfer and build the capacity of LDCs to access these funds.
The bureaucratic procedure of the Climate Technology Centre and Network in handling requests from Parties should be reviewed and simplified to enable quick responses.
Capacity building
It is important to address the significant capacity gaps in LDCs for the effective implementation of climate actions, including for the elaboration, update and implementation of NDCs, formulation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans, mobilisation of climate finance and means of implementation.
The establishment of the Paris Committee on Capacity Building was a milestone in addressing gaps and needs in implementing capacity-building and further enhancing capacity-building efforts in a holistic and coherent manner.
Gender
Gender is a cross-cutting issue that needs to be mainstreamed across all areas of climate change responses and actions.
The empowerment of women will significantly enhance the effectiveness of adaptation and mitigation efforts at all levels and advance the SDGs and broader development objectives.
Transparency of action and support
The enhanced transparency framework is the backbone of the Paris Agreement’s architecture for raising ambition over time.
The framework must build trust and confidence among Parties, promote effective implementation and provide reliable information to take stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The framework must provide an accurate and reliable picture of what each Party is doing to address climate change and its impacts through action and support.
Support is essential for enabling developing countries to meet their reporting obligations.
The framework should avoid placing undue reporting burdens on developing countries without compromising the reliability of the information or the integrity of the transparency system.
Global stocktake
The global stocktake is an important component of the Paris Agreement’s mechanism to scale up fair and ambitious actionthat is consistent with equity and the best available science.
The outcome of the global stocktake must lead to Parties taking the necessary actions to put the world on track to limit the increases in global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and address the adverse impacts of climate change.
To effectively take stock of implementation of the Paris Agreement, the global stocktake must be holistic – reviewing all elements of the Agreement, including loss and damage.
Facilitating implementation and promoting compliance
The mechanism for facilitating implementation and promoting compliance have a vital role to play in ensuring the effectiveness of the Agreement and the implementation of efforts to address climate change under the Agreement.
The mechanism should ensure the integrity of the Paris Agreement by helping Parties to implement the Agreement while encouraging compliance with their obligations.
Some consumers of bushmeat in Bayelsa State on Sunday, October 9, 2017 said that they were not worried by the outbreak of Monkey Pox, a viral disease transmitted from wild animals to humans.
Bushmeat on display for sale
The disease was reported a forthnight ago and was said to have affected no fewer than 13 people in the state, according to Prof Ebitimitula Etebu, Bayelsa Commisioner of Health.
Etebu, who assured that the situation was under control, urged residents to be vigilant and wash hands after contact with wild animals, who are the primary vectors for the Monkey Pox virus.
The citizens were also warned against eating bush meat, a delicacy to many people in the state, as it is suspected to be one of the sources of contracting the disease.
Howevr, some of the residents, who spoke on the advice from medical experts to curb the spread of the virus, urged the government to lay emphasis on hygiene and not to blacklist bushmeat.
Investigations in Yenagoa and Ogbia areas in Bayelsa on Sunday indicate that business is still thriving at bushmeat joints and restaurants that serve the delicacy.
Some of the restaurants in Yenagoa and Otuoke, that serve bushmeat, which were visited were found to still be enjoying patronage despite warning from health practioners.
Mr Endurance Frank said he was still eating bush meat, and dismissed the views that eating the delicacy posses risk of contacting Monkey Pox, adding that he did not believe that the disease was caused through eating bush meat.
“This is how they said Ebola is caused by bush meat. We wash ours here and cook it very well, the government officials who are handling the campaign against the disease should not use their job to kill the business of others.
“It is common knowledge that when bushmeat is cooked well no virus can survive it, so their message should rather be on advising people to ensure they cook bushmeat properly and the same is true for all types of meat.
“Even medical doctors from Federal Medical Centre, Otuoke outreach come here in Nikky’s Bar.
“So why do they still come even as at Friday night, they were here and we enjoyed bushmeat together,” Frank said.
He urged the Federal Government to support those that have been isolated and ensure that the public is encouraged to maintain high hygiene standards as a preventive measure.
Another resident, who patronises bushmeat joints, Mr Felix Okpu, said even the outbreak of the disease would not deter him from eating bushmeat, adding that he was going to have his bushmeat delicacy at his favourite restaurant in Yenagoa.
“I must commend Bayelsa government for taking steps to curb the disease, but it is not enough to say that bushmeat is the cause rather they should educate people on how to handle meat generally and not single out bushmeat which is our favourite here in Bayelsa,” he said.
Mrs Ogidobor Digha, who operates a bushmeat bar in Otuoke, said her business was still thriving and yet to be affected by the outbreak of the Monkey Pox disease.
She said that local hunters who supply her with assorted bushmeat still supply her with bush meat.
“I believe the disease is not caused by the bushmeat in our bush here. Bushmeat cannot be transmitting such disease in our environment here, and also we take extracare in preparing and handling the meat and also we allow it to cook properly,” she said.
