23.6 C
Lagos
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Home Blog Page 1798

South-South climate cooperation strengthened at COP23

admin
-
0
South-South climate cooperation strengthened at COP23

At the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany (COP23) held in November 2017, different countries and sectors came together to mobilise support for developing countries with the help of South-South Cooperation.

South-South Cooperation
Panelists at the event

Collaboration and solidarity to address the threats of climate change is vital to enable a sustainable future for all. The pragmatic South-South Cooperation (SSC) drives an integral approach towards addressing overarching development issues, such as poverty eradication, the promotion of economic and social growth, and the protection of the planet.

COP23 strongly clarified that such cooperation is gaining strength and is playing an increasingly important role in climate action. Above all China, Brazil and Morocco put South-South Cooperation center stage in respective events at the conference.

China and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) hosted a high-level forum on South-South Cooperation on Climate change. The event positioned China as an active practitioner and supporter of this cooperation, which also supports China’s aim to become the largest contributor to climate action.

At the high-level opening of the event, the Prime Minister of Fiji and President of COP23, Frank Bainimarama, delivered the opening remarks on SSC. He highlighted that moving technology from North to South is as important as South-South cooperation. Many developing countries are increasingly addressing development and climate challenges in a successful and pragmatic way. SSC aims to spread this knowledge across the global south. China’s ability to plan for and deliver renewable energy, various energy resources are now available in parts of Africa which never had energy accesses before.

Jorge Chediek, Secretary-General’s Envoy on South-South Cooperation, and Director, UNOSSC, stressed his enthusiasm regarding SSC and the advances across the global South.

 

Global Partnerships are Key to Climate Action – The Examples of China, Brazil and Morocco

High-level participants from the global south as well as the UN system highlighted China’s role in implementing, measuring and sharing experiences with developing countries. UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner pointed out the responsibility of a just and fair global response to the climate challenge. Global partnerships between organisation such as UN DESA and UN Environment are essential to implement climate action solutions, he said.

Naoko Ishii, CEO of GEF, stressed the importance of non-state actors (including cities, the private sector and academia) and the necessity of a dialogue with these actors and governing institutions.

A keynote session between experts from different international and national institutions emphasised the high interest of developing countries in SSC. Accordingly, Bernd Hackmann of UN Climate Change acknowledged the importance of holistic approaches, including with respect to implementing the Paris Agreement and the national climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or “NDCs”). These areas of action need to be interlinked and integrated with countries’ sustainable development approaches to come to fruition, he said.

In addition to China’s High-level Forum on SSC, Brazil hosted an event that focused on reforestation activities in the framework of REDD+ in combination with SSC. The Ministry of the Environment is working in partnership with the Brazilian Cooperation Agency, which integrates the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the development of a Brazilian “Programme for South-South Cooperation in Climate Change and Forests”. The programme aims at generating solutions to common challenges, strengthening institutional, technical and scientific capacities, and promoting the engagement of developing countries in mobilising payment resources for REDD+ results. The Amazon fund and the National Climate Change Fund are the main Brazilian instruments for financing REDD+ related mitigation actions in this context.

The shift of programmes from being aspirational to generating genuine investments while looking for different partners are important factors to attracting finance. Morocco’s ambassador H.E. Aziz Mekouar promoted Morocco’s goal to invest 46% in renewables. Morocco also hosted a side event on SSC in the framework of COP23. A discussion took place between UNDP representatives and various national institutions such as the State Secretariat for Sustainable Development in Morocco. The event at the Morocco Pavilion emphasized the need to strengthen efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the adaptation of countries most vulnerable to climate change. In this context, different perspectives and challenges of NDC implementation and options for how to catalyze their implementation through SSC were explored.

To provide an overview of the role and potential of south-south cooperation, the United Nations Southern Climate Partnership Incubator (SCPI) also released a report on Climate Partnerships for a Sustainable Future Report: An overview of South-South cooperation on Climate Change in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.

UN-Habitat, firm to convert Kenya dumpsite to waste-to-energy plant

admin
-
0
UN-Habitat, firm to convert Kenya dumpsite to waste-to-energy plant

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Politecnico di Milano in Italy to carry out a feasibility study for the closure of the Ngong Town illegal dumpsite in Kenya and to design and construct a modern integrated municipal waste-to-energy plant.

Ngong dumpsite
The Ngong dumpsite

Solid waste arises from a wide range of human activities including domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural. Managing solid waste is one of the most costly and complex urban services undertaken by municipal and county governments. The Ngong dumpsite receives a daily average of 50 tonnes of waste from Nairobi and from the local communities. There is no proper solid waste management in place with the waste dumped without processing or treatment which presents serious health and environmental hazards. The environment around the dumpsite is heavily polluted. The pollution includes surface and ground water, air, soil and crops pollution and visual blight.

Ngong residents in the proximity of the illegal dumpsite have complained of respiratory illnesses and skin infections. This has prompted the Kajiado County government to identify proper waste management and disposal as one of their development priorities. The Kenyan government approached the Italian Government to provide a long-lasting solution to the improper solid waste management and to create a pilot project that could be replicated in other towns in Kenya. The Italian Government is considering providing a soft loan to the Kenyan government for the design and construction of a modern municipal waste recycle and treatment plant, based on a sound feasibility study including social and environmental impact assessment. UN-Habitat will provide technical assistance and coordination for the environmental and social impact assessment.

The county government of Kajiado has allocated the land for the construction of a modern waste to energy plant away from the illegal dumpsite.

Ngong dumpsite
The Ngong dumpsite integrated municipal waste-to-energy plant

The cooperation agreement signed on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 between UN-Habitat and the Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI), which is the lead organisation in a consortium that includes the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) and LDK Consultants Engineers and Planners.

The feasibility study will:

  • Conduct a baseline diagnostic survey on the current status of the solid waste management in Kajiado County;
  • Design an integrated solid waste management system that includes the conversion of waste to energy;
  • Study the financial and technical feasibility of safe closure of the existing dumpsite;
  • Study the financial and technical feasibility of the design and construction of the new site;
  • Study the potential for resource recovery facility; and
  • Conduct consultative workshops and awareness raising.

The feasibility study will commence in December 2017 and end in March 2018. Waste to energy has been selected as the best option for the new landfill site because it is an increasingly practical and attractive environmental option for urban city officials and County Governments.

When completed, the new facility will recycle waste and generate energy for sale to the grid. Other benefits include; improved environmental sanitation due to the increased level of solid waste collection and the reduction of solid waste dumped; the provision of an affordable waste management system encompassing the collection, storage, transfer, treatment and disposal of waste; greater community awareness and participation in waste segregation and collection; the creation of new employment opportunities; and institutional capacity building.

Stakeholders seek to promote local production of clean cookstoves

admin
-
0
Stakeholders seek to promote local production of clean cookstoves

Efforts to scale up domestic production of clean cooking solutions in Nigeria commences on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 in Abuja, courtesy of an initiative involving the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

cookstoves
Clean cookstoves imported under a  Federal Government project

The endeavour will be kicked-off at the 2017 edition of the Nigeria Clean Cooking Forum, described as a landmark, annual gathering of government, professionals and entrepreneurs working to accelerate the production, deployment, and use of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves and fuels.

This year’s forum, according to a statement made available to EnviroNews, will support government efforts to scale up domestic production of clean cooking solutions in the country as well as contribute to meeting the country’s obligation to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The event brings together over 200 participants including key policymakers, private sector leaders, foundations, research institutions, women’s groups and civil society stakeholders as well as international partners to discuss and proffer actionable steps towards scaling up domestic production of clean cooking solutions in Nigeria.

The statement discloses: “Research has confirmed that smoke from the traditional use of firewood is estimated to cause 95,000 deaths annually in Nigeria. After malaria and HIV/AIDS

, this would be Nigeria’s third highest killer mostly of who are women and children. Women and the girl child walk long distances and spend hours a week in search of firewood. This also contributes significantly to deforestation as well as the attendant consequences of climate change.

“Clean cooking will save lives, empower women, improve livelihood and combat climate change.  It is a priority area in energy access that is central in achieving the goals of NDCs and Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Initiative in Nigeria. Clean cooking energy for all is not only possible but a right for the Nigerian citizens. The domestic market for clean cooking solutions must be developed through innovative partnership and support, thereby the government and private sectors needs to stimulate the market for ‘Made in Nigeria’ clean cookstoves.”

Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, will formally open the event; while Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will deliver the keynote address.

The forum’s sessions cover:

  • Strengthening the LPG market through public awareness for domestic consumption
  • Financing for clean cookstoves in Nigeria and expanding the market for clean cookstoves through standards and labeling.

According to the organisers, implementers of clean cooking solutions in the country will at the event share experiences, including challenges and lessons learnt. A session on Safe Access to Fuels and Energy (SAFE) will wrap up the forum, which will showcase a variety of clean cooking solutions.

Ahead harmattan season, campaign against bush burning intensifies

admin
-
0
Ahead harmattan season, campaign against bush burning intensifies

An ecologist, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, has called on the government and other stakeholders to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers of bush burning, just as the harmattan season sets in.

Bush burning
Bush burning

Aremu, who is the Director-General, Advocacy for Environmental and Sanitation Integrity, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, November 27, 2017.

He described bush burning as an abuse of environment, saying that it had negative consequences on soil fertility and by extension, crop growing.

He urged the residents of the rural areas, particularly hunters, to refrain from setting bushes on fire in their efforts to hunt down animals.

Aremu underscored the need for state and local governments as well as other relevant stakeholders to embark on public sensitisation campaigns on bush burning, particularly in the rural areas.

“There is need to educate Nigerians on the abuse of the environment and the importance of forests in efforts to tackle environmental challenges such as erosion and flooding,’’ he said.

He said that state and local governments should strictly enforce extant environmental laws so as to check illegal bush burning and the abuse of the ecosystem in their domains.

By Deji Abdulwahab

Foundation urges government to keep promise on funding response to HIV/AIDS

admin
-
0
Foundation urges government to keep promise on funding response to HIV/AIDS

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) on Monday, November 27, 2017 urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to fulfil their pledge to fund the testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS in the country.

lassa-fever
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole

Steve Aborisade, Advocacy and Marketing Manager of AHF, made the call on behalf of the Foundation on the sidelines of activities commemorating the organisation’s 30th global anniversary in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commemoration had the theme “Keeping the Promise’’.

“Everybody has a promise to keep on HIV and AIDS, and the government needs to keep the promise on funding to end AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030.

“It needs to take ownership of the HIV response and not be dependent on donor partners. For instance, the South African government funds 80 percent its domestic programmes, and it is not dependent on donors.

“The budget (in Nigeria) is generally is not encouraging and health must be funded because health is wealth,’’ Aborisade said.

He further reiterated AHF’s commitment to re-strengthening its partnership with relevant stakeholders to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2020 and end AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030.

Dr Modupe Oduwole, National Strategic Intervention Adviser, UNAIDS, also called on the Federal Government to take ownership of the HIV response in the country.

Oduwole said it was important for the Nigerian Government to take ownership of the HIV response of its citizens as donor funds are now dwindling.

“Beyond ownership, there is also the need for integrated approach to healthcare delivery, and revamping the whole healthcare sector for better care.’’

Dr Uche Okoro, Project Manager, FCT Agency for the Control of AIDS, further commended the government on its intervention in the treatment of HIV and AIDS in the country.

Okoro said government was working towards the inclusion of HIV and AIDS treatment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“This will help to reduce the out-of-pocket spending of persons living with the virus.’’

By Talatu Maiwada

EU member states meet to break glyphosate deadlock as deadline looms

admin
-
0
EU member states meet to break glyphosate deadlock as deadline looms

A Committee of European Union Member States is met on Monday, November 27, 2017 to discuss a licence extension for the controversial weedkiller glyphosate.

European Parliament
The European Parliament will decide on extending the approval of glyphosate

The EU licence for glyphosate will expire on December 15, and member states are divided as to whether they should agree to a five-year extension as proposed by the European Commission.

Glyphosate inhibits the growth of unwanted plants.

It is widely used in farming, but also to control plants in domestic and urban settings, and has been questioned amid concerns as to whether it might cause cancer.

So far, the commission has failed to secure the necessary support from EU member states for the renewal of the licence, despite proposing a shorter licensing period of five years, instead of 10 as envisaged originally.

In October, the EU parliament adopted a non-binding resolution to band the household use of glyphosate with immediate effect and end agricultural use by 2022.

Killer herders, Boko Haram products of ‘odd environment’

admin
-
0
Killer herders, Boko Haram products of ‘odd environment’

Not taking care of the environment and thus allowing it to deteriorate has been fingered as the root of the upsurge of dissidents in the country.

Leslie Adogame
L-R: Nnimmo Bassey, Prof. Babajide Alo and Ugochi Oluigbo at the Leslie Adogame environmental colloquium on Saturday, November 25

This was the assertion of panelists at the inaugural national environmental colloquium in commemoration of Leslie Adogame’s 50th birthday in Lagos on Saturday, November 25, 2017.

“Facilitating National Environmental Discourse for Agenda Setting for 2018” is the theme of the colloquium anchored by Mr Kayode Aboyeji of Ecogreen News. Issues discussed ranged from government policies, waste management and sundry issues bordering on environmental protection.

Adogame is the Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria).

According to Professor Babajide Alo, Director, Centre for Environmental Human Resources Development, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, the herdsmen issue is purely an environmental one.

Leslie Adogame
Leslie Adogame

The migration and invasion of farmlands and public places by cows and the herders are due to desertification, he added.

Expatiating, the environmental expert identified 47 per cent of the herders as idle youths who lost their means of livelihood due to environmental problems in the North.

On the way forward, the don said those young herders should be captured and engaged gainfully.

“If you do the right thing when it comes to the environment, crime rate will drop because a hungry man is an angry man.

“Boko Haram came up because Lake Chad dried up and youths who were engaged became easy recruits of Boko Haram,” he said.

Setting environmental agenda for 2018, Nnimmo Bassey, environmentalist activist, author, poet and former chairman of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), urged the electorate to look out for “parties or individuals whose manifestoes are environment-friendly”.

Pollution, he noted, is among the top 10 killers in the world, adding that “Nigerians are living in a polluted environment”.

For him, terrorism and gun-wielding policemen in the streets are other forms of pollution.

He urged government and other stakeholders to “protect our waters, protect our forests and talk to the cattle-owners who arm the poor herdsmen to kill poor farmers while they relax in their cosy mansions.”

Award-winning environmental journalist, Ugochi Oluigbo of Television Continental (TVC), in her own part of the discussion, asserted that Nigerians’ seeming illiteracy on environmental issues “is a structural problem”.

She said the twin evils of poverty and environmental issues were not making matters better, as hunger had made people to take environmental issues for granted.

The “Green Angle” presenter on TVC urged Nigerians to think about others while dealing with the environment.

Fixing Nigeria, she insisted, is a job for everyone because of “our structural problem”.

A guest, Anthony Akpan of Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), canvassed thst environmental education should be included in the school curriculum. He also called on policy-makers to make adequate provision for environmental issues.

Prof. Alo agreed with him, noting that Lagos State tried it once, “but I don’t know the situation now”.

By Innocent Onwuji

More HIV positive Nigerians to benefit from new antiretroviral drug

admin
-
0
More HIV positive Nigerians to benefit from new antiretroviral drug

A new antiretroviral drug employed in the first line treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), will soon be rolled out to more Nigerians living with the disease, according to Africa Community Advisory Board and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

Isaac-Adewole
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole

The drug, DTG (dolutegravir), is already available in developed countries and afforded by few Nigerians but at a very high cost. However, the Clinton Health Access Initiative is ready to accelerate the availability of the drug, which is considered an optimal treatment option. In comparison to Efavirenz (EFV), the current widely used first line drug, DTG is found to be more efficacious, durable, tolerable, of higher bioavailability, lower pill burden, and potential for fewer side effects.

A member of the Africa Community Advisory Board (AFROCAB), Mr. Obatunde Oladapo, said at a sensitisation meeting on Friday, November 24, 2017 in Lagos that several countries have changed or are in the process of making the transition to DTG-based first line regimen (and in fewer countries EFV 400mg) but more information is needed on how they are likely to perform in real world in low and medium income settings and that is the reason to engage communities in clinical trials.

“What AFROCAB is doing is that before this drug will be rolled out in Nigeria, the community will be adequately represented. AFROCAB will be involved in setting the standard of care, development and distribution of literacy materials and creating orientation workshop for support group leaders. Already 6,500 participants are enrolled in a clinical trial that began since June in three sites: Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Jos University Teaching Hospital in Plateau State, and Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Benue State.”

According to him, the trials will last for a year till June 2018. Subsequently, the Clinton Health Access Initiative will make it available and accessible to the 3.1 per cent Nigerians living with HIV.

Speaking at the same meeting, Dr. Oliver Ezechi, Deputy Director of Research and Head, Clinical Sciences at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research, welcomes the development, but argues that rather than making DTG a first line drug, it should be reserved as a life-saving third line drug for hundreds of people who have developed resistance to first and second line treatments.

“There are up to 50 people at our center (NIMR) who have failed both first and second line drugs. The third line drugs are not available and they are not free. A regimen costs N80,000 per month. How many patients can afford that monthly?” he lamented.

Usually, the first time a patient starts taking anti-retroviral drugs, he or she is given first line drugs. But the rule is that at least one percent of every such patient will develop resistance. The solution is to place him or her on second line drug. Similarly, every patient on second line drug will develop resistance, after which they will be placed on third line drugs.

Dr. Ezechi noted that since the beginning of HIV response in Nigeria (more than two decades ago), several patients have developed resistance to first and second two line drugs and since third line drugs are not available, accessible and affordable, they are inadvertently left to die.

“Since 97 percent of drugs are donated by donor agencies, will you blame PEPFAR, or Global Funds or any funder if they say they have no money to support people on third line drugs? That is why personally, I would have preferred this DTG is kept as a third line drugs because it is difficult to see patients that you have been caring for, going to die because of drug resistance,” he argues.

“I don’t agree with that,” Mr. Oladapo says. “I believe that using DTG as a first line drug is putting out best foot forwards. Moreover, it is already in Nigeria’s treatment guideline that DTG should be used as first line drug,” he adds.
In 2015 the World Health Organisation (WHO) included three drugs Efavirenz lower dose – EFV400, darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) and dolutegravir (DTG)DRV/r, and DTG in HIV treatment guidelines as part of alternative regimens. To date at least fifteen low and medium income countries have recommended DTG first line in their national guidelines. And five countries have already began providing DTG in their programs: Botswana, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

By Abiose Adelaja Adams

Expert tasks businesses to leverage on technology

admin
-
0
Expert tasks businesses to leverage on technology

Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr Tonye Cole, has tasked entrepreneurs on the need to exploit technology for information gathering toward enhancing business opportunities and economic growth.

Tonye Cole
Executive Director, Sahara Group, Mr Tonye Cole

Cole gave the advise at the Entrepreneurs Connect Forum, themed: “The role of credit and technology in building a sustainable business” on Saturday, November 25, 2017 in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Entrepreneurs Connect is one of the initiatives of The Young CEO that seeks to connect startups with business leaders from various sectors.

The platform provides startups access to mentorship, grants and networking opportunities to help them scale up their businesses and command authority in their respective sectors.

Cole noted that many entrepreneurs were not leveraging the internet to research
diverse information that could catalyse and expose their businesses to global trends that would spur growth.

“Startup businesses collapse because people have not done enough research into why they are going into business; they go into business because they see someone else doing it.

“Every business school would tell you that most businesses fail in their first year, so to reduce the rate of this failure, you must spend time in conducting research so that you can avoid pitfalls that others went through,” he said.

According to him, lots of financing opportunities are available to be explored by startups, adding that money is chasing entrepreneurs with innovative ideas.

He commended the Federal Government on the country’s improvement on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, adding that sustainability of the improved index should be enhanced.

“The government can set a target and continue to build upon it, the ultimate is doing business registration and operating your business without seeing any government official.

“The government should continue working that way because you do not need any government official to access money, pay taxes, access information and I believe that we will surely get there. It is a work in progress,” Cole said.

He stressed that everyone and not just government has a role to play in contributing to easing the business environment in view of the immense benefits.

Mr Michael Akintan, risk analyst, Bank of Industry (BoI), urged the entrepreneurs to keep proper business records and to explore the various financing products of the bank to upscale their businesses.

Mr Aigbe Omoregie, Convener of The Young CEO, said that the initiative had been at the forefront of youth empowerment through its programmes and events.

“Nigeria, in comparison with other West African countries, is by far a bigger economy with a teeming population of over 210 million, with the young unemployed people constituting a whooping 65 per cent of the number.

“A large percentage of these young people are willing to work and create new business opportunities in their local communities but lack access to funding and mentorship from renowned business leaders,” he said.

Omoregie noted that the platform seeks to bridge the gap of financing, mentorship and capacity building of youths between 15 to 30 years toward boosting entrepreneurship, job and wealth creation in the country.

NAN reports that two beneficiaries in the fashion and agro-allied industry were awarded N100, 000 grant each to scale up their businesses.

By Oluwafunke Ishola

300 women receive vegetable seeds, farm implements in Delta

admin
-
0
300 women receive vegetable seeds, farm implements in Delta

At least 300 women in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have been empowered with vegetable seeds and farm implements, an aide to the state governor, said on Saturday, November 25, 2017.

ifeanyi-okowa
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba, Dr Genevieve Mordi, the Senior Special Assistant to Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa,  on International Relations, said the empowerment programme was to encourage more women to engage in agriculture, especially vegetable farming.

Mordi said that the vision was driven by the need to instill in the people of the state the “Western-style’’ mind-set of farming.

“The vision is also aimed at erasing the erroneous notion that some particular crops cannot do well in the state.

“I am particularly worried that sometimes, we are at the mercies of our northern brothers for the supply of some crops and vegetables such as tomato and onion, among others.

“These crops some of us earlier believed cannot do well in this part of the country.

“Delta state, by divine coordination is well situated geographically and my vision is to see a Delta State where farming becomes a specialised profession as it is in the western hemisphere where farming is not just limited to supplying the food chain but also expands into agri-tourism ,’’ she said.

According to her, Agri-tourism, hotels are built within organised farming settlement, activities such as fruit picking, customised foods, custom smoothness and juices blends by the hotel guests could be included as part of the tourism package to attract guests nationally and internationally.

“We already have this in Aqua-culture termed as ‘point and kill’. It is just adapting same practice to fruits and vegetables.

“This will definitely lead to job creation and increased revenue generation. We will get there one day and real soon,’’ Mordi said.

By Mercy Obojeghren

1...1,7971,7981,799...2,289Page 1,798 of 2,289

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×