About 80 percent of enlightened Nigerians lament that they are hard hit by climate change, with farmers and fishermen – representing two major employment sectors – being particularly impacted. Climate change interferes with all aspects of life including education.

In Nigeria, especially in some states, many children are absent from school during heavy rains, especially in the villages where there are no means of transportation. Such absenteeism obviously affects children’s academic performance. Climate change particularly affects women and girls. In some places, girls are kept at home doing domestic chores while boys were allowed to go to school. If there is drought, it is mainly women and girls that are responsible for collecting water – a burden which may also prevent them from either attending school or taking their school attendance seriously.

Serious drought leads to food scarcity, which leads to hunger, which in turn affects the ability of learning of children. Children often have to move with their families to places where there is safety from flooding, which also affects their education adversely by interrupting their studies and potentially increasing their distance from available schools. Children’s right to receive an education also results in damage to houses, school buildings and other infrastructures such as roads and bridges. In 2014, some school premises were used as temporary settlements for disaster victims. In Kilosa, for example, two primary schools were closed for weeks in order to provide settlements for flood victims. Such closure also impacts their capacity to study at home.

Many Nigerians are aware that some changes occur in the environment year in and year out but lack knowledge of the reasons for such change. They are also aware of increased disease, food shortages, and extreme flooding at various localities during certain periods of the year. Yet there have been no efforts to reduce the occurrences or avert them altogether. There is a need to educate the public of the signs of climate change as well as management and prevention strategies.

Many of us are aware that climate change is severely affecting livelihoods in Nigeria through changes in rainfall patterns. About 70 percent of the farmers interviewed expressed that their crops were washed away by floods, eliminating their yields for consumption or sale. In some part on Nigeria fishermen were not spared since they could not catch as much fish as they used to and the environment was not conducive for human life since all the debris washed away by water or flood was deposited at various places. About 70 percent of them at various fishing ports lamented that they suffer this disaster yearly but do not have the solution to their problems.

In Nigerian schools, practical demonstrations are needed in order for children to actively use their acquired knowledge and skills to improve society. Teachers should also demonstrate the importance of agriculture in the growth of the nation. In the fishing ports where fish farmers and their children reside, experts should be sent to demonstrate the modern way of processing and preserving fish both for local consumption and for exportation. Children should be thoroughly guided so as to enable them do the same in their various localities.

By Olumide Idowu (Team Leader, Climate Wednesday; @OlumideIDOWU)

Climate Change brings with it an increase in malnutrition, mental health conditions, infectious diseases spread and even death. Rising greenhouse gas levels are triggering climate and environmental changes that will affect human health in many ways. Climate Change is often thought of in terms of its effects on our physical environment: rising sea levels, heat-waves and storms. But increasing evidence shows that the human impact – and in particular the impact on human health will be a major challenge for scientists, politicians and ordinary people.

Recent problem is the issue of cholera which is one of the infectious diseases that remain a major health burden in Nigeria. Several incidences have raised concern that climate change may exacerbate the risk of the disease in the future. Future risk of this disease is essential, especially for regions where the projected climate change impacts, and infectious disease risk, are both large. Cholera is a growing threat, especially for those most vulnerable. Each year about 2.7 million people suffer from cholera, and about 90,000 of them die from this preventable disease. Those who become ill are often the most difficult to reach. Most are poor, live in conditions with poor water quality and sanitation, and often do not have access to treatment when they become ill.

According to the statement of UNOCHA NIGERIA, “the first cholera cases were identified in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, on 16 August, despite extensive efforts to improve sanitation conditions in camps and to raise awareness of the importance of best hygiene practices. The insurgency, and the efforts to quell it, has forcibly displaced 1.7 million people in north-east Nigeria, many of whom are living in dire conditions. To date, health partners have counted more than 3,300 confirmed and/or suspected cases and at least 53 cholera-related deaths. Health workers fear these numbers could rise exponentially because of poor water and sanitation conditions in many camps across the area.”

Many Nigerians are suffering the existing health threats and the emerging ones as a result of climate change. Climate change is intensifying with dimensions in age, economic resources, and location. Just recently, Minister of State for Environment, Usman Jubril mentioned in his interview with national television station NTA News “The effects of climate change are felt at every sight of the country. Rising global temperatures would have a catastrophic effect on human health and patterns of infection would change, with insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever spreading more easily.” But the climate we have come to expect is not what it used to be, because the past is no longer a reliable predictor of the future. Our climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts, and that change is progressing faster than any seen in the last years.

In conclusion, climate change is speeded up by increase in greenhouse gases plus the depletion of ozone layer which allows the penetration of ultra violet rays. Climate change or global warming causes sea level to rise and the consequences result in flooding from heavy rainfalls induced by precipitation, also from climate change. The deleterious effect of increase in disease like cholera and were implicated as the major health risks exacerbated by climate change. Societal illusion is underscored in this article as a nonchalant environmental habit that contributes to global warming in Nigeria.

As we know health care facilities are considered inadequate in developing economies and exacerbation of health risks in the event of adverse climate will occur. Government health policies should concentrate on providing medical care for cholera patients. Climate change mitigation is by reducing collectively on a global scale the emission of Co2 and greenhouse gases. Nigerian policy makers must be aware of the need to wipe away the prevailing illusion on avoidable bad environmental habits such as industrial pollutant, poor construction of drainages, gas emission from exhaust pipe, use of generator, deforestation, lack of good disposal, Use of firewood, poor maintenance of vehicle and use of perfume. There is need for heightened awareness among the general population on climate change and health risks. Community leaders, churches and mosques have relevant roles to play in guiding the people to understand climate change consequences.

Government in Nigeria could exploit the bond market to manage the consequences of climate change on Nigerian health infrastructure. Climate change can result in catastrophic health risks and further endanger the fragile social security’s system, if not strategically managed. Planting of trees and conscious effort to dissuade deforestation should be essential part of public discourse and policy.

By Olumide Idowu (Team Leader, Climate Wednesday; @OlumideIDOWU)

The United Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) should continue to spur emission reductions and sustainable development, on the ground, to help countries under the Paris Climate Change Agreement, companies, organisations and individuals meet their climate goals.

This was the message from some 80 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Designated National Authorities (DNAs) who met in Bonn, Germany, from September 19 to 20, 2017 at the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Projects and programmes registered under the CDM and which contribute to sustainable development – everything from clean cook stoves, to wind and solar power projects, to large industrial gases projects – earn a saleable credit for each tonne of emission reduction they achieve. The credits can be used by countries with a commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to meet a part of that commitment.

The Global DNA Forum “called on the Convention and Kyoto Protocol Bodies to provide clear guidance, as a matter of urgency, about CDM’s continued operation beyond the end of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (in 2020).”

“No doubt that the CDM, over the last 15 years, has established itself as a role model of market mechanisms in terms of the capacity and knowledge that DNAs, international and local institutions, consultants, (and others) have gained,” said Laurence Mortier, Co-chair of the Global DNA Forum.

This can be used “to harness other climate mitigation activities under nationally determined contributions” under the Paris Agreement, she said, citing the now broader reach and greater flexibility provided by CDM programmes of activities, the CDM standardised baselines, and leveraging the “value added” of the CDM in terms of sustainable development co-benefits.

The Paris Agreement allows countries to cooperate on climate action and established a “mechanism to contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable development,” taking into account experience from existing mechanisms, like the CDM.

“With the adoption of Paris Agreement and its entering into force, we need all the tools we can use to advance mitigation efforts,” said Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change. “DNAs have the opportunity to advance carbon markets and mechanisms, including the CDM, among a multitude of options.”

Frank Wolke, Chair of the CDM Executive Board told DNAs: “The Board, with the encouragement of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, continues to explore and support these expanded uses to ensure that the CDM is best used by all, that its emission reductions continue to be recognised, and that it continues to assist in the achievement of sustainable development for host Parties.”

There are now more than 8,000 CDM projects and programmes registered in 111 developing countries. Lately, credits from the CDM, called certified emission reductions, have seen use outside the Kyoto Protocol, for example in domestic emissions trading systems or for voluntary cancellation by companies, organisations and individuals wishing to supplement their emission reduction efforts.

The Global DNA Forum convenes Designated National Authorities from around the world, supporting the CDM at the national level to build capacity, share information, and discuss how to further support climate action through the CDM. The agenda and presentations made at Global DNA Forum 2017 are available here.

The Global DNA Forum elected new regional and global co-chairs for 2018:

• For African Group: Rachel Boti-Douayoua (Côte d’Ivoire), co-chair, and Wael Keshk (Egypt), alternate;
• For Asia-Pacific: Albert Magalang (Philippines), co-chair, and Nasimjon Rajbov (Tajikistan), alternate;
• For Latin America and the Caribbean: Federico Grullon De La Cruz (Dominican Republic), co-chair, and Lennox Gladden (Belize), alternate;
• For Eastern Europe: Maia Tskhvaradze (Georgia), co-chair, and Ms. Enkelejda Malaj (Albania), alternate;
• For Western Europe: Lorna Ritchie (United Kingdom), co-chair, none was elected as alternate;
• As Global Co-Chairs: Maia Tskhvaradze (Georgia) and Lorna Ritchie (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), who take over from Anne Omambia (Kenya) and Laurence Mortier (Switzerland).