24.3 C
Lagos
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Home Blog Page 1850

Stakeholders task government on framework to implement climate change policies

admin
-
0
Stakeholders task government on framework to implement climate change policies

Stakeholders in the environment sector have called on the federal government to create what they describe as a holistic institutional framework for the implementation of climate change policies in the country.

CSOs-environment
Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Jibril, with some dignitaries during the “Environment in an Era of Change” forum in Abuja

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day stakeholders’ meeting of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in the environment sector with the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, in Abuja on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

Themed: “Environment in an Era of Change,” the forum appeared to be well attended by CSOs, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs,  development partners as well as other critical stakeholders operating in the environment and development sector from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The meeting was aimed at facilitating stakeholders’ consultations on environmental issues, challenges and prospects in Nigeria and to engender interaction between the Environment Ministry and other stakeholders in the formulation of durable environmental agenda and roadmap towards repositioning the Nigerian environment.

Other objectives of the meeting include to stimulate policy dialogue on the environment among relevant stakeholders within the various strata of the society that will foster sustainable economic development in view of Nigeria’s efforts to diversify her economy and employment generation to the teaming rural communities, and also to facilitate the adoption of strategies to fast-track the Green Economy initiative through Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme of the government towards implementation of the country’s programme.

The meeting was also aimed at providing an update on government policy action on environmental governance; seeking inputs of CSOs into the implementation of government environment programme and create the platform for continued engagement between government and the CSOs.

The communiqué also called for more awareness creation on the effects of land degradation and other environmental challenges in the country.

It also tasked the federal government to, among other things, emphasis on review and update of some environmental laws that are obsolete.

Other issues raised by the communiqué include the need for enhanced advocacy by CSOs in promoting effective environmental management; the need for the Environment Ministry to push for support from state governments for more collaboration in areas of sensitisation and the environment sustenance awareness embarked upon by CSOs, who urged for more collaborative support from the ministry.

Speaking, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, disclosed that the meeting was convened in order to provide a platform to brief the CSOs, NGOs, development partners and other critical stakeholders on the efforts to reposition the Environment Ministry in delivering its mandate.

This, according to him, would engender contributions of the stakeholders to further reposition the environment sector in view of the Sustainable Development Goals and the change vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

While charging the stakeholders to raise critical issues that would bring rapid development of the environment sector, the Minister said: “I do hope that this gathering will stimulate policy dialogues on the environment among various strata of the civil society with the goal of fostering partnership and collaboration for sustainable economic development in view of Nigeria’s efforts to diversity her economy and employment generation.”

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Shehu Ahmed, noted that governance in the environment sector can only achieve sustained result and become more effective with the active support and partnership of the CSOs, NGOs and other development partners.

He called for a regular interface and sharing of ideas between the ministry and the stakeholders so as to ensure a rapid development of the sector.

By Michael Simire and Hassan Danmaryam

St Kitts and Nevis ratifies Minamata Convention

admin
-
0
St Kitts and Nevis ratifies Minamata Convention

Seven days after a rash of ratifications triggered the Minamata Convention on Mercury into force, the Government of St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby making the twin island nation the 53rd future Party to the Minamata Convention.

Timothy Harris
Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis

History was made on Thursday, May 18, 2017 when the global treaty came into force, having garnered the required 50 ratifications.

On that day, the EU and seven of its member States – Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden – deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing to 51 the current number of future Parties.

As a result, on August 16 2017, the Convention, which aims at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds, will become legally binding for all its Parties.

The 1st Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP1) will gather governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations from around the world in Geneva from September 24 to 29, 2017.

The Minamata Convention is said to be the first new global Convention on environment and health adopted for close to a decade. It addresses the entire life cycle of mercury, considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top 10 chemicals of major health concern, which threatens the environment and health of millions.

Shell inducts top-performing students into mentorship programme

admin
-
0
Shell inducts top-performing students into mentorship programme

Beneficiaries of The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture undergraduate scholarship who have consistently earned excellent grades have been inducted into a new mentorship programme aimed at grooming them for entry into the oil and gas industry and motivating them to maintain their top academic performance.

Shell-students
Officials of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and the Scholars at the SPDC Headquarters, Port Harcourt

“Our ‘Shell Meet Scholars’ programme is an extension of our joint venture’s education initiative for undergraduates in our areas of operation. It is our way of giving recognition to beneficiaries of our university scholarship scheme who have consistently maintained a CGPA of 4.5 and above in their courses of study,” said SPDC’s Social Investment and Social Performance Manager, Gloria Udoh when 18 out of the 22 students visited the corporate headquarters of the company in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

She said that with the programme, the scholarship scheme has taken a more sustainable character as SPDC will encourage the 22 students to maintain their current academic grades by having SPDC mentors assigned to them.

“They also qualify for automatic internship placement in the company and free enrolment to the Shell-built Port Harcourt Literary Society Library,” Udoh added.

SPDC’s Campus Ambassadors Programme (CAP) will groom the 22 students to become role models in their various universities, while being prepared for possible employment in the oil and gas industry after graduation. The initiative will cover coaching in career management, self-evaluation and feedback, communications skills, technical knowledge improvement, change management, leadership skills and understanding of SPDC’s business culture.

The elated students thanked SPDC for the transparency of the scholarship award process and pledged to work hard to be worthy ambassadors of the company.

A total of 8,145 students from SPDC operational areas have benefited from the joint venture’s regular secondary school scholarship scheme in the past six years. The university scholarship scheme is a natural progression of the scholarship scheme for students at the secondary school level.

Menstrual Hygiene Day: WaterAid demands improved sanitation access to women, girls

admin
-
0
Menstrual Hygiene Day: WaterAid demands improved sanitation access to women, girls

On the occasion of the Menstrual Hygiene Day, WaterAid says it aims to help change the secrecy, shame and stigma associated with menstruation – a situation faced by some 800 million women around the world on their periods.

michael
Dr Michael Ojo, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria

“Why does WaterAid want to bring periods out of the closet? The easier it is for people to discuss menstruation, whether they are teenage girls, village leaders or government ministers, the easier it will become for women and girls to discuss their periods with dignity and engage in dialogue about how to ensure proper menstrual hygiene management,” the non-for-profit organisation disclosed in a statement.

According to WaterAid, one in three women around the world do not have access to a decent toilet when they are on their period, implying that it can be really hard to deal with menstruation with dignity.

“Girls in Nigeria can be in danger if there are no private, decent toilets at school for them to manage their periods properly. They either go to the bush, risking attack from onlookers or dangerous animals, or opt to stay home and so miss out on their education and the greater opportunities it brings. Girls often feel shame, fear and confusion around periods and this is intensified when there is no source of clean water, soap, or a private girls’ toilet with space to wash in.”

The body emphasised that the needs of women and girls around menstruation have been neglected around the world, leading to inequity and missed opportunities. WaterAid is however now calling on everyone to be more open about menstruation, to help confront taboos, and  highlight the issues faced by the one in three women worldwide who do not have access to a toilet during their period.

Dr. Michael Ojo, WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, said: “This Menstrual Hygiene Day, we are amplifying our call for cooperation with the education and health sectors as well as those working in reproductive and sexual health to ensure girls are prepared for the onset of menstruation, to ensure they can care for themselves in a dignified and hygienic way, and to dispel the myths and taboos that often accompany menstruation.

“When there are no safe, private toilets in schools, girls often skip school during their period, or drop out altogether once they reach puberty. We need to talk openly about this issue and remove the silence and stigma that surround periods. Most of all we need to ensure that every woman and girl has access to clean water, safe toilets and somewhere to wash by 2030.

“Unless we can all talk about periods openly, we won’t be able to make sure that women and girls have the decent toilets and sanitary products they need; and the superstitions and taboos that mean too many women and girls live a half-life during their periods will remain unchallenged.”

The Menstrual Hygiene Day was started by WASH United in 2014 to build awareness of the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in helping women and girls reach their full potential.

Oluseyi Abdulmalik, WaterAid Nigeria Communications & Media Manager, says: “Proper menstrual hygiene management for women and girls requires inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and public places; provision of protection materials at affordable rates; behavioural change and communication and a review of existing policies to address this important issue. Everyone has a role to play. At WaterAid Nigeria, the integration of menstrual hygiene management in all of our sanitation and hygiene interventions – with a focus on Equity and Inclusion, WASH in Schools and WASH & Health is critical.”

PIGB: NEITI lauds Senate, urges House for speedy action

admin
-
0
PIGB: NEITI lauds Senate, urges House for speedy action

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has welcomed what it describes as a “bold step” by the Senate to pass the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) on Thursday, May 25, 2017 in Abuja.

Waziri-Adio
Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio

The decision of the Senate to consider the bill as priority resulting in its passage is not only legendary, but historic given the challenges the bill has passed through in its legislative journey for almost two decades, the NEITI stressed in a statement.

As an agency set up to enthrone transparency and accountability in the management of extractive industries in Nigeria, NEITI says it has legitimate interest in the PIGB in view of its strategic importance to the realisation of its mandate.

NEITI therefore calls on the House of Representatives to find similar courage to give the bill an accelerated consideration on its merit in overriding public interest.

The transparency agency recalls that the passage of the bill is coming more than 17 years after the process commenced in April 2000.

“We also note that the objective of a petroleum sector Law remains to develop a dynamic governance framework that will re-position the Petroleum industry to fully embrace competition, openness, accountability, professionalism as well as better profit returns on investments,” discloses NEITI, noting that the public outcry that greeted the failure of the last National Assembly to pass the bill may have informed the current Senate’s resolve to revive legislative interest on the bill “resulting in the milestone achievement recorded at the moment.”

“We are delighted that to avoid the controversies that killed the last PIB, the current Senate, carefully assembled experts who carefully broke the bill into various segments beginning with the governance aspect of the proposed law. The PIGB now passed by the Senate is a product of this creative initiative.”

NEITI notes that, in 2016, it was in realisation of the current stagnation of investment opportunities in the Petroleum Industry, the negative consequences to the economy as a result of the absence of the new law that made the agency to publish a researched Policy Brief titled “Urgency of a new Law for the Petroleum Sector”.

“In that publication shared with members of the National Assembly, NEITI alerted the nation that Nigeria had so far lost over $200 billion as a result of absence of the Law. These lost revenues were as a result of investments withheld or diverted by investors to other (more predictable) jurisdictions. The hedging by investors stems from the expectation that the old rules would no longer apply, but not knowing when the new ones would materialise,” contends NEITI.

It adds: “We also note that NEITI’s 2013 audit of the oil and gas sector revealed that a cumulative $10.4 billion and N378.7 billion were lost as a result of under-remittances, inefficiencies, theft or absence of a clear governance framework for the sector. The cost to the nation in 2013 alone was N1.74 trillion.

“It is now hoped that, with the prospects of a new Law coming in to place, this huge revenue losses to the nation as a result of governance lapses will be eliminated.

“While NEITI looks forward to carefully studying the contents of the PIGB as passed by the Senate, it joins all stakeholders to commend Senate for what has been achieved so far  in the passage of this important bill.

“NEITI also commends the media, civil society organisations, industry, stakeholders and experts who have followed the bill in the National Assembly for their valued contributions to the process.

“NEITI hopes to convey a multi-stakeholders dialogue on the provisions of the bill as passed by the Senate to set the stage for informed stakeholders’ engagements on how this Bill will positively influence the on-going reforms in the oil and gas industry.”

Flagship UN ocean summit to mobilise action to reverse marine degradation

admin
-
0
Flagship UN ocean summit to mobilise action to reverse marine degradation

The United Nations has said that it will bring together Heads of States, Heads of Governments and other high-level delegates, representatives from civil society organisations, the business community, intergovernmental and UN agencies as well as renowned personalities, and other ocean and marine life advocates at the Ocean Conference on June 5 to 9, 2017 in New York to spur action to improve the state of the world’s oceans.

Plastics
Ocean pollution (or marine litter) by plastics and plastic particles is a major marine degradation concern

With the health and sustainability of the global ocean sharply deteriorating, the Conference, says the UN, comes at a critical moment.

“Human activities are having major impacts on the ocean, affecting everything from the viability of marine habitats to the quality and temperature of the water, the health of marine life, and the continued availability of seafood. Ocean deterioration has broader implications as it affects poverty eradication, economic growth, sustainable livelihoods and employment, global food security, human health and climate regulation – many of the critical goals needed to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,” the global body disclosed in a statement.

The Ocean Conference, said to the first UN conference of its kind on the issue, will focus on achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, highlighting the need to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the Conference was originally scheduled to take place in Fiji. But Cyclone Winston caused heavy damage to the island in 2016 and the Conference was moved to New York. The Governments of Fiji and Sweden are co-hosting the Conference, and Fiji will kick it off with a special cultural ceremony at 5 June 5, prior to the formal opening.

The five-day Conference will result in a global call for action by UN Member States – a concise, focused and concrete declaration to advance action towards a more sustainable future for the ocean. The Conference will also generate hundreds of new commitments for action. More than 290 voluntary commitments have been made so far in the lead-up to the Conference and many more are expected, showcasing critical initiatives undertaken by countries, businesses or people, individually or in partnership, including Governments, the UN system, civil society and the private sector.

There will also be final report of the Conference, which will include the co-chairs’ summary of the seven partnership dialogues, focusing on marine pollution, ocean acidification, conservation of oceans and their resources as well as marine and coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, marine technology and issues concerning Small Island Developing States and least developed countries that depend on the oceans for their livelihood.

Kicking off the week-long Conference will be the World Ocean Festival – a public event which will take place at New York City’s Governors Island on June 4.  The Festival, which is free and open to the public, will offer views of a parade of boats from Pier 64 on the Hudson River, around the southern tip of Manhattan and past the UN on the East River. The Festival will host activities for all and feature conversations with the world’s leading experts in ocean science, conservation and advocacy. The Festival is hosted by the City of New York and organised by the Global Brain Foundation.

Bigwig firms seek to put a price on carbon

admin
-
0
Bigwig firms seek to put a price on carbon

New insights on carbon prices to transform the power sector were launched on Thursday, May 25, 2017 by the world’s first industry-led initiative convened by business leaders from Bank of America, Barclays, PGGM, MN, Engie, Iberdrola, NRGand Hermes Investment Management. The power sector accounts for a quarter of global emissions and defining investment-grade carbon price ranges will help companies better understand risks and how these align with the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

Nicolette Bartlett
Nicolette Bartlett, CDP’s Director of Carbon Pricing

The report reveals that while policies which place an explicit price on carbon are increasing globally, with a 23% increase between 2015-2016 in companies embedding an internal carbon price, they are not incentivising companies enough to undergo the rapid transformation needed to achieve abelow 2°C scenario. The research also shows there are other carbon-related price signals embedded in the economy which need to be considered, including policy, innovation and shifting market dynamics.

“The power sector is at the heart of the shift to a low-carbon future. Power generation needs a complete overhaul, with 100% decarbonisation needed globally by 2050 to have a better chance of keeping to 2 degrees,” commented Nicolette Bartlett, CDP’s Director of Carbon Pricing. “By factoring in carbon prices necessary for this transformation, utilities and investors can better assess climate-related risks as well as identify commercially attractive carbon-free alternatives.”

The Carbon Pricing Corridors is part of the work conducted by CDP under the We Mean Business initiative comprising a panel of more than 20 chief executives and senior leaders from across the G20 who provide market insights into the future impact of carbon pricing. Investors, companies and policymakers can use the price ranges to help calculate the risks and opportunities posed by climate risk to investment decisions. The power sector currently uses an average carbon price of $35/tonne. The panel identified that utilities would need a carbon price range between $30 – $100/tonne by 2030 to limit global warming to 2°C.

The price ranges could be particularly useful for those companies and investors who plan to align their business models with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement using an internal carbon price. Findings suggest that carbon prices emerging by 2030 will impact capital expenditure decisions being made by power companies today.

This report comes at a critical moment as Mark Carney’s Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) highlights a clear need for investors to be able to stress test their portfolios against a range of scenarios. The Carbon Pricing Corridors initiative provides organisations with a ready-made tool to stress test their investment decisions in light of the Paris Agreement.

There is increasing momentum for carbon pricing in both public and private spheres, as renowned economists Joseph Stiglitz and Lord Nicholas Stern have established a high-level commission on carbon pricing for policymakers.

Lance Pierce, President of CDP North America, commented: “Industry-led endorsement of this initiative underscores the spread of carbon pricing as a tool for both business and policy. The price ranges identified by the Corridors initiative can help investors and companies with the increasingly important task of calculating the transitional risks brought on by climate change. TCFD recommendations point to the clear need for investors to be able to stress test their portfolios against a below 2°C scenario, and many are seeing robust carbon pricing as an important way to operationalise the TCFD recommendations. Preparing for a price on carbon today will help transform the wider economy tomorrow, decreasing climate-related risk more broadly and supporting financial stability.”

“Our focus on the Task Force is on how companies can and should integrate climate-related risks and opportunities into their core financial planning and reporting. We recommend companies sense check their business strategy against a range of scenarios, including taking into account that over 200 countries agreed to the ambitious goal of stabilizing the climate below 2-degrees. There is a very real transition underway, in particular across the energy sector. The private sector needs to take this into account if we are allocate capital to the right places and ensure financial stability,” commented Mark Lewis, Managing Director, Head of European Utilities Equity Research, Barclays; Member of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure.

Other findings include:

  • Public policy: Policymakers can use these findings in their cost-benefit analyses of policy proposals and in public procurement decisions.
  • User friendly: The initiative has developed a ‘user matrix’ detailing how different sectors can use the price ranges over different time periods, to benchmark their investment decisions against these price signals.
  • Price ranges: Price ranges for the period to 2030 do not differ significantly from those created by institutions such as the IEA and Carbon Tracker. However, there are variations nearing 2030, when some panel members believe a lower price than other models will be needed due to technology break-throughs and favorable renewable cost curves.

The initiative is due to report on its initial carbon price ranges in other energy-intensive sectors over the next two years, including steel, cement, paper & pulp and aluminum.

How to unlock private investment for climate action

admin
-
0
How to unlock private investment for climate action

In 2016, the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement accelerated already growing markets for climate-smart investment. And 2015 was another record-breaking year for renewable energy, with nearly $350 billion invested, more than double the amount going to fossil-powered generation.

Tom Kerr
Tom Kerr, Principal Climate Policy Officer, International Finance Corporation

The growing attraction of climate business was evident at last year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh, where more and more major businesses spoke about climate as an investment opportunity that they were looking to pursue. But where are the most promising investments? And what do governments need to do to unlock private finance between now and 2030?

To answer these questions, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries – analysed the national climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or “NDCs”) made by 21 rapidly growing emerging market economies where we expect to see major investment in infrastructure and climate-smart solutions.

If these countries make good on their ambitions to scale up solar and wind energy, increase green buildings, put in place cleaner transport, and implement waste solutions – there is a $23 trillion investment potential to 2030. Several sectors show great promise:

Renewable energy markets are set to accelerate. A total of 138 countries have prioritised the sector in in their climate plans. Profitable investment opportunities are expected to be on the rise in rapidly growing economies such as Panama, where IFC is helping to finance the Penonome wind farm, a 215-megawatt plant that will be Central America’s biggest. As governments move to implement their renewable energy targets in a post-Paris world, we can expect many more Penonome-type investments.

Energy efficiency is also a growing opportunity, with 110 countries targeting investments in cogeneration, efficient appliances, and green buildings in their Paris commitments. One example of an energy-efficiency investment that we can expect to see more of is IFC’s China Utility Energy Efficiency programme, which provides Chinese banks with a risk-sharing facility and advisory services to help them implement energy efficiency investments. The program started in 2006 with two Chinese banks and has grown to drive 11 billion Chinese yuan ($2 billion) in finance through local banks. And as Chinese citizens increasingly move to cities, we see $2.1 trillion in new green buildings investment by 2020.

The outlook for investment in climate solutions by private enterprise is strong. Unlocking this potential requires sustained action by governments to put in place the right set of policies and measures. We see three key priorities for countries seeking to attract private investment.

First, turn climate targets into long-term clean growth strategies, with supportive policies and budgets. This means integrating commitments into national development strategies and putting in place clear and consistent policies such as carbon pricing. Governments can ease the path for private sector investment by integrating climate considerations into key sector policies such as energy and agriculture by removing inefficient production or consumption subsidies and aligning tax and fiscal policies.

Countries can also use innovative support mechanisms like reverse auctions and competitive procurements. And we stand ready to help. One example is the World Bank Group’s Scaling Solar programme that provides governments with a template for procuring large-scale solar photovoltaic power through competitive auctions. Private sector energy developers can have confidence in a predictable set of specifications and legal documents, even in new markets. Standardisation brings speed and efficiency. Dozens of leading energy companies participated in the programme’s first competitive auction in Zambia, which yielded the lowest price so far for solar power in Africa.

Second, countries need to put in place strong enabling environments for private investment, by strengthening competition and promoting investment and capital flows. Effective and transparent business taxation, regulation, legal enforcement of property rights, frameworks for public-private partnerships, and proactive investment policies all help to build investor confidence.

In Jordan for example, the government is transforming its energy sector by complementing its renewable energy law with feed-in tariffs, 20-year power purchase agreements with standardised contracts, and a 10-year income tax holiday with a lower tax rate. The government also provided a sovereign guarantee to back-stop the buyer’s payment obligations. This mix of policies, processes, and incentives resulted in the largest private sector-led solar initiative in the region – the 117 MW, $290 million Tafila Wind Farm, supported by an IFC investment of $69 million – that is being followed by 12 solar projects with power purchase agreements totaling 190 MW.

Third, use limited public finance in a catalytic way. During the challenging project preparation period, public finance can help identify investment opportunities and generate a project pipeline. This is where IFC can help. A “blended finance” approach has allowed IFC to blend small amounts of public concessional funds with private sector commercial funds to finance first-of-a-kind projects that have a high development impact and a strong potential to create a demonstration effect, but have not yet established a commercial track record. Many of these investments have been successful in catalysing market growth. Some of the noteworthy examples include the $4 million in concessional finance that helped bring some of Thailand’s first solar PV farms online in 2011. And in Mexico, $15 million in concessional financing helped one of the first privately financed wind farms in the country reach the finish line, demonstrating market feasibility to investors.

The $23 trillion climate investment opportunity will not happen overnight. It will require cooperation among government, business, and development finance institutions. By conducting focused dialogues around key NDC targets, we can systematically identify key barriers to private investment and develop solutions. But by working together, country by country, we can work to keep global warming under two degrees Celsius while also creating profitable new markets, employment opportunities, and increased resilience to climate change.

Tom Kerr, Principal Climate Policy Officer, International Finance Corporation

How Ghebreyesus emerged new WHO boss

admin
-
0
How Ghebreyesus emerged new WHO boss

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) elected on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 as the new Director-General of the UN body, overcame opposition from two other contestants.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. Photo credit: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Dr Ghebreyesus, who was nominated by the Government of Ethiopia, contested with two other niminees for the position: Dr David Nabarro of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Dr Sania Nishtar of Pakistan.

At the World Health Assembly holding in Geneva, Switzerland, each of the nominees on Tuesday addressed the Health Assembly for 15 minutes. Dr Ghebreyesus spoke first, followed by Dr Nabarro and then by Dr Nishtar. The election thereafter took place by secret ballot and the result was communicated upon the completion of the process.

Dr Ghebreyesus will begin his five-year term on July 1, 2017.

Prior to his election as WHO’s next Director-General, Dr Ghebreyesus served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012–2016 and as Minister of Health, Ethiopia from 2005–2012. He has also served as chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; as chair of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board; and as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus led a comprehensive reform effort of the country’s health system, including the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure, creating 3500 health centres and 16 000 health posts; expanded the health workforce by 38 000 health extension workers; and initiated financing mechanisms to expand health insurance coverage. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, he led the effort to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

As Chair of the Global Fund and of RBM, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus secured record funding for the two organizations and created the Global Malaria Action Plan, which expanded RBM’s reach beyond Africa to Asia and Latin America.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will succeed Dr Margaret Chan, who has been WHO’s Director-General since January 1, 2007.

Croatia emerges 147th Party to Paris Agreement

admin
-
0
Croatia emerges 147th Party to Paris Agreement

Two months after the country’s Parliament endorsed the ratification of the Paris Agreement in April, Croatia on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 deposited its instrument of ratification for the global treaty on climate change.

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Croatia

The European nation has thus become the 147th Party to the Agreement, closely following Nigeria (146th Party), which also recently ratified the climate pact.

However, Croatia’s ratification will come into force on Friday, June 23, 2017, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Croatian Parliament on Friday, April 17, 2017 unanimously ratified the Paris Agreement, which the country signed in April last year. The voting was preceded by a debate.

The Paris Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015 at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UNFCCC held in Paris, France from November 30 to December 13, 2015.

On October 5, 2016, the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved. The Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016. The first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) took place in Marrakech, Morocco in November, 2016.

The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention 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.

1...1,8491,8501,851...2,219Page 1,850 of 2,219

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×