In commemoration of the 2017 World Water Day on Wednesday, March 22, the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet) has called on governments at all levels in Nigeria to focus on water issues and match commitments with actions by allocating significant portions of their budget to projects that make safe water available all over the country.
Water supply in Gaya Silkami, Adamawa State. The CSDevNet wants government at all levels to prioritise water
Considering that a significant portion of the country’s population currently does not have access to safe drinking water and that water-related diseases account for almost a million deaths each year, the civil society network affirmed that people’s access to water and sanitation should become key priorities for local, state and federal governments in order to put the country on the path to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In a statement signed by Sam Jinadu on behalf of the National Network Coordinator, CSDevNet underlined the fact that equitable access to water and sanitation cannot be achieved in Nigeria “without good local governance, sustainable management of natural resources and effective urbanisation.”
According to Jinadu, “Nigeria requires commitment at the highest levels, in order to ensure the availability of safe water resources in every town, village and city.”
With approximately 90% of the world’s wastewater flowing untreated into the environment while more than 923 million people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, the civil society group believes the focus on wastewater for this year’s World Water Day makes it imperative for government, development partners and non-state actors to explore means of upscaling treatment processes and operational systems that will build Nigeria’s capacity to deploy wastewater in meeting the growing water demand in cities, support sustainable agriculture, and enhance energy production and industrial development.
The CSDevNet is a network of over 300 civil society organisations cutting across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. The network brings together organisations, comprising grassroots community practitioners, trusts, federations of slum dwellers and pastoralists, youth, media, women and faith-based organisations to commonly promote and advocate pro-poor, climate-friendly and equity-based responses to climate change and sustainable development.
Senegalese footballer, Sadio Mané, has predicted that the Terranga Lions will beat the Super Eagles when the two African super houses clash on Thursday, March 23, 2017 in an international friendly in London.
Sadio Mané
Three-time African Champions Nigeria has not been beaten by their next opponent in the last 15 years, which was in February 7, 2002.
Liverpool striker Mané has turned a blind eye to those statistics, starting that Senegal will beat Nigeria if its current form is anything to go by.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) plans to use the upcoming matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso to prepare the national team for the African Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in a few months’ time.
In the update of FIFA rankings, Senegal is ranked second in Africa, while Nigeria occupies the seventh position.
Meanwhile, 16 players under Coach Gernot Rohr had a training session on Wednesday morning. Those at the training session were Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Carl Ikeme, Noah Obazee, John Ogu, Isaac Success, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Ahmed Musa, and Tyronne Ebnehi, to mention but a few.
As planet Earth celebrates the 2017 World Water Day on Wednesday, March 22 2017, Lagosians are calling on the state government to make potable water accessible to them in order to reduce the huge amount of money they spend in buying water, as well as to check the spread of water-borne diseases and related illnesses threatening lives and livelihood.
Observers believe that the bulk of the Lagos population have limited access to potable water
The theme for this year’s World Water Day celebration is: “Wasted Water”.
“Water has now become a very scarce resource. A 20-litre gallon of water which we used to buy for N20 a few years ago now sells for up to N100, which is an increase of about 400%. For a family of just five like mine, it means the little monthly pay goes to water alone. That makes survival a living hell for the masses,” narrates Philip Ikechi, who resides along Iyabo Street in Sari Iganmu, as he joined neighbours in scampering to harvest rain water.
Our correspondent gathered that, in Sari Iganmu and its environs, as well as Amukoko, Orile and Ijora Badiya, as well as several other communities in Lagos, acute water scarcity has become a way of life, so much so that money spent in purchasing water can be equated with major expenses like house rent and education.
This, perhaps, explains why residents earnestly pray for rainfall even though, elsewhere in the state, the rains are dreaded because of the tendency to accelerate flooding which render many homeless.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says 3.4 million people, mostly children, die annually from water-related diseases, such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhea and dysentery, even as 80% of diseases are attributed to lack of access to portable water.
A cross section of Lagos residents expressed dissatisfaction over the perennial scarcity of portable in their neighbourhood.
“I don’t know why water remains a big challenge in a state that is surrounded by large bodies of water.
“You buy a gallon of water for as much as N70 and sometimes N100 in a family of four, how do you survive?” says a resident.
“With the new Lagos environment law which places restrictions to individuals sinking bore holes, measures should be put in place to cushion the effect on the masses,” intones another resident.
A visit to some communities in the state revealed that most households depend mainly on water from open wells and boreholes provided either by their landlords or by water vendors.
For instance, residents of Mafoloku in Oshodi and Iju Ishaga where there is water corporation presence say government should reduce their sufferings by making public water available.
A resident, Nurudeen Oyewode, explains: “In my area, we have had to rely on private efforts; that is privately generated water supply, not public. It is my landlord that actually provides water for us. And within the community, I can spot about two other places where they have public water. Those public water water spots are private sector-driven and not from government. It just amuses me, my area is close to where you have one of the largest water works in Lagos, that is the Iju area of Lagos, but we don’t benefit from it. It has always been that we had to rely on what the landlord put in place for us. And anytime we don’t have water we have to go and buy. We would buy the roll of truck containing 10 gallons for N500.”
In Ketu and few other areas where people seem lucky to have public water, the residents complain that the water is not good for drinking as the water pipes laid many years ago are contaminated, and thus expose them to health hazard.
Some Residents observed that most public water facilities in the state provided by organisations or individuals including politicians as corporate social responsibility have long stopped functioning due to lack of maintenance.
Those still working are said to be very far from the people, prompting them to engage the services of water vendors popularly called Meruwa to fetch them water at a high cost.
Concerned Lagosians are worried as they likened the water problem in the state to the popular words of the ancient Maraina, which says: “Water water everywhere, but non to drink”.
Records show that 70% of an adult body is made up of water at birth, and it accounts for approximately 80% of an infant’s weight.
To maintain that level, a report says a healthy person is expected to drink about three gallons (48 cups) of water per day, while another has shown that drinking about seven to eight glasses of water daily is important for good health.
For residents in parts of Lagos and people in other areas that lack access to good water, experts say one major consequence is the acceleration of kidndey diseases among those who do not drink enough, while water borne diseases will be rampant.
Director of Children Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folashade Oludara, stresses: “We are in a tropical region, which is very hot. We need water to rehydrate ourselves and it is recommended that every one should take at least two to three litres of water per day for the kidney to function well and prevent renal stones. We need not just any water but potable water. If you dont have access to adequate potable water, you develop water borne diseases like typhoid, poliomyelitis, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera and associated diseases, which the country has been battling to check.”
She advises that while there is need to expand access to water to the greater percentage of the masses, people should learn to conserve water for the available one to go round.
“We have always been advocating that if you use the toilet or whether you go to pass urine, you are supposed to watch your hands. Before you handle your food, you are suposed to wash your hands with soap and under running water to prevent contamination; and, in doing that, you have to conserve water. Don’t open the tap for water to waste,” she counsels.
All the respondents seem optimistic that there will eventually be a society where global best practices would be adopted to make water accessible to all, thereby achieving the Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The United Kingdom and Germany have pre-selected seven NAMA Support Projects from the NAMA Facility’s 4th Call. These NAMA Support Projects will receive funding for their Detailed Preparation Phase.
The Ugandan NAMA project aims at enhancing energy efficiency in schools with improved cook stoves
Germany and the UK have committed to fund up to €60 million for the 4th Call of the NAMA Facility. The NAMA Facility supports the implementation of ambitious Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs).
Countries receiving support for the Detailed Preparation Phase are:
The applications received by the NAMA Facility in the 4th Call illustrate the global reach and wide variety of actions targeted at emission reductions. Most national governments directly referred to their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Paris Agreement in their applications. NAMAs can function as an important building block to implement NDCs under the Paris Agreement.
The NAMA Facility understands itself as a learning hub and is constantly seeking to increase the uptake of NAMAs under implementation. In this context, the NAMA Facility introduced a DPP Phase with the 4th Call. During this stage, financial support is provided for the detailed preparation of NAMA Support Projects. At the end of the DPP, based on the assessment of the submitted Proposals, the decision for funding for the implementation will be taken.
Global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can be reduced by 70% by 2050 and completely phased-out by 2060 with a net positive economic outlook, according to new findings released on Monday, March 20, 2017 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency, Adnan Z. Amin
“Perspectives for the Energy Transition: Investment Needs for a Low-Carbon Energy Transition”, launched on the occasion of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, presents the case that increased deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency in G20 countries and globally can achieve the emissions reductions needed to keep global temperature rise to no more than two-degrees Celsius, avoiding the most severe impacts of climate change.
“The Paris Agreement reflected an unprecedented international determination to act on climate. The focus must be on the decarbonision of the global energy system as it accounts for almost two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “Critically, the economic case for the energy transition has never been stronger. Today around the world, new renewable power plants are being built that will generate electricity for less cost than fossil-fuel power plants. And through 2050, the decarbonisation can fuel sustainable economic growth and create more new jobs in renewables.
“We are in a good position to transform the global energy system but success will depend on urgent action, as delays will raise the costs of decarbonisation,” added Mr. Amin.
While overall the energy investment needed for decarbonising the energy sector is substantial – an additional $29 trillion until 2050 – it amounts to a small share (0.4%) of global GDP. Furthermore, IRENA’s macroeconomic analysis suggests that such investment creates a stimulus that, together with other pro-growth policies, will:
boost global GDP by 0.8% in 2050;
generate new jobs in the renewable energy sector that would more than offset job losses in the fossil fuel industry, with further jobs being created by energy efficiency activities, and;
improve human welfare through important additional environmental and health benefits thanks to reduced air pollution.
Globally, 32 gigatonnes (Gt) of energy-related CO2 were emitted in 2015, says the report, stating that emissions will need to fall continuously to 9.5 Gt by 2050 to limit warming to no more than two degrees above pre-industrial temperatures. Ninety percent of this energy CO2 emission reduction can be achieved through expanding renewable energy deployment and improving energy efficiency.
Renewable energy now accounts for 24% of global power generation and 16% of primary energy supply. To achieve decarbonisation, the report states that, by 2050, renewables should be 80% of power generation and 65% of total primary energy supply, it adds.
The report also describes how the energy sector transition needs to go beyond the power sector into all end-use sectors. Renewables need to account for the majority of power generation in 2050, based on continued rapid growth especially for solar and wind power in combination with enabling grids and new operating practices. But also, the buildings, industry and transport sectors need more bioenergy, solar heating and electricity from renewable sources that substitute conventional energy. Electric vehicles need to become the predominant car type in 2050. Liquid biofuel production must grow ten-fold. High efficiency all-electric buildings should become the norm. Deployment of heat pumps must accelerate and a combined total of two billion buildings will need to be new built or renovated.
The report calls for policy efforts to create an enabling framework and re-design of energy markets. Stronger price signals and carbon pricing can help provide a level playing field when complemented by other measures, and the report emphasises the importance of considering needs of those without energy access.
The year 2016 made history, with a record global temperature, exceptionally low sea ice, and unabated sea level rise and ocean heat, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). Extreme weather and climate conditions are said to have continued into 2017.
World Climate Research Programme Director, David Carlson
WMO issued its annual statement on the State of the Global Climate ahead of World Meteorological Day on Thursday, March 23, 2017. It is based on multiple international datasets maintained independently by global climate analysis centres and information submitted by dozens of WMO Members National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and Research Institutes and is considered an authoritative source of reference. Because the social and economic impacts of climate change have become so important, WMO partnered with other United Nations organisations for the first time this year to include information on these impacts.
“This report confirms that the year 2016 was the warmest on record – a remarkable 1.1 °C above the pre-industrial period, which is 0.06 °C above the previous record set in 2015. This increase in global temperature is consistent with other changes occurring in the climate system,” said WMO Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas.
“Globally averaged sea surface temperatures were also the warmest on record, global sea levels continued to rise, and Arctic sea-ice extent was well below average for most of the year,” he said.
“With levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere consistently breaking new records, the influence of human activities on the climate system has become more and more evident,” said Mr Taalas.
The increased power of computing tools and the availability of long term climate data have made it possible today, through attribution studies, to demonstrate clearly the existence of links between man-made climate change and many cases of high impact extreme events in particular heatwaves, he said
Each of the 16 years since 2001 has been at least 0.4 °C above the long-term average for the 1961-1990 base period, used by WMO as a reference for climate change monitoring. Global temperatures continue to be consistent with a warming trend of 0.1 °C to 0.2 °C per decade, according to the WMO report.
The powerful 2015/2016 El Niño event boosted warming in 2016, on top of long-term climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Temperatures in strong El Niño years, such as 1973, 1983 and 1998, are typically 0.1 °C to 0.2 °C warmer than background levels, and 2016’s temperatures are consistent with that pattern.
Global sea levels rose very strongly during the El Niño event, with the early 2016 values reaching new record highs. Global sea ice extent dropped more than 4 million square kilometres below average in November, an unprecedented anomaly for that month.
The very warm ocean temperatures contributed to significant coral bleaching and mortality was reported in many tropical waters, with important impacts on marine food chains, ecosystems and fisheries.
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reached the symbolic benchmark of 400 parts per millions in 2015 – the latest year for which WMO global figures are available – and will not fall below that level for many generations to come because of the long-lasting nature of CO2.
Noteworthy extreme events in 2016 included severe droughts that brought food insecurity to millions in southern and eastern Africa and Central America. Hurricane Matthew caused widespread suffering in Haiti as the first category 4 storm to make landfall since 1963, and inflicted significant economic losses in the United States of America, while heavy rains and floods affected eastern and southern Asia.
WMO has issued annual climate reports for more than 20 years and submits them to the Conference of the Parties of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The annual statements complement the assessments reports that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produces every six to seven years.
It will be presented to UN member states and climate experts at a high-level action event on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Agenda in New York on 23 March (World Meteorological Day) hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thomson.
“The entry into force of the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 4 November 2016 represents a historic landmark. It is vital that its implementation becomes a reality and that the Agreement guides the global community in addressing climate change by curbing greenhouse gases, fostering climate resilience and mainstreaming climate adaptation into national development policies,” said Mr Taalas.
“Continued investment in climate research and observations is vital if our scientific knowledge is to keep pace with the rapid rate of climate change,” said Mr Taalas.
Extremes continue in 2017
Newly released studies, which are not included in WMO’s report, indicate that ocean heat content may have increased even more than previously reported. Provisional data also indicates that there has been no easing in the rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
“Even without a strong El Niño in 2017, we are seeing other remarkable changes across the planet that are challenging the limits of our understanding of the climate system. We are now in truly uncharted territory,” said World Climate Research Programme Director, David Carlson.
At least three times so far this winter, the Arctic has witnessed the Polar equivalent of a heatwave, with powerful Atlantic storms driving an influx of warm, moist air. This meant that at the height of the Arctic winter and the sea ice refreezing period, there were days which were actually close to melting point. Antarctic sea ice has also been at a record low, in contrast to the trend in recent years.
Scientific research indicates that changes in the Arctic and melting sea ice is leading to a shift in wider oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns. This is affecting weather in other parts of the world because of waves in the jet stream – the fast moving band of air which helps regulate temperatures.
Thus, some areas, including Canada and much of the USA, were unusually balmy, whilst others, including parts of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, were unusually cold in early 2017.
In the USA alone, 11,743 warm temperature records were broken or tied in February, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Prolonged and extreme heat in January and February affected New South Wales, southern Queensland, South Australia and northern Victoria, and saw many new temperature records.
“Nigeria’s commercial and administrative capital cities of Lagos and Abuja got distant 212th and 213th respective positions out of the 231 cities assessed under the 2017 Mercer Quality of Living Rankings for cities.”…………..EnviroNews, March 14, 2017
The Abuja city gate
The title of this piece was slightly modified in order to arouse the conscience of those who have a remit for city planning, management and governance in Nigeria, that all is not too well with Nigerian cities especially the de facto capital city, Abuja and the erstwhile capital city, Lagos. The EnviroNews (an online newspaper) edition of March 14, 2017, which carried the news actually titled it as “Lagos, Abuja get low status in quality of living ranking,” but this writer purposely prefixed the title with the operative word “worrisome” because the news was not euphoric.
Before delving into some of the issues that would be the concern of this piece, we shall quickly recapitulate what the EnviroNews wrote in the edition under reference. The news, according to the paper, was that the report for “2017 Mercer Quality of Living Rankings” for cities worldwide has been released. The report was the corollary of an annual Quality of Living survey conducted by the world renowned consultancy firm, Mercer Company based in the United Kingdom with outposts in the United States of America. The 2017 report was the 19th in the series of such report since its maiden edition debuted in 1998. By using certain criteria and city benchmarking research methodologies, Mercer Quality of Living survey was conducted in selected cities around the world and, based on the result obtained, these cities are ranked from the first to the last position depending on the numbers of cities surveyed and the total marks the cities got. The determinants of the survey for the quality of living ranking of the cities are basically: connectivity, competitiveness, attractiveness and security. I shall come back to expatiate further on this.
The 2017 report on African cities is paraphrased as follows:
“ ……only five cities in Africa made the top 100, out of which three are from South Africa…With Port Louis in Mauritius topping the Africa chart at the overall 84th position, Durban (87),…..Cape Town (94), Johannesburg (96) and the city of Victoria in Seychelles placing 98th.
On the other side of the scope, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo (224), N’Djamena, Chad (226), Khartoum, Sudan (227), and Bangui, Central African Republic (230) formed the lowest-ranked cities for quality of living in Africa.”
The ranking for Lagos was 212th and Abuja was 213th position out of 238 cities assessed for the quality of living survey. Conversely, from the bottom of the ranking table, Lagos ranked 25th and Abuja 26th position. Or simply interpreted, the two cities were among the “bottom 30 cities!” The numerical conversion is for emphasis. It is to enable readers to easily comprehend how lowly-rated the two cities are. The first reaction of this writer to the not-too-good news was that such low ranking of the two cities is to be expected, hoping that one is not labeled a pessimist. However, if things are to change, we need open and constructive criticism about urban development foibles and the unbiased assessment of the nation’s cities most especially Lagos and Abuja by independent assessors, in order to force the much-needed change among the policy-makers in charge of urban governance in Nigeria. If on the other hand the policy makers are publicly song-praised for good performance, they should not rest on their oars based on the current most comprehensive and authoritative report by Mercer Company. Meaning: what is perceived as good performance is still a minuscule achievement. It is not a feat.
Although the ranking was for two cities, without any prejudice, this piece will only focus on Abuja’s low ranking and will try to advance the reasons responsible for it.
Abuja’s short-comings: As far back as 2002 (15 years ago), this writer wrote an article in The Guardian edition of January 14, 2002 aptly titled “ Abuja: How not to develop a capital city,” the relevant part of which is excerpted as follows: “A first time visitor to Abuja would jump into conclusion that the city truly reflects the characteristics of a new capital city…….good road network, iconic buildings, functional street lights…However, as the visitor continues his/her sightseeing, the other side of Abuja, which depicts a sign of failure in urban management begins to manifest. Then the visitors start to ask pertinent questions such as: Who is in charge of Abuja? Where are the city parks? Why are open spaces left unkempt? Where are recreational facilities? Why is refuse everywhere in a new city?” The article further surmised that “wholesome environment and good physical layout which are the hallmarks of a new city are being degraded, if what goes on in Abuja is the yardstick to judge the efficacy of urban management and physical planning within the city and its environs.” End of quote.
Has anything changed? Fast track to the present situation in Abuja, these short-comings are still noticeable, regrettably, not to a lesser degree….a revelation the Mercer report confirmed. Abuja which was built on a pristine tabula rasa is supposed to be a model capital city in Africa. However, it has rapidly degenerated within two decades and already exhibiting signs of a dysfunctional city and traffic jam. Most of the city’s infrastructures have broken down due to overloading of facilities and the cumulative effect of poor maintenance culture. Water provision is on the steady decline, while that of the power supply, which is the heartbeat of any urban economy is epileptic.
As we write, the only international airport that connects the city to the outside world has been completely shut down for six weeks for repair because the entire landing runway for airplanes has broken down as a result of criminal neglect of the very important facility. The record shows that the runway was constructed in 1982 with a life-span of 20 years, which was due in 2002, but no concrete rehabilitation was done on the runway 37 years thereafter. The facility was left unrepaired until it because so unsafe and foreign airlines complained to the Nigerian government.
Abuja scores low in international tourism despite the huge sum spent by the Nigerian Tourism Board on road shows abroad to solicit for foreign tourists. Recreational facilities are in short supply and other allures that could draw tourists to the city are infinitesimal. The city is underserved with urban mass transit and remains a “city on wheels.” Abuja has become a city of cars where the level of gas emission is unusually high with the attendant health risk and implications on the quality of living in the city. On security, the city has not fared better. The kidnapping of expatriate workers has become the albatross of the Nigeria Police. In tow are the frequent incidences of armed robbery.
Public facilities that have gone extinct in Abuja can be easily identified by event watchers. On this list, inter alia include the public wi-fi project introduced in 2006 by the FCDA in partnership with Suburban Broadband Limited with the aim to provide city-wide Wi-Fi service. After the first phase was piloted at six locations in the city, the project was abandoned mid-stream and died a premature death. Next is the FCT Call Centre with phone number 09-4603600-9 where residents can call and make inquiries or complain to the authority while at the same time make a suggestion to government officials. This novel idea is no more functioning. The phone has gone dead.
Infrastructure such as traffic lights seldom works both in the day and night. Abuja at night is a city of darkness. Many of the traffic lights are not working and nobody is being held accountable for the repair. The city is not user-friendly due to near absence of road and directional signs. Wear and tear have taken its toll on some of the road signs rendering them very difficult to read most especially by first-time visitors.
The El-rufai Buses, Taxi, and Queen’s Taxi which were introduced by the former Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (now the incumbent Governor of Kaduna State) in 2009 to boost public transportation within the city and its environs, have become history. Some of the vehicles are off the road and those still providing skeletal services are poorly maintained. Ridership has drastically reduced and likewise revenue intake by the bus service company.
The above negativity makes the city less competitive for Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) and neither guarantee a friendly environment for investors nor score higher marks in any of the four criteria chosen to assess global cities for quality of living ranking, which I referred to earlier in this piece. The three paramount principles that were meant to guide the development of Abuja as a new capital city were:
the principle of environmental conservation,
the principle of the city beautiful, and
the principle of the functional city. Abuja, as a new city was to be functional, traffic-friendly and a city with ornamental parks and open spaces in the tradition of Ebenezer Howard’s city planning philosophy.
However, the extent to which Abuja has accomplished the three principles since the movement to the city began in 1982 remains questionable, if not worrisome.
There has been a systemic failure of city planning, management, and governance. From successive administrations to the present, things have been left fallow for too long and as a result, Abuja has failed to realise the lofty dreams of its planners along the concepts of the three principles enumerated above. When a city’s infrastructural services totally collapse, the sinew needed for the city to be competitive with others within its immediate region and by extension, other world cities cannot be mustered. It will lack the momentum to develop at an ever-growing pace. Abuja is a victim of maladministration, incompetency of its managers and uncaring residents who have a grouse to grind with sloth government officials
The way forward
The failure to properly manage Abuja as an urban entity can be traced to the uncoordinated activities of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Abuja Environmental Protection Agency. Each of these agencies might be administratively independent; their functions are cross-cutting in terms of environmental protection and physical planning. Hence, the three agencies should coordinate their activities for the good development of the city and those who choose to live, work, visit or do business there. There should be a joint effort in pollution control, development control and strict enforcement of physical planning standard and sundry urban management matters to avoid duplication of functions or working at cross-purpose.
We make bold to canvass for what cities in other climes do: explore, innovate, embrace creativity, prudent with resources, engage the people and copy what works instead of reinventing the wheel. If we put all these suggestions in practical actions, Abuja should be able to notch up the ladder for the next Mercer Quality of Living ranking for cities worldwide.
Some residents in Lagos want the state government to make portable water accessible to all to address the high cost of buying the commodity and to check the spread of water borne diseases.
They made the call while speaking with correspondent Innocent Onoh on the occasion of this year’s World Water Day Celebration with theme: “Wasted Water”.
The 29th Meeting of the Adaptation Fund Board, which was held in Bonn, Germany on March 16 to 17 2017, has endorsed a $6.8 million proposal submitted by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) entitled: “Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative (ACREI).” Targeted countries include Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.
Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
This makes WMO the first Multilateral Implementing Entity to have a regional proposal approved by the Adaptation Fund Board under the Pilot Programme for regional projects and programmes.
The goal of the project is to develop and implement adaptation strategies and measures that will strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists in the Horn of Africa to climate variability and change in line with the IGAD Drought Disaster and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) programme, the National Adaptation Plans of Action (NAPAs) and Development Strategies/Visions of participating countries.
The project will seek to improve adaptive capacity and resilience to current climate variability and change among target farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralists community in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda which are extremely vulnerable to climate variability during the last 30-60 years.
The project will be implemented by WMO. Executing Entities will include the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), with active participation of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) of the targeted countries.
The Adaptation Fund finances projects and programmes that help vulnerable communities in developing countries adapt to climate change. Initiatives are based on country needs, views and priorities. It was was established under the Kyoto Protocol of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and has committed some $357.5 million in 63 countries since 2010 for climate adaptation and resilience activities.
The Fund is financed in part by government and private donors, and also from a two per cent share of proceeds of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued under the Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism projects.
In May 2015, The Fund invited eligible Kyoto Protocol Parties to submit proposals for regional (multi-country) projects and programmes, using the services of accredited multilateral (MIE) and regional (RIE) implementing entities, and involving national implementing entities (NIEs) when possible, and/or other national institutions, in implementation arrangements. Proposals submitted would be considered under the pilot programme for regional projects and programmes of the Adaptation Fund. WMO is the first MIE to be the beneficiary of this pilot programme with ACREI.
Speaking to Pacific island leaders and diplomats in Suva recently, the incoming President of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn in November (COP23), Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, said his most important goal was to preserve the multilateral consensus for decisive action on climate change that was reached in the Paris Climate Change Agreement at the end of 2015.
Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji
“We cannot afford to have any government renege on the commitments that were made. Many countries face short-term domestic pressures, and there is no doubt that changing the behaviors that led us to this crisis will not be easy, but the rewards will be great. And besides, we have no choice,” he said.
The Fijian Prime Minister was speaking at a preparatory meeting for the UN Ocean Conference in June. The conference is designed to help reverse the decline in the health of world’s oceans, currently under threat from growing pollution and the impacts of climate change.
“In a very real sense, we are fighting a two-front war. One front is the fight to keep the oceans clean and to sustain the marine plant and animal life on which we depend for our livelihoods and that keep the earth in proper balance,” the Fijian leader said. “The other front is the fight to slow the growth of global warming and, unfortunately, also to adapt to the changes we know are coming – to rising seas, encroaching sea water, violent storms and periods of drought.”
The Fijian Prime Minister called on Pacific island leaders to persuade all governments to adhere to the universal agreement clinched in Paris and to fully implement it, and to prompt other leaders to start devising more radical action to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions. In terms of his priorities for COP23, the incoming President of the Bonn meeting Voreqe Bainimarama said he intended to place a special emphasis on climate adaptation through financial models and technical solutions, to get the world to focus on developing new and innovative ways to build resilience to the effects of climate change.
