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Report affirms EnviroNews as Nigeria’s climate-focused online medium

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Report affirms EnviroNews as Nigeria’s climate-focused online medium

Leading web-based environment and development multi-media magazine, EnviroNews Nigeria, has emerged the nation’s top online climate change-focused media organisation.

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Ron Israel, co-director of Climate Scorecard

According to a report released by Climate Scorecard on Monday, March 27 2017, while EnviroNews emerged Nigeria’s major medium in the online category, The Guardian newspapers was listed for the print media, while Eco@Africa is Nigeria’s climate-focused medium in the broadcast category.

The Climate Scorecard Country Report No. 8 profiles leading climate change-focused media organisations in the top 25 greenhouse-gas emitting countries. According to Climate Scorecard, “these are the organisations that provide their audiences with information and analysis of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, comply with the Paris Agreement, and grapple with the effects of climate change.”

“We highlight three different types of media organisations in each country – broadcast media, print media, and online media. Generally speaking, broadcast media tend to strive for a balanced dispassionate analysis on a wide range of climate change issues, perhaps because they cater to a large diversified audience base. Print media, usually with a narrower audience, often use an editorial platform positions on specific issues; while online media can provide indepth coverage of a particular environmental problem such as renewable energy or deforestation,” say Lois Barber and Ron Israel, co-directors of Climate Scorecard, a participatory, open data effort to engage all concerned citizens in supporting the implementation of the new 2015 Global Climate Agreement.

Chiudo Ehrim, the Climate Scorecard Nigeria Country Manager, in the report describes EnviroNews as “an online news magazine that highlights environmental and development related issues. The portal is dedicated to sharing information that contributes to change towards a healthy and clean environment”.

Lois Barber and Ron Israel add: “Media organisations play an important role in raising awareness and shaping attitudes towards climate change and the Paris Agreement. Our Report is perhaps the first effort to identify which media organisations are worth following for news about climate change in their countries.

“Climate Scorecard Report #8 also provides links to climate change related media content in each of our 25 countries. Readers can click on the links to these content samples and download the full news story, article or video presentation.”

The report can be downloaded here: https://goo.gl/Zq9100

Some of the 25 top greenhouse gas emitting nations include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

COP12: Time for blue economies in Africa, says Bamba, head of Abidjan Convention

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COP12: Time for blue economies in Africa, says Bamba, head of Abidjan Convention

The need to link the protection and conservation of the marine environment with sustainable development and improved livelihoods for local communities was highlighted when specialists from five continents began meeting on Monday, March 28, 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, at the Expert Segment of the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Abidjan Convention.

COP12-Abidjan-Convention
Executive Secretary of the Abidjan Convention, Abou Bamba (right), with Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Salubrity, Environment and Sustainable Development, Anne Ouloto (middle), during the opening of the Convention’s COP12 on Monday, March 27, 2017 in Abidjan. Photo credit: Abidjan.net

Addressing the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Abidjan Convention, Abou Bamba, noted that this year’s conference marked a break with the past, when the focus was on conservation without necessarily mainstreaming the development needs of the population of West, Central and Southern Africa.

Taking West Africa as an example, he noted that the region’s coastal zone was the source of 56 percent of its gross domestic product, which amounted just under 623.5 billion dollars in 2015, according to the World Bank.

The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem (GCLME), located off the West African seaboard, “is one of the world’s most productive marine and coastal areas,” he said, adding that “the value of the environmental goods and services provided by its coastal and marine resources is estimated to be some $18 billion a year”.

“With all this potential wealth, I think it’s time now that we link the question of the oceans to the question of development in Africa to create more jobs and improve the livelihood of our people,” Mr. Bamba stated, adding: “I think it’s now time that we start applying the principles of blue economy in Africa. I am among those who strongly believe that it’s possible and we can do it. Let’s do it then.”

The blue economy approach, based on using marine resources in ways that provide people with health, economic and other benefits while respecting the environment, is the subject of one of 20-odd draft decisions being examined by the experts meeting from Monday to Wednesday in Abidjan. The drafts will then come up for discussion and approval at the conference’s ministerial segment, on Thursday and Friday.

These decisions will determine the direction of the Convention’s activities over the next three years. They cover areas such as integrated coastal zone management, the management of mangrove ecosystems, environmental norms and standards for offshore oil and gas activities, and dealing with invasive plant and animal species, as well as illegal trade in coastal and marine wildlife.

Saving the area’s lagoons and using them responsibly to provide jobs and income, fighting against marine waste, developing regional and trans-Atlantic cooperation on coastal and marine issues, energy from the ocean, urban planning in coastal areas, and sustainable use of the ocean’s energy potential are also issues covered by the decisions focus.

The Conference of Parties is the Convention’s highest decision-making body. In-between meetings it is represented by a bureau, which takes care of day-to-day issues. Representing the chair of the bureau, Lisolomzi Fikizolo, Chief Director of Specialist Monitoring Services in South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs, highlighted the importance of the theme of this year’s conference.

The theme of COP12 is “integrated ocean management policies in Africa,” he noted, “which calls for the defragmentation of the way coastal areas and oceans are managed in Africa”.

Delivering the opening address at the conference, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Salubrity, Environment and Sustainable Development, Anne Ouloto, gave an idea of the challenges facing governments, NGOs, communities and individuals in the Convention area as they work to protect and preserve the marine and coastal environment, while developing it sustainably.

“It’s a well-known fact that 80 percent of marine pollution comes from human activity,” she noted. “Shipping, overfishing, fragmentation and loss of habitat through the destruction of mangroves, urbanisation and the population drift towards coastal areas, the extraction of materials are all factors that accelerate coastal erosion and loss of biodiversity.”

Deploring the “lack of, or insufficient, coordination of the interventions of environmental actors at both national and regional levels,” Ms. Ouloto said, adding that it was “imperative for this 12th Conference of Parties to contribute strongly to strengthening the cooperation links between our states.”

“It’s about safeguarding our marine and coastal ecosystems, given the multiple services they provide, whether it’s fisheries, construction material, tourism, climate regulation, energy, preventing erosion, or others,” she stressed.

African ministers adopt Durban Declaration for accelerating SDGs implementation

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African ministers adopt Durban Declaration for accelerating SDGs implementation

Arising from the 2017 World Water Day Celebrations and the Global Launch of the UN World Water Development Report 2017 entitled: “Wastewater: The Untapped Resource” which ended on Sunday, March 26 2017 in Durban, the Republic of South Africa, water and sanitation ministers from across Africa have adopted the Durban Political Declaration for accelerating the implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

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High Level Ministerial Panel Discussion by the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) at the 2017 World Water Summit in Durban, South Africa

The adoption of the political declaration which coincided with the announcement of the “Call for Action” towards the implementation of the SDGs with particular emphasis on Goal-6 (Water and Sanitation) was graced by members of the High Level Panel on Water (HLPW), leaders of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), Inter-sectoral Ministers, UNESCO Special Envoy for Water in Africa, UN Agencies, private sector and civil society leaders.

The Durban Political Declaration agreed by all Political leaders mirrors the key principles, pillars and vision of the African Union, AMCOW, and HLPW Action Plan in support of the implementation of the SDGs. The Political Declaration seeks to encourage the acceleration plans and programmes and commit to the rollout of the Action Plan initiative.

In this latest declaration which recalled the African Union Heads of State and Government decision on the implementation of the July 2008 Assembly Declaration on the Sharm El Sheikh Commitments for Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals in Africa; the eThekwini Declaration on Sanitation and its accompanying actions adopted in South Africa in February 2008; as well as the recent Dar Es Salaam Roadmap for Achieving the N’gor Commitments on Water Security and Sanitation in Africa adopted in Dar Es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania on July 26, 2016, water, sanitation and inter-sectoral ministers from the five Africa sub-regions resolved and committed themselves to supporting and strengthening the implementation of SDG-6 and related goals by ensuring coherence in the implementation of our policies in line with the HLPW Action Plan.

The ministers also declared their commitment to supporting and sharing the best Practice Models initiatives championed by regional leaders who serve as members of the High Level Panel on Water, notably Presidents of Senegal, South Africa and Mauritius. This, according to the declaration, is in line with the Africa Water Vision 2025 which envisages “an Africa where there is an equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, regional cooperation, and the environment”.

Recalling the aspirations and commitments espoused in Africa’s Agenda 2063 which envisions the optimal use of Africa’s resources towards ensuring positive socio-economic transformation; the 2004 Sirte Declaration on integrated development of Agriculture and Water in Africa; and the 2008 Tunis Declaration on Accelerating Water Security for Africa’s Socio-Economic Development; the High Level Political Declaration  commits African governments to increasing budgetary allocation to match the central role of water security and sanitation in Agenda 2030 and in line with the Sharm El Sheikh declaration.

To drive this, the ministers urged the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW, African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with development partners, to convene meetings of Ministers responsible for Water, and Finance to develop and implement appropriate financing policies and models for water and sanitation.

The declaration further requests the African Heads of States and Government through the AUC to prioritise Water and Sanitation as essential ingredients to Africa’s Economic Development and Growth. On this note, the ministers advocated the designation of AMCOW as the Technical Advisory Committee within AU Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment to champion the implementation and monitoring of SDG-6 at the political level.

African ministers and members of the High Level Panel on Water welcomed AMCOW’s launch of the Pan-African web-based monitoring and reporting system for water and sanitation sector which is linked to the global monitoring processes and called for efforts to strengthen and institutionalise harmonised monitoring and reporting system at member states, sub-regional, and basin levels to report on actions taken to implement these High Level Declarations including Political Declaration commitments.

Courtesy: PAMACC News Agency

Ogun battles illegal logging, urges tree planting

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Ogun battles illegal logging, urges tree planting

The Ogun State Government has called on “Baales” and other community leaders in the three senatorial districts to partner government in tackling nefarious activities of illegal loggers in the state-owned forest reserves.

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Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal

Commissioner for Forestry, Kolawole Lawal, made the call recently during an interactive session with the State Council of Baales in the ministry’s conference room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the sate capital.

Chief Lawal said the illegal activities of timber merchants and the level at which forest reserves had been depleted was worrisome, adding that this has necessitated the call for joint efforts of the Chiefs and government to secure the reserves.

He explained that some Chiefs especially those residing within the reserves tend to collude with illegal loggers to perpetrate unlawful acts, adding that some of them illegally demarcated government land to cocoa farmer and also construct permanent structures in the reserves which are against forestry law.

“Forestry law does not permit installing Chiefs in the reserves but the state government felt that, for proper monitoring of the reserves, someone must direct the deeds of the loggers; however if Chiefs fail to perform, government will not hesitate to dethrone such Chief,” Lawal said.

Responding, the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Chiefs, Chief Odeyinka Adisa, cautioned Baales especially those at the enclaves to desist from any act capable of tarnishing their image, warning that any Chief caught engaging in illegalities would be expelled from the council.

In a related development, the state government has implored residents to embark on massive tree planting in order to combat climate change and enhance proper gaseous exchange between man and its environment.

Chief Lawal gave the charge during an interactive session with journalists in commemoration of the International Forests Day, themed: “Forest and Energy”.

Lawal said the importance of trees to human existence cannot be over-emphasised as, according to him, it helps to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen which human beings need for breaking carbohydrate to simple sugar, apart from protecting the environment from climate change.

He added that trees provide shade, water purification and help to control natural disaster such as landslide, hurricane and flooding.

The Commissioner therefore urged the people of the state to participate actively in tree planting and desist from deforestation, illegal tree felling and bush burning.

Earth Hour: Iconic structures go dark to support planet’s protection

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Earth Hour: Iconic structures go dark to support planet’s protection

The United Nations on Saturday, March 25 2017 dimmed the lights at its iconic Headquarters complex in New York and other facilities around the world in observance of the tenth annual “Earth Hour”, global event to put the spotlight on the issues facing the planet and to inspire millions across the world to live more sustainably.

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Lights dimmed at UN Headquarters, in New York, to observe Earth Hour in 2017. Photo credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider

In a video message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said: “Climate change continues to imperil lives and livelihoods around the world. Last year was – again – the hottest on record. The landmark Paris Agreement gives us an unprecedented opportunity to limit global temperature rise, promote clean energy for all and create a sustainable future.”

Governments and businesses must step up. So must individuals. Building a sustainable tomorrow depends today on everyone, said the UN chief, asking the world to join him in turning off their lights at 8:30 p.m. local time.

“From the darkness, we can create a sustainable and inclusive world for all,” he said.

Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour encourages individuals, companies, organisations and governments to switch off their lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m., local time worldwide, to focus attention on people-driven solutions to protecting the planet and building a bright, sustainable future.

First launched in 2007 in Australia, Earth Hour has become an annual event, mobilising hundreds of millions of individuals to participate and growing to become the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment.

According to the WWF, the UN family joined the thousands of homes, offices, skylines and monuments that went dark on Earth Hour’s tenth anniversary to put the spotlight on the issues facing the planet, and to inspire millions across the world to live more sustainably.

Hundreds of landmarks – from New York to Uganda and Sweden to Malaysia – turned off their lights on the night of Earth Hour, including iconic sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Taipei 101, the Empire State Building and the Acropolis.

This year the Earth Hour movement invited supporters to show their commitment to the cause on their Facebook timelines, in parallel to the lights out rolling across skylines.

Why poverty pervades the land, by local council employees

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Why poverty pervades the land, by local council employees

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has accused state governors of unfairly controlling the affairs of local government councils in the country.

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National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khalil

Union members came out in their numbers at a national rally last week in Calabar, Cross River State, clamouring for the autonomy of local councils in the country.

They carried placards with different inscriptions such as: “Local government autonomy will end poverty” and “Local government autonomy will ensure improved quality of life in our rural communities”.

National President of NULGE, Ibrahim Khalil, while addressing members, said local government workers have been silent for too long and would no longer tolerate such interference.

He said that governors have taken over the constitutional responsibility of local government thereby creating poverty in the 776 local government areas in the federation.

Khalil demanded, “We want Nigerians to know that local governments are dying, the people at the grassroots are not happy, there is no development in our communities because our local governments are in the pockets of the elites.

“Ideas of local government have been hijacked by governors for their personal gains. The local governments have suffered excruciating control from governors over the years and what is happening is no longer acceptable.”

The union demanded that 10% of the internally generated revenue by the state should also be given to LGCs including the stoppage of unconstitutional deductions from local government allocations/diversion of same.

He said, “A situation where governors bring people without capacity to be local government chairmen is unacceptable; there must be democracy, there must be freedom, local governments must have financial and administrative freedom.

“A vote for local government is a vote for financial and administrative effectiveness, grassroots development, national security and guarantee for democracy.”

Speaking, former Deputy President of NULGE, Johnson Ofume, explained that payment of primary school teachers’ salary must be on first line charge from Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Ofume urged communities in local governments to support the fight, noting, “The autonomy of local government is not just about LGCs but it is about the development of communities, that is the nucleus of local governments.”

By Agosi Todo

Man Utd, Neymar in £173m transfer talks

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Man Utd, Neymar in £173m transfer talks

There is a serious transfer talks going on within the Manchester United camp and Neymar’s agent over a possible £173 million move deal.

Neymar
Neymar

If the deal falls through, it means that the Brazil captain and Barcelona striker will receive a mind-boggling £416,000-a-week wage with a move to Manchester United.

Manchester United’s strong interest in Neymar, according to reports in Catalonia, has set “alarm bells ringing” at Barcelona.

José Mourinho wants to bring in a huge name in the summer as he tries to bring the Red Devils back among the elites of world football.

Reports say United have met with Neymar’s representatives and are ready to offer the Brazilian the staggering a £416,000-a-week contact.

The 20-time English champion would offer him a better “financial and football opportunity” than is available to him at Barcelona – and pay the £175 million buy-out clause.

At 25, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is considered the next major superstar in the game, but knows he will always be in Lionel Messi’s shadow at the Nou Camp.

Chelsea, meanwhile, is also interested in signing Neymar, but will not entertain paying the release clause.

By Felix Simire

Holland sacks head coach, Blind

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Holland sacks head coach, Blind

Holland has sacked head coach Danny Blind after 20 months in charge, due to poor results.

Danny-Blind
Danny Blind

Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in Sofia was Holland’s second in their opening five games in the World Cup qualifying group A and left the country in fourth place in the pool, already six points behind leaders France, who beat Luxembourg 3-1 and three points behind second-placed Sweden.

Danny Blind won seven and lost seven of his 17 games in charge since taking over in 2015, but was unable to lead the team to Euro 2016.

The Dutch FA said recent results left the team “with difficulty qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.”

Fred Grim, Holland Under-21 coach, will take charge as interim coach when Holland faces Italy on Tuesday in Amsterdam.

Blind said it was “a pity” his stint in charge of the national team had come to such a sorry end.

By Felix Simire

Post-COP22: Nigeria explores fresh strategies for climate finance, action

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Post-COP22: Nigeria explores fresh strategies for climate finance, action

The Federal Ministry of Environment (FMoE) has been asked to closely monitor developments at the Adaptation Fund to ensure that Nigeria benefits maximally from the financial resources provided by the fund.

Post-COP22
Participants at a Post-COP 22 Stakeholders Consultative meeting for the Analysis of the Outcomes of the Negotions organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment. In centre is Director, Depatment of Climate Change, Dr. Peter Tarfa (9th from right) and Vice Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba

The Adaptation Fund is an international fund that finances projects and programs aimed at helping developing countries to adapt to the harmful effects of climate change. It is set up under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The charge formed part of resolutions by participants at a daylong post-COP22 Stakeholders Consultative Meeting held recently in Abuja at the instance of the FMoE and Surez Global Resources Limited.

COP22 implies the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. The two-week event held lat November in Marrakech, Morocco.

Participants also expressed the need to strengthen the climate finance unit already in place to become a functional structure for climate finance in the country and also to pursue the Green Bonds and other initiatives to a logical conclusion.

They agreed to set up a technical committee to look at the various issues raised and make inputs into the expected submissions by parties before April 1, 2017; and forward nominations of experts to participate in the activities of the established ad hoc technical expert group on response measures, through the coordinators of the regional groups and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Chairs.

The forum, which signosts fresh effort by the nation to ascertain her obligations under the new global agreement in Paris and effective strategies for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) targets, agreed that Nigeria should submit proposal to the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (RPSP) towards the preparation of its long overdue Technology Need Assessments (TNA).

The discussions, anchored by the Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC), Dr. Peter Tarfa, focused on the activities and outcomes of COP22 and role Nigeria played at the global conference. It likewise analysed the implications and opportunities presented by the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as role of the relevant stakeholders in fulfilling Nigeria’s obligation.

Dignitaries at the event, which included the Chairmen of the Climate Change Committees in the National Assembly, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, senior officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media, also agreed to review the nation’s Gender and Climate Change Action to make it more robust to incorporate many of the issues that the country is expected to address as it communicates with the Convention.

They recommended for a co-ordinated national approach to COPs, such as a robust leadership to head the delegation – the need for President/Minister to attend; early notification to be sent to various stakeholders; identify core negotiators/designated negotiators and adequate budgetary allocation for participants.

The participants also sought for designations of clear roles and responsibilities; enhance synergy with MDAs, States and Federal Government; need to facilitate knowledge fare before conferences within MDAs.

They also agreed for a research conference to support Climate Change negotiations to be hosted in Abakaliki through a robust preparatory/planning committee; research on sustainable low carbon development pathways, especially on key mitigation measures mentioned in Nigeria’s INDC.

Stakeholders further called for Nigeria to develop a Gender and Climate Change Action for the COPs, adding that relevant knowledge should be equipped in the issues of loss and damage, developments and transfer of technologies, gender and climate change action and capacity building.

However, to ensure consistency of delegates participation to COP meetings; they agreed that the ministry should pursue early accreditation to ensure readiness; setting up a desk Unit within DCC for COP activities to enhance information sharing.

Death toll in Sokoto meningitis attack now 21

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Death toll in Sokoto meningitis attack now 21

The death toll as a result of the meningitis epidemic in Sokoto State has now risen to 21.

Balarabe-Kakale
Sokoto State Health Commissioner, Dr. Balarabe Kakale

The state Health Commissioner, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Sokoto on Sunday, March 26 2017.

Kakale gave an update on the state of high alert declared by the Ministry since March 20.

The deaths were recorded in the seven local governments of Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/Shuni and Tureta, mostly affected by the meningitis outbreak.

Kakale said: “The state government had since Monday deployed no fewer than 15 medical teams, comprising of over 150 medical personnel. They were deployed across the 23 local governments of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with free drugs, as well as medicament.

“The emergency response teams were conducting house to house search, definition and management, both at home and the hospitals. They had so far treated no fewer than 330 mixed cases of severe malaria and meningitis across the seven top-hit local governments.

“Out of the 330 cases, 40 were confirmed in the laboratories to be cases of meningitis, out of which 14 fatalities were recorded. These 14 deaths excluded the seven deaths earlier recorded in parts of Gada of Gada Local Government Area.”

Kakale further noted that thousands of other cases were treated at the Primary Health Centres in the local governments.

The commissioner said there were some “imported cases” from Koko in Kebbi State, which compounded the epidemic.

He also lamented that traditional belief in witchcraft was making fighting the disease difficult, with some families refusing to take their suspected patients to the hospitals.

He said: “You will see suspected cases having symptoms of meningitis like vomiting, high fever, headache and steepness of the neck, but they will not be conveyed to the health facilities. The people of the state should disregard rumours of witchcraft and take all suspected persons to the hospitals early.

“Keeping them at home will only make the disease worse and cause transmission to other members of the family. The residents should also reduce the number of those to take care of confirmed patients, avoid sleeping in overcrowded rooms, as well as ensure personal and environmental hygiene.”

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