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AMCEN: African leaders make a $1.3tr case to avert climate dangers

Michael Simire
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AMCEN: African leaders make a $1.3tr case to avert climate dangers

As the curtain comes down on the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, another chapter begins. Just around the corner is the COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, where the consolidated views from AMCEN will be presented with ambitious expectations, represented by the African Group of Negotiators (AGN).

AMCEN
A session at AMCEN 2024

At the heart of the Abidjan meeting is a push for more climate finance flows to Africa through sustainable channels that won’t load African economies with more debts. The end goal is to strengthen the continent’s adaptation and mitigation defence systems against climate change and allow the countries to achieve a just transition. This perspective mirrors that of Ministers from the 45 least developed countries (LDCs) who gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi, last week.

The Finance COP

COP29 is aptly referred to as the “Finance COP.” Nothing short of ambitious financial outcomes is expected.

African Ministers under AMCEN declared that a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance should be adopted, one that would require rich nations to mobilise a quantum of no less than $1.3 trillion per year for developing nations. NCQG is a new financial target from the year 2025 onwards that developed countries, who are the biggest contributors to climate change, must avail to developing countries, replacing the previous commitment of $100 billion per year that they pledged in 2009 but failed to deliver on time.

Meanwhile, the LDCs, under the Lilongwe Declaration on Climate Change 2024, want the new climate finance goal to be science-based and reflective of the developing countries’ actual climate needs through increased public finance, predominantly delivered as grants. The LDC Ministers put the finance needed by their countries to implement their current climate goals to be at least $1 trillion. Also, they hold that only concessional finance should be included as climate finance and must be easily accessible.

Grants and concessional finance are crucial, in particular for adaptation and loss and damage, given that it is the rich nations that have historically caused the unsustainable build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, stoking global warming to dangerous levels.

It is COP29’s role to deliver a financing deal geared towards achieving the goals set in previous COPs – Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dubai, AMCEN Ministers note. It should also be responsive to the evolving needs of the respective countries’ climate action plans, including their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), while reflecting the global stocktake outcomes and latest scientific and technological advancements.

To avoid missteps associated with previous pledges, the AMCEN and the LDC Ministers are calling for the new finance goal to contain predictable, time-bound and reliable financial commitments from each of the developed countries.

Both groups have made it clear that the new finance goal must be delivered by developed countries jointly, in a fair and equitable manner. They have continually signalled the importance of burden-sharing arrangements among these countries to increase scale of finance and ascertain delivery of commitments.

Global finance reforms

Developing countries face a crippling debt crisis worsened by increasing climate impacts. The Ministers from both groups are asking the international financial institutions (IFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to reform their funding approach towards less developed nations. They should be more responsive to Africa’s needs, review their finance terms, and be more open to debt restructuring and relief on need basis, in what would unlock climate and development finance without pushing these countries deeper into unsustainable debt.

The Ministers have reiterated that climate finance should be given in form grants and not loans which have worsened the debt situation.

Activate loss and damage fund

AMCEN and LDC Ministers want the Loss and Damage Fund to be urgently operationalised and capitalised, as well as the Santiago Network meant to connect vulnerable countries with global providers of technical assistance, knowledge and resources needed to address climate risks. The LDC ministers, in particular, want the fund to be set up with modalities that enable rapid, simple and direct budget support to governments through national treasuries and ministries of finance, as well as to enable direct access for national and subnational entities.

The African Ministers have called for the reconsideration of the decision to host the Santiago Network in Geneva rather than Nairobi. The LDC Ministers are pushing for the inclusion of a sub-goal on loss and damage in the NCQG.

Adaptation efforts

Similarly, the Ministers are asking for Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to be fully operationalised and ensure adequate adaptation response to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems from natural disasters, with a special focus on finance, capacity building and technology transfer. The amount of adaptation finance needed is about $360 billion annually, compared to about $18 billion that was available in 2019.

COP29, according to AMCEN leaders, should send the right policy signals on operationalising common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR&RC), which acknowledges the different abilities and share of responsibilities of each country in addressing climate change. Additionally, the just transition framework should reflect the priorities of Africa, in particular green industrialisation, sustainable use and value addition of natural resources, as well as addressing energy poverty and clean cooking needs.

Evans Njewa, Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, said: “We want COP29 to deliver a bold commitment to address climate change. This is not just about promises; it’s about providing the resources needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of millions on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The LDCs are calling for an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that reflects the actual financial needs of developing countries, ensuring they can implement their NDCs, adapt to climate impacts, and address loss and damage.”

Amos Wemanya, Greenpeace Africa Responsive Lead, said: “COP29 presents African governments and African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on climate change an opportunity to present a strong case for debt free, public and adequate climate finance to meet the needs of communities on the front line of the crisis.

“This is not time for African governments to gamble with carbon offsets and private finance as climate finance. We have been here before, and all these have proved to be dangerous distractions to finding real solutions to the climate challenges on our continent.

“Rich countries should make polluters, especially the fossil industry pay for the losses and damages caused to our communities. Africa needs climate finance to invest in renewable energy, ecosystem protection, land restoration and food sovereignty.

“At COP29, wealthy countries must provide leadership in providing the scale of climate finance required to tackle the climate crisis and restore trust in the multilateral system.”

Iskander Erzini Vernoit, Director, Imal Initiative for Climate and Development, said; “The African Ministerial reconfirms the position of the African Negotiators, to call for $1.3 trillion per year in the new goal for climate finance, which aligns with the best available needs assessment literature. Moreover, crucially, it stipulates that this should be mainly in the form of grants and concessional finance, and points to a need for the NCQG to specify a clear share for public grant finance.

“The onus is now clearly on developed countries to come to Baku ready to provide the finance necessary to help the world to fulfil the Paris Agreement, or their commitment to the Paris Agreement will be in doubt. African countries, as AMCEN notes, are already spending significant percentages of their GDP per year on climate change, despite not having caused this crisis, and so it is only right that the developed countries who are responsible for this crisis do the same.”

Yared Abera Deme, Climate Diplomacy Associate at World Resources Institute, Africa, said: “Both the Africa Group and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group have made a decisive call on their declarations for a climate finance goal of no less than $1 trillion annually. This proposal reflects the urgent and evolving needs of our countries to adapt to climate impacts, address loss and damage, and transition to low-carbon economies.

“Ensuring that this finance is delivered primarily through grants and concessional finance is essential to avoiding further debt burdens on African/vulnerable countries. If COP29 delivers on this ambition, it will not only provide critical support for the most affected regions but also reaffirm the strength and relevance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges. Reaching a consensus on this figure would send a powerful signal that the international community remains committed to cooperation, equity, and shared responsibility in the fight against climate change.”

Julius Mbatia, Climate Finance Expert, said: “The global financial architecture has not benefited developing countries as its functioning and arrangements fall short of developing countries’ needs and realities. AMCEN’s resolve to pursue a system that is more responsive to Africa’s and developing countries’ needs in negotiations relating to the reform of the financial architecture is laudable.

“Whilst Africa remains a climate hotspot experiencing ruinous climate impacts, it holds immense natural and human capital that signify economic transformation potential if the right finance and economic tools are made available. However, the current system barely works for the continent. The determination of the new climate finance goal in COP29 must settle Africa’s struggle with debt, high cost of capital, expensive technologies, and inadequate finance to address climate change.

“Climate finance should be new and additional as the climate crisis imposes an additional burden to already constrained and struggling African countries.”

Joab Okanda, a Climate and Energy policy expert, said: “Grants based adaptation finance provided at scale that reflects the greater needs assessment, including by UNEP, and increasing costs of adaptation and loss damage is the lifeline for Africa and the lens through which African countries can build trust with their developed countries counterparts.

“As AMCEN concludes and we head to Baku in November, we must not fail communities on the frontline of the climate crisis by repeating the deliberate mistakes of the $100 billion goal by 2020 which was not only met but also failed to meet the 50-50 balance between adaptation and mitigation. Baku must ensure that finance for adaptation is scaled to at least $360 billion annually in grants equivalent. It is the only way that countries in Africa can adapt to changing climate and build resilient communities.”

COP29: LDCs push for bold climate finance commitments in Lilongwe Declaration

Michael Simire
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COP29: LDCs push for bold climate finance commitments in Lilongwe Declaration

Ministers and Heads of Delegation from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) convened in Lilongwe, Malawi on August 28, 2024, to adopt and issue the 2024 Lilongwe Declaration on Climate Change. The Declaration sets out the LDC Group’s priorities for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on the urgent need for climate action aligned with the 1.5°C global warming limit.

Evans Njewa
Chair of the Least Developed Countries, Evans Njewa

The Lilongwe Declaration underscores the critical importance of achieving deep reductions in global emissions, significantly scaling up support for addressing climate change in vulnerable countries and emphasising the role of climate finance as a key enabler of climate action. The Ministers highlighted the necessity of setting a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance at COP29 that reflects the evolving needs of developing countries, particularly LDCs.

LDC Chair, Evans Njewa, remarked: “We want COP 29 to deliver a bold commitment to address climate change. This is not just about promises; it’s about providing the resources needed to protect the lives and livelihoods of millions on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

“The LDCs are calling for an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that reflects the actual financial needs of developing countries, ensuring they can implement their NDCs, adapt to climate impacts, and address loss and damage.”

Key highlights:

  1. The Ministers stressed the importance of establishing an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance that accurately reflects the financial needs of developing countries. They called for new and additional public finance, primarily in the form of grants, noting that their countries require an estimated $5.8-5.9 trillion by 2030. Furthermore, LDCs need at least $1 trillion to implement their current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
  2.  On Global Emissions Reduction, the LDC Ministers called for full implementation of the first Global Stocktake (GST) outcomes, including submission of new and updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by early 2025. These contributions must include targets that are aligned with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, reflecting the urgency of the climate crisis.
  3. In terms of Adaptation, the LDCs underscored that the UAE-Belém Work Programme on Indicators must establish a comprehensive set of indicators to assess and track global progress towards the GGA Framework Targets. They reiterated the urgent need to scale up adaptation efforts and support, urging developed countries to fulfill their promise of doubling adaptation finance by 2025.
  4. On the issue of Loss and Damage, the Ministers called for substantial capitalisation of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FLD) with new and adequate financial pledges from Parties with greater responsibility and capabilities and reiterated that ensuring predictable and sustainable funding for loss and damage demands that finance for addressing loss and damage is included as a sub goal in the NCQG.
  5. They emphasised the urgent need for additional funding to key climate funds, including the LDC Fund, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), all of which are vital for addressing the severe impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations.
  6. Further, the LDCs reaffirmed their commitment to advancing key initiatives, including the LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR), Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC) and the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development (LDC REEEI). These initiatives are crucial for building resilience and sustainable development in the most vulnerable nations.
  7. The LDCs also expressed strong support for a Just Transition that increases energy access in their countries. This transition must be aligned with the UAE Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) to ensure that the shift to low-carbon economies is equitable and inclusive, leaving no one behind.

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Group consists of 45 nations spanning Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean, representing over one billion people. These countries, highly susceptible to environmental and economic shocks and disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, come together as a united bloc at UN climate talks. Their collective aim is to advance a fair and ambitious global response to climate change, addressing shared vulnerabilities and striving for equitable solutions.

How well have Nigeria’s NDCs supported climate action?

Michael Simire
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How well have Nigeria’s NDCs supported climate action?

Nigeria, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The country’s first NDCs, submitted in 2015, aimed for a 20% reduction in emissions by 2030, conditional on receiving international support.

Olumide Idowu
Olumide Idowu

This commitment reflects Nigeria’s recognition of climate change as a significant threat to its economic development and the well-being of its population. The effectiveness of these contributions has been evident in various sectors, especially in renewable energy, agriculture, and reforestation initiatives, which have started to take shape since the NDC was established.

One of the notable successes of Nigeria’s NDCs is the emphasis on renewable energy. The government has made strides in harnessing solar, wind, and biomass energy sources to diversify its energy mix. Programmes such as the Solar Home Systems initiative have provided clean energy access to rural communities, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving the quality of life. The promotion of renewable energy has also attracted investments, fostering job creation and local industries, which supports sustainable development. These efforts align with Nigeria’s goal of generating 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

In the agricultural sector, Nigeria’s NDCs have spurred the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices aimed at enhancing productivity while minimising environmental impact. Initiatives such as the National Agricultural Resilience Framework have encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable practices that improve crop yields and reduce emissions.

However, the implementation of these practices has faced challenges, including limited access to financing and technology for smallholder farmers. Despite these hurdles, the potential for increased food security and reduced vulnerability to climate change effects remains a significant opportunity for Nigeria.

Reforestation and afforestation efforts have also gained momentum under Nigeria’s climate action commitments. Programs aimed at restoring degraded lands and increasing forest cover have been initiated, contributing to carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.

The Great Green Wall initiative, aimed at combating desertification and land degradation in the northern region, is a prime example of aligning local and national goals with global climate action. However, the success of these initiatives depends heavily on community engagement and sustainable management practices, which require ongoing support and funding.

Despite the progress made, Nigeria faces several challenges in meeting its NDC targets. Institutional capacity and governance issues hinder effective implementation and monitoring of climate action plans. Fragmented policies across different levels of government often lead to a lack of coherence in strategies and resource allocation.

Additionally, corruption and lack of transparency can undermine efforts to mobilise funding for climate initiatives. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure that Nigeria can fulfill its climate commitments effectively.

Opportunities for future development exist in strengthening collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector. By fostering partnerships, Nigeria can leverage resources, share best practices, and enhance accountability in climate action initiatives. Furthermore, integrating climate change considerations into national development plans can ensure that economic growth aligns with environmental sustainability. Training and capacity-building programs for local communities and stakeholders will empower them to participate actively in climate action, ensuring that initiatives are grounded in local realities.

In conclusion, Nigeria’s NDCs have laid a foundation for climate action that has yielded both successes and challenges. While significant strides have been made in renewable energy, agriculture, and reforestation, persistent issues such as governance, financing, and community engagement remain barriers to achieving the desired outcomes.

Nevertheless, the opportunities for enhancing collaboration and integrating climate considerations into development planning present a pathway for a sustainable future. With concerted efforts, Nigeria can not only meet its climate goals but also set an example for other nations grappling with similar challenges.

By Olumide Idowu, Executive Director, ICCDI Africa, @OlumideIDOWU

World Clean Air Day: Why reducing air pollution pays for itself

Michael Simire
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World Clean Air Day: Why reducing air pollution pays for itself

The news is filled with stories of smog thick enough to cover whole cities, shut down schools and offices, and ruin major sporting events, drawing our attention to the disastrous impact of air pollution on people and planet – this global plague is killing more than 8 million people a year and poisoning our economies.

soot port-harcourt
Air pollution: Soot spreading over a neighbourhood in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Right now, 99 percent of us are breathing poor quality air and pollution is fuelling the increasingly dramatic impacts of climate change. The huge costs of air pollution to public health, economies and the environment are clear, with global health damages totalling $8.1 trillion annually – over six percent of global GDP. But action to address air pollution remains grossly insufficient and underfunded.

Only one per cent of international development funding currently goes towards clean air projects, despite the potential for every dollar invested in clean air initiatives returning up to $30 in economic benefits.

A 2023 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) study on the cost of inaction related to health impacts of air pollution exposure in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand was estimated at between 1.6 percent and 2.1 percent of each country’s GDP by 2030.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is considered the most dangerous pollutant for human health because these tiny particles can permeate vital organs. In low- and middle-income countries, people can face exposure to levels of PM2.5 that are up to four times higher than the WHO’s air quality guidelines’ values. Reducing PM2.5 levels is vital to protect people and the planet, but is also an economic no-brainer, with research showing that a 20 percent drop could boost employment by 16 percent and labour productivity by a third.

A growing number of workable, available, and viable solutions to air pollution prove that there is no need for us to choke on our own smoke and allow air pollution to cripple our economies.

The private sector can and must play a key role in implementing these solutions, as a significant air pollution contributor, but also as the bearer of many costs associated with the problem such as lower employee productivity, higher financial compensation, healthcare and absenteeism, and the brain drain of skilled workers seeking fresher air.

For example, in countries like India, air pollution costs industry an estimated $95 billion per year, or three percent of the country’s GDP. After Indian businesses joined a clean air forum and funded and promoted clean air solutions, there were huge changes such as an 80 percent drop in crop burning in two states.

Companies possess the expertise, innovation and resources to assess and reduce their air pollution footprint and are increasingly taking action to set and achieve clean air targets and attract investment to finance these efforts. Initiatives such as the World Economic Forum-backed Alliance for Clean Air, an air quality-focused private sector alliance, prompted several members to start measuring and reporting their air pollution footprints.

In 2022, the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the Stockholm Environment Institute worked with IKEA Group to develop a first-of-its-kind guide for businesses to measure air pollutant emissions across value chains.

These examples demonstrate that companies are increasingly taking action to set and achieve clean air targets and attract investment to finance these efforts.

Boosting action on air quality requires cooperation across all sectors, between private and public entities, and from the global to the local and vice versa. The UNEP, CCAC and partners are launching a global network to raise awareness of the multiple impacts of air pollution, strengthen capacity-building, advance cost-effective air quality measures and support regional air quality arrangements in response to a landmark resolution adopted this year at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). They are also supporting the development of an Africa Clean Air Programme and will launch a global air quality management platform on September 7 to mark International Day of Clean Air, which this year highlights the urgent need to invest in air pollution solutions.

No effort to clean up our air will succeed without substantial investment. Achieving better air for everyone requires action and funding at all levels and working with the most polluting sectors. Real blue sky thinking means using the most effective strategies and resources, such as implementing integrated climate and clean air initiatives, mobilising public and private financing and engaging industry as a crucial and positive changemaker.

By Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of Economy, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Oil extraction: Centre tasks women to demand environmental justice

Michael Simire
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Oil extraction: Centre tasks women to demand environmental justice

The Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre has told women in the Niger Delta to speak up against environmental injustices arising from oil extraction in their communities.

Power-up Project
Participants at the Power-up Project in Nigeria

Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director of the Rivers-based advocacy group, made the call in Port Harcourt on Friday, September 6, 2024, at a conference on the Power-up Project in Nigeria.

At the conference with the theme: “Enhancing the Role of Women in Environmental Conservation”, Okon said that women held a critical stake in the call for environmental justice in the Niger Delta region.

Okon said that the power-up project was organised to empower grassroots women in identified project sites across Nigeria and Zimbabwe to speak up against environmental injustice.

“Women should be in the forefront of the agitation for measures to mitigate the impacts of oil extractions in their communities.

“The threat on the ecosystem by climate change is a call on communities to take actions towards protecting their environments,” she said.

She said that oil and gas communities had continued to suffer from land degradation due to oil extraction activities.

She said that the effect of oil exploration and extraction on the environment had aggravated hunger, crime and declining sources of livelihood.

“The communities have the responsibility to protect their land from abuse, they must raise their voices against injustices.

“Women suffer health challenges, including cancer and reproductive issues due to pollution from oil extraction.

“There is need to continue saying no and urging duty bearers to address pollution in the communities until justice is achieved,” she said.

The executive director stated that women should endeavour to actively advocate for clear development visions for their communities.

She said that the power-up project, sponsored by UK-based Comic Relief, was being implemented in Nigeria by Kebetkache in collaboration with partners from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

She said that the scheme, launched in Akwa Ibom and Rivers in 2020, had trained women to assert their rights towards rejecting harmful resource extraction practices.

According to her, the initiative has engaged women from Abua, Nsisioken, and Okwuzi communities in Rivers, as well as Ibeno in Akwa Ibom, in diverse local advocacy actions.

“These actions included campaigns for women’s access to land, clean water, and inclusion in community development committees.

“Some of the women engaged in tree planting in their communities, stakeholders dialogue, story-telling sessions, and advocacy for inheritance rights, among others,” she said.

In a keynote address, Mrs Nkemdirim Odoya, Director of Forestry, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, reiterated the vital roles that women could do to enhance environmental safety and conservation.

She said that it was not in doubt that women played prominent role in safeguarding herbs and medicinal plants in local communities.

“Women are the gatekeepers that discourage and prevent people from destroying medicinal plants.

“It is important that they are empowered financially to enhance their conservation efforts in the communities,” she said.

Odoya emphasised the ecological importance of trees in purifying air, enriching the soil, conserving water, and providing habitats for wildlife.

By Desmond Ejibas

NEMA emphasises significance of data in disaster risk management

Michael Simire
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NEMA emphasises significance of data in disaster risk management

The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, emphasised the significance of data in disaster risk management.

Zubaida Umar
Zubaida Umar, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

Umar, who said this at a workshop organised by NEMA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Abuja, said that effective decision-making relied on both quantitative and qualitative data.

The two-day workshop is part of the Sahelian Resilience Project funded by the Swedish government, focuses on disaster data collection.

She highlighted the workshop’s role in equipping NEMA personnel with essential skills in geo-spatial data.

Umar who was represented by Mr Daniel Obot, the Director, Disaster Risk Reduction, underscored the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that no one was left behind in disaster response efforts.

She acknowledged the support from the Government of Sweden and the UNDP which facilitated the acquisition of equipment for data collection.

She called for participants’ commitment to achieving the workshop’s objectives, reinforcing the need for timely and accurate data in disaster management across Nigeria and the Sahel region.

Mr Usman Kibon, from the Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, ABU, Zaria, said that the project, when concluded, would help the Nigeria government and policy makers make proper plan for development.

Speaking to newsmen in the sidelines of the workshop, Kibon said that the project was aimed at creating a centralised hub for data for disaster loss and damage for the country and Sahel countries.

“This is in order to guide development in their respective countries.

“You can not plan without data. So, this is the essence of this project.

“The climate is changing and that has affected other factors that can lead to development. We need data to plan well, we need data to manage our rresources or meaningful development,” he said.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, disaster management experts, and representatives from various humanitarian organisations to identify gaps and share experiences.

The main objective is to enhance capacity for effective data collection during disasters, which is crucial for informed decision-making and response planning.

Africa loses $68bn annually to degradation – ECA

Michael Simire
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Africa loses $68bn annually to degradation – ECA

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says 65 per cent of Africa’s arable land is degraded, costing it $68 billion annually in lost productivity.

Deforestation
Deforestation

Dr Hanan Morsy, the Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said this in a statement on posted the commission’s website.

Morsy spoke at the I0th Special session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment.

She said the event’s theme, “Raising Africa’s Ambition to Address land degradation, desertification, and drought,” was not just timely, it was vital.

“The stakes are high. Climate change is costing African economies up to 15 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.

“Governments are diverting up to nine per cent of their budgets to cope with extreme weather.

“It is also grappling with debt distress, facing difficult trade-offs between climate action and meeting critical development needs, such as health and education.”

According to Morsy, deforestation rates are twice the global average, further undermining our agricultural output and ecosystem services. We must act now.

“Programmes like reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) which seek to reduce emissions from deforestation are crucial, but we need more.

“Carbon markets must be fair, with prices that reflect the true value of our efforts.

“Currently, African carbon credits are undervalued, often less than 10 dollars per tonne, compared to 120 dollars in more mature markets,” she said.

According to Morsy, balancing carbon credit initiatives with the needs of communities, including their access to forest resources for sustainable development is key.

The deputy executive secretary said that developing a high-integrity African carbon market that unlocked our potential and ensured equitable pricing for all was a strategic pripriority.

The economist said climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss were intertwined crises that threaten our very existence.

She said these were not just environmental issues; they were economic and social challenges that threaten the very fabric of our societies and demand our immediate and united action.

Morsy said that the ECA was committed to supporting member states in addressing climate change, land degradation and deforestation through various initiatives.

“The challenges we face are immense, but so are the opportunities for Africa to lead with innovative, sustainable solutions.

“By leveraging our collective strengths and deepening our collaboration, we can protect our ecosystems, empower our communities, and drive sustainable development.

“This path forward will require commitment both in resources, policy, and action.

“Together, we can build a resilient future for Africa for our children and future generations. Let us transform our ambition into action,” Morsy said.

By Lucy Ogalue

Hello world, goodbye health: Curbing Big Soda’s sportswashing at Olympics

Michael Simire
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Hello world, goodbye health: Curbing Big Soda’s sportswashing at Olympics

On October 16, 2021, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) endorsed the Olympism 365 strategy which aims to strengthen the role of sport as an enabler for the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sugar-sweetened beverages
Sugar-sweetened beverages

Through Olympism 365, the IOC, working with partners, uses sport to among others, help improve people’s physical and mental health and well-being.

But just before the Paris 2024 Olympics kicked off in France, the IOC teamed up with Big Soda to do the reverse: promote products known to damage health and well-being.

Big Soda is a synonym for the soft drink industry, particularly industry giants such as The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper.

The IOC teamed up with The Coca-Cola Company to “celebrate the power of sport and music” with a new song named “Hello World”.

The song, which debuted the day before the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony on Thursday, July 25, purported to promote unity and collaboration.

But that was not all the Olympic Games’ theme song was about. It also sends a subtle message from the video’s sponsor: Coca-Cola. The company’s unmistakable logo and bottle are displayed prominently throughout the video as images of athletes’ greatest moments flicker across the screen.

By the Hello World video, Big Soda is sending a message that they are associated with the positive values and emotions from sports that we all love to see, thus manipulating us into overlooking their damaging health harms. Big Soda wants its unhealthy drinks to be connected to positive feelings about sports and its stars, including excitement or perceptions of sports as a healthy social good.

This is just one example of Big Soda’s sports washing that the world saw throughout the 2024 Paris Olympics and is still seeing at the ongoing Paralympics.

Of particular concern is that sports sponsorship is an indirect way to reach children and teens, who may be especially susceptible to sports marketing.

A 2018 study by Dixon H, Scully M, Wakefield M, Kelly B, Pettigrew S, Chapman K, et al titled “The impact of unhealthy food sponsorship vs. pro-health sponsorship models on young adults’ food preferences: a randomised controlled trial” found that parents often perceive food products as healthier when they are endorsed by a professional athlete, making them more likely to purchase them.

The study also found that children strongly recall sponsors of their youth and professional teams and report favourable attitudes toward food and beverage companies for the sponsorship of events.

Why does this matter? The reason is that sugary drinks, including Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), are a major contributor to rising rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, among other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) both in Nigeria and globally. Children’s exposure to pervasive, unhealthy food marketing is a major risk factor for childhood obesity. In Nigeria, no fewer than 27 per cent of all deaths are due to NCDs, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Disease Outlook 2023. The five major risk factors for NCDs are excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, air pollution and unhealthy diets, including SSBs.

Additionally, plastic pollution, carbon emissions and water depletion are serious global concerns increasingly being linked to the sugary drinks industry and are also significant drivers of the climate crisis.

Thus, the IOC’s association with Big Soda is undermining its noble vision to use sports to build a better world.

Already, an online petition has been created by Kick Big Soda Out of Sport to urge the IOC to end Coca-Cola’s sponsorship deal and to commit to partnerships that align with Olympic values. It has garnered over 197,813 signatures as of September 3, 2024.

A Kick Big Soda Out spokesperson said: “Sugary drinks harm people and our planet. By accepting billions from Coca-Cola to sponsor the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) implicitly endorses a world where health and environmental harms are ‘sports-washed’ away, undermining commitments to use sport to create a better world.

“By kicking Big Soda out of the Olympics, the IOC will show the world that it is not just committed to talking about these values, but is truly committed to making the world a better place through sport.”

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) joins Kick Big Soda Out of Sport and its 91 other partner organisations who believe that sugary drinks harm people and our planet and that by accepting billions from Coca-Cola to sponsor the Olympic Games, the IOC implicitly endorses a world where health and environmental harms are “sports-washed” away, undermining commitments to use sport to create a better world.

We demand that the IOC live up to its responsibility to prioritise the health and well-being of people and our planet over Big Soda’s corporate interests. The IOC must, in the interest of public health, end its practice of helping Big Soda use healthy sports to promote unhealthy products.

By Robert Egbe

Egbe is public health advocate at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)

Delta community apprehensive over gas leak from NGIC pipeline

Michael Simire
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Delta community apprehensive over gas leak from NGIC pipeline

Residents of Oregha Community in Uvwie Council of Delta State have raised the alarm over the leakage of gas from a pipeline owned and managed by the Nigeria Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC).

Delta Community
Black oil leakage polluting the Oregha River

NGIC is a gas transportation company with an extensive network of gas pipelines across the Niger Delta.

The company’s pipeline cuts through Oregha, an autonomous community of about 2,000 people near Oko Amurun, Ohore in Uvwie Council area, who are mostly into farming and fishing in the Oregha River.

In a Save Our Souls (SOS) to the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), they said that in the later part of 2023 they started noticing that one of the gas pipelines in the bush was making a whistling noise and spraying gas and sand into the atmosphere.

They reported the incident to the NGIC Community Relations Committee (CRC) at the time, which promised to convey the findings to the company, but the NGIC did not respond to the report.

As time went on, the site of the leak also started oozing a black oil that has now found its way into the Orhega River where the locals fish and is threatening aquatic life.

Chairman of Oregha Community, Chief Mackson Edeki, said that after the initial attempt to get the attention of the NGIC through the report to the NGIC CRC, he continued to observe developments in the environment until he noticed corrosive chemicals in the Oregha River.

He disclosed that members of the community noticed that there is now bubbling at the same spot in the gas pipeline that was whistling and spraying sand in the air, adding that after some time the black oil spilling into the community farmlands has spoilt many traps and is now polluting the river.

Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, said: “Our team learnt that the gas pipeline that is spewing the black oily substance and gas was constructed over 30 years ago hence its integrity comes to question.

“The incident resembles many others across the Niger Delta where spills occur and are allowed to continue for months and in some cases years, resulting in major disasters before intervention comes. The government at federal and state levels should compel NGIC to mobilise to site and stop the environmental assault.”

Obrotobo Goddey, a 30-year-old community youth from the community, said: “I am a surveyor by profession. In the course of my survey work in one of the bushes we noticed bubbling in a small point. That was last year (2023), but now it is happening in the river.

“The chemical is now entering the river. When I noticed the development I called the community chairman who went to see and then reported to the NGIC’s CRC but nothing has happened so far. It is very disturbing.”

Chairman of Orgegha Community, Chief Mackson Edeki, said: “There’s no bunkering in this community or anything that will affect pipeline integrity so we are surprised that the leak is not being clamped at this stage.

“When it was whistling we never knew anything else would follow. The black oil leaking from the site of the whistling spot has destroyed our animal traps already. I am a fisherman and I fish in the Oregha River but with this incident escalating we may not be able to fish.”

Chairman of NGIC CRC in Uvwie Council, Chief Omafume Amurun, also revealed that the committee has made every attempt to get the NGIC to take action before the leak causes a major disaster but to no avail.

“There is apprehension in the community that a fire or any other incident may happen. We are also worried that the spill might engulf the entire Oregha River and affect the livelihoods of local fishermen. We do not want the situation to degenerate to that extent hence our outcry that the NGIC should come and clamp the ruptured point.”

Following the development, RDI has demanded that the Federal and Delta State Governments and relevant agencies compel the NGIC to mobilise immediately to clamp the gas leak and black oil spewing into the community farmlands and river.

It also wants the NGIC to be compelled to replace its rustic pipes that have the tendency of rupturing and causing havoc in the peaceful community, while sanction should be imposed on erring officials of NGIC for failing to address the imminent danger of an explosion and other fallouts of the pipeline rupture reported to them.

“There should be a comprehensive investigation and environmental audit to ascertain the impact of the leaks on the environment and especially the river, while adequate compensate should be paid to the locals who have suffered losses including destruction of their farmlands and waters.

“The NGIC should strengthen its relationship with the CRC to ensure seamless communication and addressing of community concerns,” it stated

Nigeria’s flooding: Rising waters, sinking hopes

Michael Simire
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Nigeria’s flooding: Rising waters, sinking hopes

Earlier this year as the rainy season approached, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in its weather forecast, as it has done in recent years, warned of impending flooding.

Flood
Flooding in Nigeria

As forewarned, the rain is here so is the flood. The consequences, though not as massive as two seasons ago, is huge.

Mrs Aishatu Abu’s eyes welled up with tears as she gazed at the ruins that used to be her home. It has been submerged in the murky waters of the overflowing river.

The floods had come without warning, sweeping away her livelihood, her memories and her sense of security. She is not alone. The victims across the country are many.

Thousands of Nigerians, such as Abu, have been affected by the recent flood season with their lives turned upside down by the raging waters.

The floods spotlight the urgent need for effective disaster risk management in Nigeria.

Mrs Zubaida Umar, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), urges a comprehensive action plan to address disaster risks in Nigeria.

She advocated a more comprehensive action plan for disaster risk management in Nigeria considering new and emerging hazards associated with it.

Umar spoke at a recent Expert Workshop on Early Warning For All, National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategic and Action Plan 2023-2030 in Abuja.

She said Nigeria faced severe vulnerabilities due to poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change.

Umar said that the Sahel region, where Nigeria is located, is prone to various disasters, including floods, landslides, droughts, and conflicts.

“A review of NEMA’s existing plans has indicated an urgent need for a more comprehensive action plan for disaster risk management in Nigeria, considering new and emerging hazards.

“This is to align with the Sendai Framework and African Programme of Action (PoA) to increase disaster resilience and drive sustainable development.

“The current escalations of conflicts, banditry, annual floods, and extreme weather events have triggered the desire to develop this DRR Strategy and Action Plan for Nigeria,” she said.

One of the agencies at the centre of disaster mitigation, NiMet, is worried that many Nigerians do not heed to early warnings serious hence enormity of damage usually cost by flood and other disasters.

Prof. Charles Anosike, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, spoke in Abuja at a three-day Expert Workshop on Early Warning For All, National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategic and Action Plan 2023-2030.

“Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can strike at any moment, leaving devastating impacts on communities and livelihoods. Early warning systems are the first line of defence against disasters.

“They provide critical seconds, minutes, or hours for people to seek safety, evacuate, or take necessary precautions.

“However, an early warning is only effective if it reaches all those at risk. In Nigeria, we face various hazards, from floods to landslides, droughts, and conflicts.

“The impact of these disasters can be catastrophic, but we can mitigate them through proactive and inclusive approaches.

“That’s why we must prioritise early warning for all. We need to ensure that every citizen, regardless of location, language, or socioeconomic status, receives timely and accurate warnings,” Anosike said.

Anosike said that, to achieve this, Nigeria should invest in robust early warning systems that leveraged technology and community networks and strengthen emergency response capabilities.

He stressed the need to conduct regulatory and public awareness campaigns, foster collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, and support disaster risk reduction education in schools and communities.

Anosike called on all stakeholders working on disaster management and prevention to cooperate for better results.

“By working together, we can build a culture of resilience and reduce the risk of disasters in Nigeria. Let us commit to protecting our people, our communities, and our nation,” he said.

As the country seeks to build resilience against disasters, it must prioritise the needs of affected communities and escalate investment in disaster-related areas.

By investing in robust early warning systems, conducting regulatory and public awareness campaigns, and fostering collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, Nigeria can reduce the risk of disasters and protect its citizens from their aftermath.

Anambra is one of the flood-prone states in the country and Dr Nonye Soludo, the governor’s wife wants residents of previously flood-hit communities to always take proactive measures during rainy season by moving to higher grounds.

Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Awka North, and Ogbaru are among the high flood risk areas.

She urged community leaders, churches, and well-meaning individuals to assist residents who may be affected by the flood.

In Niger State, the management of North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL) has sensitised communities around the Shiroro Hydro-Electric Power Plant to desist from water-based activities.

Mr Olubunmi Peters, the Vice Chairman, North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL), identified poor maintenance of drainage system as part of the causes of flooding.

He, therefore, emphasised the need for government to start intensive desilting of drains and flood channels as well as intensify climate information services, especially to farmers.

As Nigeria grapples with the challenges of disaster risk management, it is clear that a comprehensive action plan is needed to address the challenge.

By working together, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities can build a culture of resilience and reduce the risk of disasters in the country.

Already, the Federal Government said it is taking the bull by the horn by supporting states in their efforts to manage flood disaster.

According to Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said in Birnin Kebbi that federal government would provide three billion naira to states to mitigate the impact of flood.

While this year’s rainy season is in its twilight it is important that more measures are taken to apply the lessons learnt this year in preparing for flooding and other disasters next season.

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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