The involvement of local communities in forest conservation actions at all levels is key to the success of conservation and sustainable use of wildlife resources in the Central African region, experts say.
Need for proper wildlife conservation: In Cameroon, some 32 chimpanzee skulls have been seized since the beginning of 2016 during operations carried out under the framework of the wildlife law enforcement initiative
According to African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), engaging local communities in natural resource management enhances conservation activities including the fight against poaching and wildlife trafficking.
“The local forest communities are key drivers to the fight against illegal and wildlife trafficking and thus the need to empower them in readiness to conservation challenges,” says Manfred Epanda, AWF Coordinator in Cameroon.
In a paper presented at a side event at the Congo Basin Forest Partnership meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on Tuesday, November 22 2016, Epanda underlined the need to adequately sensitise and educate the local population on the importance of conservation to their wellbeing.
“Studies by the AWF has shown the direct relationship between the level of education of the population and attitudes towards conservation,” he said
According to the studies, the involvement of the local people in the conservation process will enhance conservation by some 11.40 percent, pointing out that much resources including wildlife and money can be saved by improving the attitude and knowledge of local people towards conservation.
Experts agree there is a direct relationship between the natural resource potential of a region and the socio-economic wellbeing of the population who rely on these resources for cash and subsistence income.
“The local population directly rely on their natural resources for survival, but the exploitation of these resources must be done sustainably,” says Richard Eba’a Atyi of CIFOR.
“We do not discourage hunting by the local population as a source of food. The law is against hunting in protected areas and hunting for commercial purposes. This is what the AWF and other partners are against,” says Jef Dupain, Regional Director West Africa, AWF.
Conservation experts also called for reinforcement of wildlife trafficking laws in the Congo Basin forest region to curb increasing illegal poaching activities, especially in protected areas.
Manfred Epanda cited the case of the Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon known to be ivory trafficking hotspots, necessitating the reinforcement of the wildlife law and continuous education and involvement of the local population in the protection process.
“The co-management of protected areas with the local people permit for mastery of the local reality like culture, language, people and provide the opportunity for the population to identify with the project,” he said.
The Dja Faunal Reserve, he explained, is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site that is facing significant challenges although numerous conservation initiatives are presently ongoing in and around the reserve.
Unfortunately, it attracts the attention of traffickers because it is one of the last remaining refuges for wild apes and many other endangered species in the region, Epanda explained.
Chimpanzees are totally protected wildlife species by the 1994 wildlife law, which stipulates that anyone found in possession of parts of a protected wildlife species, is considered to have killed the animal experts said. The aim is to protect animals like the chimpanzee that are facing serious threats from poaching.
In Cameroon for example, and according to statistics, some 32 chimpanzee skulls have been seized since the beginning of 2016 during operations carried out under the framework of the wildlife law enforcement initiative started by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) in 2003 to effectively enforce the laws.
MINFOF has since been working hard to ensure that those involved in the slaughter and sale of chimpanzee parts are prosecuted because their acts infringe the wildlife law, experts said.
Jatropha, a rugged shrub which grows in a wide range of terrains including wasteland, sandy and saline soils, is seen as the preferred non-food plant for biofuel production in Nigeria.
A Jatropha farm
The plant, which can survive up to three years of no rain and needs little or no pesticide application as it itself serves as pesticide, is said to hold great potential in checking desertification, providing sustainable energy, and enabling the economic empowerment of rural dwellers, among other benefits.
Analysts hope that the full harnessing of opportunities in Jatropha plant would enable Nigeria to not only address its power problem in a sustainable manner, but also liberate itself from economic recession.
Their reason is that the country has large arable lands for growing the plant which is even endemic in many regions of the country.
As part of measures to cut greenhouse gas emission and assist Nigerians adapt to devastating impacts of climate change, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said the Federal Government would grow Jatropha in 20 states to develop bio-fuel to replace fossil fuel.
“The project would serve as alternative to fossil fuel, provide jobs for the local communities and diversify the economy. Ultimately, this will result in the establishment of an African Clean Energy Hub in Nigeria. Jatropha also has potential to impact on five key elements of the COP21 Paris Climate Change Agreement,” she said recently in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Also recently, a Malaysian company reportedly expressed willingness to invest in Nigeria’s growing Jatropha business, a project described in a document as capable of not only ensuring clean energy to promote quality of lives, but also would accelerate job creation.
The document says, “A huge investment promised by Malaysian company, Bionas, could provide some room for Nigeria to maneuver. About $2.5 billion is to put into creation of a whole new industry for the production of a green alternative to traditional fuels. A value chain running from extraction to processing and output distribution will be created, generating thousands of jobs. At the centre of this initiative is a seed-bearing plant – Jatropha.”
The ruggedness of the Jatropha plant in surviving under dry and harsh weather makes it a choice plant for checking desertification, while its oil-rich seed is used in producing bio-fuel as well as cream, oil and soap.
Records show that a typical Jatropha farm has a life span of up to 40 years.
A hectare of its farm produces fruit of 1.5 tons in the first year, 3.5 tons in the second year and five tons in the fifth year.
A field trip to a Jatropha demonstration farm in Morocco by Fellows of the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) to the just concluded UN climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech revealed interesting dimensions of the plant.
The coordinator, Centre for the Development of Jatropha Project in Morocco, Professor Abdelkader Outzourhit, listed many uses of the plant to include production of bio-diesel to power diesel engines, and for making oils for creams which has the ability to smoothen the skin and remove wound scars.
According to Outzourhit, although the processing of Jatropha seeds was yet to begin in Morocco, a similar crop, Argan, with the same characteristics was been used for the purposes.
“They make several Argan oil-based products like soap, oil and bio-fuel. But you can also make them from Jatropha. Jatropha oil is very soft for the skin,” he said.
He added that the project has passed a critical stage as the plants which were brought from Mali, India and Mexico were able to adapt to the Moroccan climate, pointing out that the next stage of development would be the partnership with rural communities for their acceptance of the project, which would be followed by training the people on how to extract diesel from the jatropha seed as well as producing other commodities.
“We have some genotypes from Mexico, India and Mali. For now, we are just looking at the adaptability of the genotypes. But there are laboratories that develop other genotypes. They modify the genes so that they can adapt into a given climate. The genotype from Mali is well suited here.”
Asked about the oil content of Jatropha, he said, “One hectare can give you about one thousand litres of oil. There are two ways of extracting the oil. You just crush the dry fruit to remove the seeds. The seeds are then put in a press and the oil comes out. There are other special oil extractors. But the easiest way is, you crush the grains and press the out the oil. This technology is well known in this area because they use it. We have a lot of Argan oil productions.”
Clearing the air on claims that Jatropha development negatively affects agriculture as it takes away farmlands, the officer in charge of Moroccan Jatropha development said, “The crops should be planted on parcels of land that are not good for farming. Also, the shrubs can be used as fence, so that you use the land to grow other crops.”
At one of the Argan processing centres in Morocco, youths and women in rural towns were seen employed as breakers of the Argan nut to remove the seed, some were extracting the oil using local machines while yet others were selling the final products including Argan cream, oil and soap.
Morocco, Egypt and Algeria are among three countries that benefitted from the European Union Jatromed initiative of using the Jatropha plant for generating renewable energy and to address poverty and rural unemployment with the Jatropha value chain, a project with a total budget of EUR 1.82 million and spanning between 2011 and 2015.
As Nigeria also plans to develop its own Jatropha industry, it is interesting to note that some private sector organisations in the country are already tapping into the field.
One of them is the Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, which is said to have begun to produce diesel from Jatropha biofuel seeds planted on 534 hectares of farmland.
Now mainstreaming Jatropha project into the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), which Nigeria is a beneficiary. It is seen as a practical step towards sustainably solving the country’s perennial epileptic power situation and also enhances the living standards among the people.
The AREI, a project aimed at lighting up Africa is set to achieve at least 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy generation capacity by 2020, and 300 GW by 2030.
But grappling with recession following flat fall in oil price since its economy is wholly dependent on petroleum export, analysts say, the country on its own cannot fund its climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in line with the Paris Agreement.
The government has therefore resolved to launch a Sovereign Green Bond by the first quarter of next year to raise part of funds to implement its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
At a forum during the COP22, President MohammaduBuhari who was represented by the country’s Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said that part of the country’s target was to ensure regular power, 30% of which would come from renewable sources.
“Nigeria submitted its ambitious INDCs. We have now pledged a 20% reduction of greenhouse emission by 2020 and 45 conditional commitment which can be achieved with financial assistance, partnerships, technology transfer and building capacities. And to share with you the progress that we have made since COP21 in Paris. We have prepared an NDC implementation road map, detailed roles of responsibilities around mitigation, adaptation, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and putting in place government structures. We are developing central plans for the five main economic sectors in Nigeria namely power, oil and gas, agriculture, transport and industry. We are ensuring full of the commitment to the NDCs by the relevant ministries, departments and agencies .This multi central collaboration is crucial to delivering results.
“Inspite of the global downtown in our own constraints domestically, we are committing a reasonable part of our 2017 capital budget to this effort. In addition, we are set to launch our first ever green bond in the first quarter of 2017. This is intended to fund the series of projects targeted at reducing emission and greening our economy as embedded in our NDC.
“On the issue of renewable, our priority is to achieve, energy access, energy security and develop renewable resources for energy. We are strengthening policy in regulatory base. In this regard we have developed a system of energy for all action agenda and national renewable energy action plan, among other policies. The policies contained in our vision 303030, aims to increase capacity. Our expectation is that 30% of this capacity would come from renewable energy.”
So say the lists, Nigeria seeks partnership and supports in terms of technology and finance to implement its INDCs for addressing climate change, and to achieve that the country should be prepared to spend about $142 billion dollars to derive estimated national benefits of $304 billion, based on World Bank’s calculation.
To this end, stakeholders in the UNFCCC COP say the onus is on developed nations to fulfill their pledge to donate $100 billion annually among other monies and new pledges, to assist developing countries to plan and execute climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, especially renewable energy sources development, one of which is the Jatropha plant.
The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its employees, saying that it is part of its internal human rights policy.
The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) office complex in Ikoyi, Lagos
The tobacco manufacturer, in a reaction to a cover story published on EnviroNews on Wednesday, November 23 2016, whereby ex-staffers at a media conference in Lagos claimed that they were unfairly dismissed after falling ill while at work, attempted to clarify issues in a statement issued on Thursday, 24 November 2016, and endorsed by Oluwaseyi Ashade, the BATN’s Head of Corporate Affairs.
The firm stressed in the statement that it has existed in Nigeria for over 100 years and extremely proud of its heritage and positive relationship with Nigerians.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been brought to certain allegations that were made by a group of former employees and anti-tobacco NGOs against our company.
“These allegations are based on labour issues which were managed according to our policies and ranged on various issues, which included poor performance, disciplinary issues as well as health related redundancy. All these cases were objectively determined in line with our internal processes, global policies and all extant Nigerian Laws.
“However, some of these former employees wished to serve their self-interest by making demands which are not acceptable under Nigerian Laws. In addition, they have continued to make veiled and written threats against us with the intention of causing reputational damage.
“Our expectations will be that if there are any grievances with the process and procedures for disengagement, such grievance will be heard and determined under existing employee/employers dispute resolution mechanism including taking such grievances to the relevant Court and trusting the judicial system to hear both sides before making a judicial pronouncement. As it stands, one of the employees has a case in court against us and we are unable to comment on the specifics of this case in deference to the Court.
“We therefore note with bewilderment that the former employees involved anti-tobacco NGOs who have over the years openly advocated for the closure of the legal tobacco industry in Nigeria to suddenly become the vanguard for tobacco employees.
“We wish to emphasise that British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its employees, as part of its internal human rights policy.”
According to Freddy Messanvi, Legal & External Affairs Director and Oluwaseyi Ashade, “British American Tobacco Nigeria has existed in Nigeria for over 100 years and we are extremely proud of our heritage and the positive relationship we have enjoyed with the Nigerian people.
“As part of a global operation with a local footprint in Nigeria, we are focused on placing a high premium on our human capital and great talent pool. We are also mindful of providing great and safe place to work as we understand the impact of our people in the growth and sustainability of the company. We invest in our people as we understand that they are a competitive advantage and their welfare is taken very seriously.
“Over the past five years, we have maintained zero incidence of no work place injury and are very firm with our environment, health & safety policy implementation which applies to not just employees but also contractors, visitors and suppliers in our factories and offices.
“We abide by the local laws and are compliant with not just the local regulations as required by all relevant local agencies but we also benchmark ourselves against the requirements for labour practices globally, such as the OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as provided for by our parent company.
“Our commitment to Nigeria remains consistent. Our people are our biggest asset as an employer of labour. We will continue to invest to enhance their capacity and to ensure that they are completely provided for in all aspects of their welfare including their safety at work.”
Participants at a side-event at the recently held UN climate change talks (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco have described the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) as a project initiated by Africans for Africans in an effort to accelerate and scale up the harnessing of the continent’s huge renewable energy potential.
A solar panel being prepared for use. AREI aims to add an additional 10 GW and 300 GW of renewable energy capacity to the African energy sector by 2020 and 2030 respectively. Photo credit: greenchipstocks.com
A representative of Dr. Youba Sokona, Head of AREI Independent Delivery Unit at the African Development Bank (AfDB), made the submission on Sunday, November 13 2016, during the AMCEN Meeting of African Ministers of Environment at the global climate summit.
“It is not just an initiative; it is a transformational initiative. The AREI is very transformational in the sense that it is an initiative by Africans for Africans to help develop and unlock the renewable energy potentials of the continent,” he submitted.
According to him, besides hosting the Independent Delivery Unit of AREI, the AfDB also functions as a Trustee for the initiative. He added that the African Union Commission (AUC) is the convening body, working with all the key institutions in order to implement the decisions of the AU.
Launched at a Session during the High-Level Meeting on “Lima-Paris Action Agenda: Focus on Energy” on 07 December, 2015 at the COP21 in Paris, AREI aims to add an additional 10 GW and 300 GW of renewable energy capacity to the African energy sector by 2020 and 2030, respectively, and is endorsed and supported by the Governments of France, Germany, U.S., and Canada.
The initiative is expected to have a considerable impact on the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions in the continent. At least $5 billion in public and highly concessional finance between 2016 and 2020, from bilateral, multilateral and other sources, including the Green Climate Fund, will be needed to leverage a further $15 billion in other investments, for a total investment of at least $20 billion pre-2020, it was gathered.
Apart from the AfDB and the AUC, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, the African Group of Negotiators, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are also involved in AREI.
However, the composition of the board of AREI as well as the involvement of AMCEN dominated discussions among the delegates, who were likewise briefed about the Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI).
“There was a decision on the matter. An assembly took a decision on the structure of the AREI. AMCEN will appreciate that the AMCEN president will circulate a draft reference from the AREI. Where will we place the role of the AMCEN chair?” demanded Dr Edna Molewa, Environment Minister of South Africa.
“It will be very important that we do what the President of AMCEN has said that we should speak with one voice as Africa, together. Based on the decisions of our heads of state, the AREI has been developed and is now operational. So I would like to reiterate that call that we all stand behind that initiative,” said Dr Sokona.
AMCEN president and Minister of Environment of Egypt, Dr. Khaled Fahmy, said: “Representation and composition, based on the decisions of the heads of state in July; that is the intention. At the moment, who is sitting on the board has not been decided, that is the decision of the heads of state, and that representation will make sure that Africa is fully represented. I’m sure that is one of the things they will be considering. I don’t think it’s a proper time now to go into details as to what happens and what exactly will be the composition.”
Building rapidly on the warm reception given to the AREI, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) developed the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI), with the objective of ensuring that African countries lead the work in adaptation and loss and damage on the continent.
The AAI is intended to scale up adaptation in Africa, through enhancing pre-2020 ambition on adaptation and addressing loss and damage in its initial phase, and providing a platform to enhance medium and long term actions. Its work programme includes mapping of existing and future adaptation programmes, supporting countries in undertaking needs assessments, facilitating access to resources, and coordinating and facilitating regional and national efforts to assess and address loss and damage.
The initiative has four thematic pillars for which specific objectives and quantifiable targets have been set:
enhancing observational infrastructure and early warning systems;
supporting the creation and strengthening of national institutions and policies;
enabling the implementation of specific projects and actions; and,
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 terminated the monthly environmental sanitation exercise which hitherto held for three hours on the last Saturday of every month.
The rested sanitation exercise in Lagos held on the last Saturday of every month and restricted movement for three hours
A main feature of the clean-up programme was that it restricted movement in Nigeria’s main commercial hub for the three hours (7am-10am) that it lasted.
The government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the decision to cancel the monthly exercise followed a resolution arrived at during Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting which approved the need for a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state in order to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment.
The government noted that, considering the present economic situation in the country, it was no longer appropriate to restrict movement of people for three hours in a mega city like Lagos at a time they should be pursuing commercial and entrepreneurial activities.
According to government, in the last two decades, Lagos has grown exponentially into a mega city with the attendant huge environmental problems associated with managing a population of over 20 million people.
But sadly, the environmental laws, policies and procedures being practiced in the state have not been able to match the phenomenal growth and the dream of a 24-hour economy, hence the need for the reform.
The programme had been declared unconstitutional in a March 2015 ruling by a federal court, because it infringed on free movement and liberty of citizens.
Ayorinde said the state government was not unaware of a recent Court of Appeal judgment.
According to him, the thrust of the fresh initiatives, among others, is to promote holistic and modern solutions to the unique environmental challenges confronting the State, while encouraging citizens to voluntarily partner with government to achieve the desired goals.
The statement said: “After a careful consideration, the State Executive Council has therefore resolved that the present economic climate can no longer support the continued lock down of a mega city like Lagos, when the citizens should be free to engage in commercial and entrepreneurial activities that can promote economic growth and prosperity.
“Furthermore, government will also accelerate the introduction of fresh reforms through the passage of the new harmonised environmental laws that will drive meaningful changes in areas of harmonised billing, waste management, modern landfill sites, noise pollution, introduction of an Environmental Trust Fund and an Environmental Advisory Council.
“The government wishes to reiterate its strong commitment to a clean and secure environment for the benefit of its citizens, and will continue to provide the necessary leadership to meet the environmental challenges of a mega city like Lagos. Lagosians and visitors alike are therefore urged to embrace these changes and imbibe a culture of voluntarily maintaining and preserving their environment to create a beautiful and healthy city that we all can be proud of.”
The statement added that the state government would henceforth be tougher in ensuring expeditious enforcement against contraventions of its policies and regulations and as such, residents should voluntarily comply with the necessary laws and support government in its bid to have a clean and healthy environment.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that it will part-pay some of the insurance premiums due to African nations who are being covered under the African Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance scheme.
Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair, Board of Africa Risk Capacity (ARC). Photo credit: flickr.com
AfDB president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, made the disclosure on Tuesday 15 November, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco during a side-event titled: “Africa at the forefront of climate change: Game changer through innovation” at the UN climate change talks (COP22) that held recently. The side-event was organised by the AfDB, ARC, African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).
Dr Adesina, who stressed that the AfDB would take the leadership in ensuring African member states are adequately covered through ARC insurance mechanism, called on its partners to ensure that the ARC succeeds by being fully funded.
“There’s no doubt that Africa is suffering from the impacts of climate change, therefore building resilience is critical. We have to now ensure that the ARC does not fail, we must make sure that it is fully funded. We will consider part payment of some of the insurance premiums to African countries. We also want others to pay their roles as well. Africa contributes to GHG emissions and also suffers disproportionately from it. The time for talk is over and the time for action is now,” he declared, even as he called on the Global Climate Fund as well as Global Environment Facility (GEF) to follow suit and in the part payment of insurance premium to needy nations.
An insurance premium is the amount of money that an individual or business must pay for an insurance policy.
Recently, the African Risk Capacity Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd) (the business arm of the ARC) announced it was processing an insurance payout of approximately $8.1 million to the Government of Malawi to support its response to the drought which resulted from the poor 2015/16 agricultural season.
The payout will be released to Malawi as soon as the Government’s plan on how the payout will be used to respond to those affected by drought – known as the Final Implementation Plan – is approved by ARC. This is standard practice for ARC payouts, and is expected to take place by the end of November.
In a response to Dr Adesina’s submission, the GEF Chairperson and CEO, Dr Naoko Ishii, said however that, rather than assist the ARC in paying premiums, GEF would rather prefer to create the capacity for knowledge and information exchange.
She underlined the need for cities to be made more resilient, in the face of growing threat of climate change and its impact. According to her, adequate funding is key.
Her words: “However, finance for sustainable urban infrastructure is hindered by many of the same barriers faced by sustainable infrastructure in general, including market failures, short-term thinking, and a lack of bankable projects and capacity at the urban level to prepare projects. Many cities around the world are constrained in their ability to tap local revenue sources, take on debt, invest in major projects and engage in public-private partnerships.”
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair, Board of ARC, who moderated the session, described the ARC as a specialised agency of the African Union (AU) which operates an extreme weather insurance scheme designed to help AU member states resist and recover from the ravages of drought.
“We’re here with one mechanism of the African continent, and what are the key priorities that we are articulating for Africa in COP22, and how does Africa Risk Capacity fit in?” she demanded, referring to the panellists comprising Dr Ishii, Rhoda Peace Tumusiime (AU Commissioner for Rural Economy & Agriculture), Prof Kevin Urama (AfDB Senior Advisor), the Assistant Environment Minister of Egypt, Ms. Yasmine Fouad.
Ms Tumusiime said: “The ARC is an important instrument for us. In 2015, Heads of States adopted the Agenda 2063; it is our blueprint and we are implementing the same. For us in Africa, the driving framework is Agenda 2063. Africa is experiencing a lot of challenges. Africa has made a lot of progress. In agriculture, we have seen an annual growth rate of 4%, but all these will be undermined by the challenge of climate change.
“We need something to hold on to, and in this case we have insurance. The AU Agenda 2063 is people centred. You can’t have growth without ensuring those aspects which are undermining growth are attended to. Climate change will not allow our growing economies to move forward; our growing economies will be undermined if we do not grow resilience in agriculture, for example.”
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on Monday November 14, 2016 in Marrakech during the recently held UN climate change talks (COP22) reiterated their support to the African continent towards remedying its urban centres, which are being negatively impacted by the effects of climate change.
Amadou Hott, AfDB’s Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth. The AfDB and GEF have resolved to climate-finance the continent
At a side-event on “Leveraging climate finance for urban resilience in Africa” held at the African Pavilion and jointly organised by both organisations, succour emerged in the horizon for the continent as the funding bodies pledged to redouble their efforts towards meeting the cost of climate change adaptation, which the UNFCCC projects to be in the range of $28-67 billion per year by 2030.
While the GEF stated that it would support Africa through the AfDB, the AfDB, on its part, promised to assist in accessing funding from partners.
“The GEF hereby commits to work more closely with African countries through the AFDB, our partner,” disclosed Dr Naoko Ishii, the GEF CEO and Chairperson.
According to her, cities are important as they are a frontrunner in the fight against climate change. She pointed out that 80% of GDP is generated in cities, so it is important how cities fight against climate change.
She stressed that, apart from working with the AfDB, GEF also supports the Sustainable City Programme, which the AfDB is implementing in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. According to her, cities can be designed to be more compact to, for example, reduce the impact of flooding. Cities infrastructure can also be retrofitted to increase their resilience, she added.
Her words: “How can we do more? Leverage public and private sector money to finance projects, design cities in a more compact way and conserve resources as well as save money, help them to introduce de-risking investment, improve access to the capital market and catalysing private investment in energy efficiency investment.”
Speaking later, Amadou Hott, the AfDB Vice-President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, said: “Let me reiterate that the AfDB is committed to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement and support African countries to access funding from all partners including the GEF to meet their ambitions set in the NDCs.”
He stressed that the Paris Agreement recognises the major role that urban centres have to play in tackling change, adding that cities are now home to over half of the global population. The AfDB vice-president emphasised that, in Africa, urbanisation would increase exponentially over the coming decades, a development that has profound implications in the face of climate change, creating vulnerabilities to external shocks, including economic and climatic.
According to him, cities will need more capacity to absorb and recover from climatic shocks and stresses, but lamented that the expansion of cities is at the expense of forests and other natural environments or ecosystems, and comes with increase in pollution, and related diseases.
He listed the Bank’s “High Fives” or five priorities for Africa to include: Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialise Africa; Integrate Africa; and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
“To deliver on these priorities, the AfDB is working with the global climate funds including the GEF to assist African countries effectively adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. The Bank has mobilised funds from GEF’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) resources to address these increasing climatic threats, but this is only a small percentage of what is required. I am convinced that the GEF and AfDB partnership will deliver a new perspective of urban resilience in Africa.”
Moderated by Kurt Lonsway of the AfDB, the panel discussion session featured panellists addressing key questions related to urban adaptation and resilience, including on securing financing and creating synergies between urban development objectives, innovative finance, partnerships and initiatives.
The panellists included: N’cho Kouaoh (Vice-Governor, Abidjan), Saliha Dobardzic (GEF), Meggan Spires (ICLEI), Alex Mulisa (FONERWA), James Kinyangi (ClimDev, AfDB), and Robert Kehew (UN-HABITAT).
Mr Kehew, for instance, noted that the New Urban Agenda that was unveiled recently at the Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador recognises climate change as it relates to urban development. According to him, the previous Agenda was to a large extent silent on the climate change phenomenon.
His words: “The New Urban Agenda gives attention to climate change issues. The need for better urban planning was key to the agenda. While supporting access by organisations to climate finance, the NUA emphasises measures that strengthens the credit worthiness of cities.”
“We need to come up with solutions; we need to stay optimistic,” concluded Mr Lonsway.
Three African nations being assisted by the European Union (EU) at the recently held UN climate change talks (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco shed light on their Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) status, in the light of the realisation of the Paris Agreement.
Dr Peter Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change in the Federal Ministry of Environment. He says the country needs a robust MRV process because of its huge GHG footprint, as well as its large economy and enormous population
At a side-event organised by the EU titled: “Preparation of African countries for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) requirements under the Paris Agreement – Showcases and lessons learnt,” Nigeria, Ethiopia and Egypt showcased their commitment and achievements to developing MRV systems with support from the EU.
The side-event, which advocates for a greater effort to develop holistic and sustainable national MRV systems across African countries, featured discussions and presentations, which the organisers believed would inspire other African countries to launch their domestic MRV system to enable them meet the Paris Agreement requirements.
The Paris Agreement’s backbone is a transparency framework to track how countries are progressing on their commitments. Rules for how this framework will operate are essential for holding Parties accountable and for enhancing understanding among countries.
The Paris Agreement established a universal system of transparency for MRV, with built-in flexibility taking into account countries’ different capacities. This is based on the premise that effective MRV can help countries understand emissions sources and trends, design mitigation strategies, enhance credibility and take other policy actions.
At the side-event, AMCEN president and Minister of Environment of Egypt, Dr. Khaled Fahmy, described MRV as a very important issue in the balance between adaptation and mitigation.
“We are looking forward to a self-sustained MRV system among African countries,” he said, full of optimism during an opening remark.
Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s Environment Minister, stated: “The political context is vital. There’s need to underscore the historic nature of the Paris Agreement. We are in Morocco today because we want to implement the ambition in Paris. The INDCs were key points in Paris, and the MRV is going to be key in keeping the momentum and keeping us on course and checking that we are not going astray every now and then.”
Hans Bergman, Head of Unit at the EU, said: “The MRV is very important in the UN process, and we consider it very important for countries to have a good MRV for the Paris Agreement. MRV systems can ensure ambitious gap, what we need to do to reach below 2oC objective. Nigeria, Ethiopia are being supported in this regard and we hope that other countries will strive to produce a good MRV.”
During the presentations session, each country spoke on ways being explored to curb emissions via various approaches (such as the NDCs) keeping in mind MRV strategies.
For instance, Sherif Abdul-Raheem, who is Director, Climate Change Department in the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, explored the country’s MRV status, saying that sustainable MRV system is essential for, among others, doing needs assessment.
Nigeria’s Peter Tarfa, Director in the Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment, disclosed that, due to the country’s huge GHG footprint, in the light of the fact that it has a large economy as well as population, “we therefore need a robust MRV process.”
According to him, the country’s MRV system is hinged on issues related to its Vision 20:2020 and National Policy on Climate Change documents.
Gebru Endelow, National Climate Change Negotiator of Ethiopia, gave a detailed account of his country’s climate change policy and programmes, saying that the country would embrace MRV systems in its processes toward implementing its NDC.
The gathering underlined the need to develop common rules, procedures and guidelines to enhance the UNFCCC’s current MRV system. Observers believe these guidelines are key to improving transparency, reporting and environmental integrity, but they must also provide developing countries with the flexibility needed to reflect their different capabilities and national circumstances.
Aggrieved ex-staffers from illnesses of the British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) have demanded that the Nigerian government penalise the company for inhuman treatment to workers in its Ibadan factory in Oyo State and compel it to compensate them for the impacts of the health hazards they now contend with.
L-R: Dismissed BATH workers now suffering various illnesses: Winsfon Ofulue, Dasilva Ayodeji, Awe Ayodele, Alabi Adekunle, and Folarin Shamsudeen
Seven of the company’s disengaged staff at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday November 23, 2016 said, among others, that they were exposed to raw tobacco leaves, worked in poorly-ventilated environment, suffered various illnesses and unceremoniously discharged from work due to the condition they found themselves.
Some of the ailments they suffer include high blood pressure, posterior and anterior rupture, asthma and chronic sinusitis.
Some of the ex-staffers are: Dasilva Ayodeji, Winston Ofulue, Awe Ayodele and Alabi Adekunle. Others are Folarin Shasudeen, Makinde Timothy, and Jokanola Folarin.
At the press briefing which had “BATN stop anti-labour practices in Nigeria!” as its theme, BATN ex-staff, Folarin Shamsudeen, explained that, due to the poor conditions of the tobacco company’s factory in Ibadan, he was exposed to tobacco harms that led to chronic sinusitis, high blood pressure and ingrown nail toe. He lamented that the company disengaged him when the situation degenerated.
Dasilva Ayodeji revealed that he could no longer work well due to the pressure of the work and had to depend on clutches to move.
The workers asked the Nigerian government to stand up for the workers’ rights just like the governments of other nations that had closed down tobacco firms did, adding that the Nigerian government should enforce laws that prohibit anti-labour practices by industries operating in the country.
Earlier, Dr. Akin Adebiyi, coordinator, National Tobacco Control Resource Group (NTCRG), said the press briefing was aimed at creating a platform for the workers to tell the world how working for BATN had obliterated their lives and how the company has failed to take responsibility for ill-health arising from exposure to tobacco dust and poor work conditions.
Adebiyi said that, statutorily, the worker should not be made to find out by himself the hazards to which he has been exposed to at his own expense. “It is the responsibility of the company to inform the staff what hazards they are exposed to. If BATN did not do this as these workers have explained, it is a failure on their part and they must take responsibility for it,” he stated.
In the same vein, Akinbode Oluwafemi, deputy executive director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), said that the BATN infractions in Africa have continued to mount.
He explained that, in 2015, it was BATN complicity in the Ugandan bribery scandal which the BBC aired and Philip Morris International illicit cigarette imports into Nigeria between September 2015 and March 2016.
Oluwafemi noted that the ex-BATN staffers are real victims of the tobacco industry as, according to him, “they had believed BATN publicity stunt on how its factory in Ibadan would add to the local economy through so-called employment generation. But, alas! They are today victims of an industry that not only markets a lethal product, but also ensures those that it engages for work do not leave its employ in one piece.”
The Nigerian civil war shattered the lives, hopes and aspiration of millions of people, especially those from the Igbo tribe in South Eastern geopolitical zone of the country.
Mazi Simon Obong, a centenarian
But a good number of the war victims have been able to pick together the pieces of their lives, working exceeding hard to attain a great height of achievement.
One of them is Mazi Simon Obong from the remote town of Arochukwu, in Abia State, who is reputed for producing six university graduates, most of who are now gainfully employed.
The centenarian, now bed-ridden due to old age, achieved the feat when a greater percentage of people in his town of sojourn could not even send their children to high school, and never even bothered to educate the female children.
In-spite of this, the great grandfather, says he is hugely unfulfilled.
His greatest regret is the Nigerian Civil War, which drove him and his kindred out to the Cross River State rainforest, known then for its rich biodiversity, offering inhabitants wide range of fauna and flora for food, and providing perfect atmosphere for the thriving of agriculture and green growth.
“My children are capable of taking care of me. I eat whatever that I want to eat, but life is not about eating and drinking. It is about the things you could achieved with your God given talents and strength,” Obong who said he is a few years short of 100 remarked in a chat.
His wife had named their first dog after the war, “Ihe aha merem”, an Igbo phrase when translated means: “What the war did to me”.
The two and half year-old civil war in Nigeria which reportedly claimed the lives of between 500,000 and two million Biafran civilians who died mostly from starvation, had great impact on Arochukwu who, like others lived in parts of Cross River State after fleeing their homes, leaving behind their life’s earnings including houses, money, wares and farms.
Most of the survived war victims had reportedly scattered in different farming based remote villages in South East Nigeria, involving in hard labour to be able to earn a living and train their children.
When told to react to the plan by the Cross River State government to construct a 6 lane super highway passing through the state’s rain forest to link northern Nigeria, Mazi Obong who was recently decorated by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese with the greatest award to a laity, said although he no longer have anything to do with Cross River State, the road project would have dangerous impact on the rich rainforest.
“Although I have not visited Cross River State since we left it as a result of the war, and may not know how the place is now, I am sure the project if executed would deplete the fortune of the rich rain forests. The forests used to flourish with assorted types of land and sea animals for food, such as periwinkle, crustacean, snail and other shell foods. Then, very early in the morning, our women would go to the forest to pick shell organisms and they returned with large quantities of them, which were sold to earn good living. Virgin forests supported the thriving of wild organisms, and after rain, you see large numbers of the organisms especially snails crawling about on the ground, trees and leaves.
“In terms of agriculture, many of us had large plantations of cocoa, plantain and other highly economical crops, in addition to yam farms. But with this development, I believe the forests would change from what they used to be, and would not be conducive for the thriving of the economical plants and animals,” he explained.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State had insisted that there was no going back on plan to construct the super highway, saying measures have been put in place to cushion the environmental impact of the project, through an aggressive tree planting initiatives and preventing slum communities from emerging along the super highway corridor.
“The Cross River super highway is taking down less than 18,000 trees. Interestingly, the state has an aggressive plan to plant 500 million trees in this place and over a million have been planted already.
“I am taking the Atlantic coast closer to northern Nigeria, so that they can also have a direct access to the water front,” he told journalists during the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco.
But the fear of Mazi Obong and others who feel concerned is that, the new trees being planted to cushion the effect of cutting part of the rain forest would not provide the kind of ambience as the natural vegetation, needed for the thriving of wild plants and animals.
The state government’s plan to construct the super highway on 35 metres corridor across 261 kilometers, has been graced by protests in which over 253,000 signatories were reportedly collected from 185 affected forest dependent communities and environment advocates.
Nigeria suffers serious depletion of its wildlife reserve, with most of the remaining exotic organisms, especially the critically endangered gorilla, found in Cross River State that holds nearly 70 percent of the country’s rainforest.
“The Cross River gorilla is classified endangered and the most threatened ape in Africa. Hunted almost to extinction, fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas survive in small mountainous area at the headwaters of the River straddling the border between Nigeria and Cameroon,” says a document.
Analyst feel the super highway may put further stress on the already critically endangered wild organisms in the Cross River State rainforest.
