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Managing climate change via knowledge, learning

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Managing climate change via knowledge, learning

Many Africans are aware that some changes occur in the environment year in and year out but lack knowledge of the reasons for such change. They are also aware of increased disease, food shortages, and extreme flooding at various localities during certain periods of the year. Yet there have been no efforts to reduce the occurrences or avert them altogether. There is a need to educate the public of the signs of climate change as well as management and prevention strategies.

There is a need to educate the public of the signs of climate change as well as management and prevention strategies
There is a need to educate the public of the signs of climate change as well as management and prevention strategies

Many of us are aware that climate change is severely affecting livelihoods in Africa through changes in rainfall patterns. About seventy percent of the farmers expressed that their crops were washed away by floods, eliminating their yields for consumption or sale. In some West African countries the fishermen were not spared since they could not catch as much fish as they used to and the environment was not conducive for human life since all the debris washed away by water or flood was deposited at various places. About 70 percent of them at various fishing ports lamented that they suffer this disaster yearly but do not have the solution to their problems.

According to M. H. Zack, Knowledge Management consists of a series of strategies and practice used in an organisation to identify, create, distribute and enable adoption of insights and experiences. Such insights and experiences consist of knowledge integrated into or embodied in organisational theories and practice, according to a team of researchers comprising M. C. Anuna, R. N. Amanchukwu, E. Edem, and O. P. Nzewunwa.

For many years, researchers have explored local knowledge about environmental change and increasingly over the past decade, local knowledge in relation to climate change specifically. They know much more about the content of the different types of knowledge that are important for responding to climate change-from modeling future rainfall changes in a particular country to how to get the most out of an agricultural environment in highly variable conditions.

However, they still do not know how to translate these different forms of knowledge into practice and make them accessible to policymakers, front-line staff (such as agricultural extension officers or health workers), and people in poor communities on the ground. They also have a poor grasp of strategies for bringing together people from different backgrounds and starting points, so that they can reconcile what they know. Bringing together different perspectives is important for both the quality and legitimacy of decisions about adaptation, says A. Newsham.

In African schools, practical demonstrations are needed in order for children to actively use their acquired knowledge and skills to improve society. Teachers should also demonstrate the importance of agriculture in the growth of the nation. In the fishing ports where fish farmers and their children reside, experts should be sent to demonstrate the modern way of processing and preserving fish both for local consumption and for exportation. Children should be thoroughly guided so as to enable them do the same in their various localities.

There is a need to strengthen climate change knowledge architecture in Africa to reach policy-makers, students and researchers, as well as community-based organizations and NGOs, who are in the frontline of delivering adaptation projects. This knowledge architecture has already been developed in Nepal (Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre). Ideally, it would include a centre that would serve as a platform for coordinating and facilitating the regular generation, management, exchange and dissemination of climate-related knowledge and capacity-building services. Climate change researchers who receive grants through the project would be provided with mentoring in learning and knowledge sharing. The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has contracted an external consultant to drive the monitoring and evaluation of the project, whose role is to ensure that learning from the project, is captured and used throughout the project’s implementation.

It would be instructive for the African governments to borrow a leaf from Nepal to drive climate change knowledge at home for the benefit of the citizenry. It would benefit the agriculturists who make food available to the people, the students who would gather knowledge to disseminate to people in our various communities, and the policymakers and managers of education who would ensure that such knowledge is part of the education curricula. It might attract investors to the country, thereby creating job opportunities.

The World Bank is noted for its development project lending; knowledge services are becoming increasingly important. Governments, private sector and civil society organisations are eager to learn from others what is working and what is not working when it comes to climate change. Knowledge exchange, South-South learning, communities of practice and training are crucial to ensure that development gains can be sustained and lead to lasting results. The new Climate Change Knowledge Portal, the Open Data Initiative, Mapping for Results, the Green Growth Knowledge Platform and Connect 4 Climate Change are a few examples of how the World Bank shares knowledge and connects practitioners around climate change.

Knowledge is strategically important in technology, teaching and learning. In order to survive and thrive, institutions of learning, primary, secondary and tertiary, must ultimately engender a knowledge culture, grappling with information and knowledge management, and developing accessible technological systems along with the associated tools and resources.

What African children need is practical application of the theories of climate change that they have learned. Students should be taught to put their knowledge to meaningful use, which is only possible when educators practice what they teach so as to guide the learner properly. African schools should be well equipped and teachers should receive further training to update their knowledge and skills. The present curricula will not enable Africa to compete with other developed economies. As agents of change, children can assist in educating their communities in their various localities to adapt to climate change. When African children are provided with adequate knowledge and skills, coupled with sufficient infrastructure, there will be less damage sustained from climate change.

A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report showed that the level of awareness about climate change is rather low in Africa and, if care is not taken, will wreak havoc on the daily lives of its citizens. The report showed that the awareness of climate change is highest at the federal level but drops at the state and local government levels where knowledge is highly needed. These levels encompass the people who own and cultivate farmland.

As F. Olorunfemi asserts, the most significant obstacle to reducing the impact of climate change in “Nigeria” is lack of awareness and knowledge. For this reason, knowledge management must be taken seriously. In addition to educating the citizenry through Town Criers and village gatherings, the government needs to incorporate climate change into the school curriculum in order that school children, the agents of change, can gain new knowledge and skills. Considering the youthful exuberance, inquisitiveness, enthusiasm in these children, the information passed on to them should be looked upon as knowledge delivered. Coupled with the latest technology with which many of them are conversant, the information could be easily delivered and the impact felt within a short time within the school system, according to R. N. Amanchukwu and J. Ezekiel-Hart.

In conclusion, education system should be proactive and effective so as to make the learners (primary, secondary, and postsecondary students) conveyors of information who can effectively address the issue of climate change. In short, climate change education should be considered with all seriousness and given the attention it deserves in our educational system.

By Olumide Idowu (Co-Founder, Climate Wednesday; @OlumideIDOWU)

Union for the Mediterranean unveils COP22 agenda

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Union for the Mediterranean unveils COP22 agenda

In accordance with its mandate, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is deeply involved in the drive for a Mediterranean climate change agenda. Sustainable development issues (water, the environment, climate change, energy, sustainable urban development, the blue economy, transport, climate financing) are at the heart of the UfM’s priority areas for strengthening regional cooperation.

Representatives of member countries at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Conference on Blue Economy, 17 November 2015
Representatives of member countries at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Conference on Blue Economy, 17 November 2015

The UfM therefore wishes to take advantage of the COP22 as an opportunity to act upon certain activities initiated in 2015 and 2016 and that could be integrated into the process of implementing the Paris Agreement. With this in mind, five important initiatives will be launched:

  1. The UfM worked with several regional partners to identify COP events contributing to climate-related activities in the Euro-Mediterranean region. A schedule of events associated with the Mediterranean has therefore been created. It will be presented on 11 November at 3 p.m. in the Civil Society area of the COP22.
  2. The COP22 will also be the occasion for the official launch, on 14 November at 9 a.m. at the European Union Pavilion, of the regional dialogue platform on renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Following the launch in 2016 of the electricity market platform and of the gas platform, the UfM renewable energy and energy efficiency platform aims to promote the gradual implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in order to foster socio-economic development in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
  3. In the framework of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency platform, the UfM-labelled project SPREF (“SEMed Private Renewable Energy Framework”) will be officially launched. SPREF is an innovative framework aimed at boosting private investment in renewable energy in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. With a total budget of around €836 million, the UfM-labelled project, promoted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is intended as a direct stimulus for around €600 million in investments. This project will be launched at the same time as the UfM’s renewable energy and energy efficiency platform on 14 November at 9 a.m. at the European Union Pavilion.
  4. Following the launch of the SPREF project, a conference for private businesses will be held on 15 November at 9 a.m. in the Civil Society area at the COP22. This conference, organised with the COP22’s Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) hub and the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency Management (AMEE) is aimed at informing businesses about the SPREF mechanism in order to encourage them to use it. This conference will therefore be open to all private businesses and professional organisations that are interested in the SPREF mechanism.
  5. Sustainable development and regional stability go hand in hand in the Mediterranean. The transition towards low-carbon development is a tremendous source of opportunity for the region, through the creation of new economic activities, and also offers greater resilience in the face of climatic variations. To that end, the UfM is organising a high-level discussion on these issues. The discussion panel will include Commissioner Arias Cañete (confirmed), the Jordanian Minister of the Environment, the French Minister of the Environment and the Moroccan Minister of the Environment (to be confirmed). The event will take place on 17 November at 4.30 p.m. at the European Union Pavilion.

Lastly, to coincide with the COP22 the UfM will be publishing a booklet of expert opinions on the transition towards low-carbon development in the Mediterranean. All these events should enable a Mediterranean climate agenda to emerge that incorporates the region’s specific challenges.

The UfM is an intergovernmental organisation bringing together the 28 European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean. It provides a unique forum to enhance regional cooperation and dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. It comprises the 28 EU Member States, the European Commission and 15 Mediterranean countries.

Firms now eliminating forest destruction from supply chains

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Firms now eliminating forest destruction from supply chains

Four hundred and fifteen companies have more than 700 supply chain commitments addressing mostly palm oil and timber; fewer focus on cattle, the primary driver of deforestation, and soy

Charlotte Streck, co-founder and director of Climate Focus. The report analyses 600 companies engaged in the production of the big four globally traded commodities responsible for 40 percent of deforestation. Photo credit: www.uwehub.org
Charlotte Streck, co-founder and director of Climate Focus. The report analyses 600 companies engaged in the production of the big four globally traded commodities responsible for 40 percent of deforestation. Photo credit: www.uwehub.org

On the eve of the Paris Agreement’s entrance into force, the first report to show the global “state of play” of private sector efforts to sustainably produce and source raw materials for countless products – from floorboards to ice cream – finds that companies worldwide have started to make good on promises to eliminate forest destruction from their supply chains.

Released by a coalition of leading think tanks and research organisations, the report analyses 600 companies engaged in the production of the big four globally traded commodities responsible for 40 percent of deforestation – palm oil, wood, cattle and soy. It finds that companies are already taking concrete steps to scrutinise their supply chains while corporate forest protection commitments continue to surge – since December 2015, 108 companies made 212 commitments. However, it cautions that, across the board, commitments are not time-bound and progress is mixed on implementation.

The report is part of a multi-year effort to track progress on the 10 goals laid out in the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), a pledge by 190 national governments, sub-national governments, multi-national companies, indigenous groups and NGOs to halve natural forest loss by 2020 and end it by 2030. The assessment provides new, concrete details about action companies along the entire supply chain – from farmers and loggers to manufacturers and retailers – are taking to end the loss of forests, which store carbon and emit it when destroyed. Meeting the New York Declaration’s 10 goals – which call for both forest protection and restoration, key tactics for tackling climate change identified in the Paris Agreement – would cut between 4.5-8.8 billion tons of carbon pollution each year, which is as much as the United States’ current emissions.

“Tomorrow, as the Paris Agreement comes into force, nearly 200 governments shift focus from climate commitments to action,” said Charlotte Streck, co-founder and director of Climate Focus, a climate change think tank that led development of the report. “We need this same shift in corporate sustainability commitments. But action has to be fast as natural forests are still disappearing at an alarming rate, posing the risk that supply chains may only become ‘deforestation-free’ once forests are gone.”

“What we now need, if forests and the climate are to be saved, is action on commodities with the biggest forest impacts, and an increase in partnerships between companies and governments, and among retailers, traders and producers that pool resources to save forests,” continued Streck.

From using satellites to monitor forest loss to training cocoa farmers to grow sustainable crops, the report highlights innovative private sector strategies designed to keep forests in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Central Africa standing. It also sheds light on the barriers and setbacks facing companies as they attempt to translate their ambitious pledges into actual impact on deforestation. In doing so, the report provides evidence of how this sector is seeking to implement sustainability commitments.

The report aggregates, cross-references and interprets data from a range of data sources that dive deep into corporate practices and forest-floor developments to provide the most comprehensive assessment of corporate supply chain commitments to date. Drawing on and consolidating data from 12 initiatives by leading think tanks and research organizations engaged in monitoring forest commitments and incorporating insight from original interviews with corporate sustainability officers, this year’s report focuses on Goal 2 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which calls on companies to end deforestation associated with the production of key agricultural commodities. A second report released at the same time provides an update on all ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests.

In providing a snapshot of the status of these commitments across 600 companies, the Goal 2 report reveals:

  • Implementation has begun. Almost all companies assessed in the report have put their commitments into motion. Between 84-87 percent have identified if and where their operations put forests at risk. And most companies (56-70 percent of producers, processors and trades and 64-87 percent of retailers and manufacturers) have established rules about how goods are produced and sourced that are in line with their commitments. Most companies use certification–where available and tested as a strategy for sourcing sustainable goods.
  • Progress is (too) gradual. The report cautions that commitments are piecemeal. Nearly all company commitments only address one commodity or a specific geography. Only 43-10 percent – of the 415 companies with commitments have set company-wide targets that cover all commodities relevant to the company’s portfolio.
  • Soy and cattle lag. Nearly 60 percent of the companies that source or produce palm oil and 53 percent of those engaged in wood have made commodity specific commitments. For soy (21 percent) and cattle (12 percent), the proportion of companies with commitments is considerably lower. “Only 12 percent of cattle companies engaged in cattle rearing, which feeds our appetite for beef and leather, have commitments in place,” Streck said. “Raising cattle is one of the leading causes of deforestation, but it’s difficult for the sector to make commitments as cows change hands multiple times over their lifespans. Tracing deforestation to the specific animal is a major challenge.” Brazil has nonetheless made some progress on efforts to remove deforestation from beef and soy production, the report suggests. This progress is often achieved not through commitments, but through collaborations among producers, the government and NGOs. In the Brazilian State of Pará, for example, nearly 90 percent of federally inspected slaughterhouses have signed agreements with Greenpeace that commit them to avoiding the purchase of cattle from ranches that contribute to deforestation. And Brazil’s Soy Moratorium is a public-private initiative that has led to drastic reductions in deforestation.
  • Focus on forest hotspots. Encouragingly, more than 90 percent of the commitments come from companies sourcing or producing from deforestation hotspots in Southeast Asia, South America and West Africa. Of these, 32 percent target Brazil, 32 percent focus on Indonesia, 26 percent address Malaysia and 10 percent deal with Paraguay.
  • Western companies dominate. Nearly 90 percent of deforestation commitments come from companies based in North America, Europe and Australia. Corporations in emerging markets are lagging behind their western counterparts, the report says. The report includes notable exceptions: palm oil and timber producers and processors in Southeast Asia – such as Musim Mas and Asia Pulp and Paper – and meat processors and slaughterhouses in Brazil have engaged in forest protection efforts.
  • Suppliers and producers less committed. Significantly, the players who operate closest to the forest floor – such as producers, processors and traders – have fewer commitments than companies “downstream,” such as manufacturers and retailers. Only 17 percent of producers, 20 percent of processors and 13 percent of traders have commitments. This is in contrast to 67 percent of manufacturers and 30 percent of retailers. Here, too, palm oil companies in Southeast Asia and meat processors in Brazil offer examples of “upstream” corporate commitments. “While engagement of companies higher up in the supply chain is significant, it is the actions from companies directly involved in production that show the greatest impact on deforestation,” Streck said.
  • Transparency is key. About half of the companies examined don’t publicly disclose their successes or shortcomings in adhering to their own sustainability policies. In interviews, companies said that compliance with their deforestation policies range from between 50 and 100 percent. However, a lack of specific details about compliance makes independent monitoring of implementation efforts a sticking point, the report finds.
  • Monitoring is difficult. Most companies have monitoring systems in place that enable them to trace their commodities along part of the supply chain. But they said in interviews that tracing these commodities – particularly soy and palm oil – all the way back to the farm level is challenging. About a third of the companies interviewed have a system in place for monitoring compliance along the entire supply chain. These include satellite mapping systems that provide up-to-date information and quickly expose sources of deforestation. “Ultimately, it is not pledges, but realising those pledges that will end deforestation,” Streck said. “Implementation and monitoring are key. More action by both public and private sector players – and sooner – is needed to have a meaningful impact on deforestation by 2020 and to ultimately end it by 2030.”

 

Companies can’t do it alone

The report identifies the four stages companies go through to realise their commitments. Companies first adopt supply chain commitments, and then implement these commitments through company policies and operational plans. To successfully realise these plans, companies need the firm support of governments, non-supply chain private actors such as financial institutions, and NGOs. Finally, companies must determine the overall impact of their efforts on deforestation.

Governments, in particular, the report finds, are essential for helping companies to deliver on their forest commitments. For example, companies interviewed for the report said that poor land-use planning, weak law enforcement and insufficient monitoring and accountability systems in forest countries where they operate make it difficult for them to achieve their goals.

“The private sector can’t deforest alone; some governments enable deforestation by making it possible for companies to do so without impunity,” Streck said. “Governments must get a firm grip on what’s happening in their forests, establish policies that keep illegal activity at bay and protect the rights of indigenous and local communities to avoid land conflicts so that businesses can operate on the ground without risk.”

Tackling deforestation in Indonesia and Brazil, the report asserts, is most urgent, due to a spike in forest fires in Indonesia (associated with the production of palm oil and timber) and a recent increase in deforestation in Brazil (due to soy and cattle production). The report finds that Southeast Asia has the highest rates of deforestation in the period 2010-2014 (Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos). Most of the forest loss there is linked to palm oil, timber and, more recently, rubber.

Deforestation is also on an upswing in West Africa. In Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Cameroon, deforestation rates have more than doubled or tripled from 2001 to 2009. The expansion of palm oil, sugar and cocoa is leading to forest loss.

Some companies are choosing to work with only those countries showing a commitment to eliminating deforestation. In 2015, for example, Unilever and Marks & Spencer committed to preferential sourcing from the 50 tropical forest countries engaged in the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) – a policy included in the Paris Agreement.

Twelve think tanks and research organisations contributed to the two reports: CDP, Climate Focus, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Forest Trends, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC), Global Canopy Programme (GCP), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Rainforest Alliance, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), The Sustainability Consortium (TSC), Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and Global Forest Watch.

Career schools: Choice or necessity? (1)

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Career schools: Choice or necessity? (1)

The reality here is that changes in today’s global market make career or vocational schools attractive.

Even though Nigeria is a developing country, we are still impacted by globalisation based on some of the characteristics of our economy or preferably our socio-economic status.

The need for career schools has been underlined
The need for career schools has been underlined

As we know, globalisation creates greater opportunities for firms and organisations in less industrialised countries to tap into more and larger markets around the world. Being an active participant in the global market also allows those of us in less industrialised countries to become part of international production networks and supply chains that are the main conduits of trade. This will and can happen quicker by providing educational platforms that are not only theory based but hands –on as well.

In the past we were taught to think globally and act locally – In this new era, this 21st century, the reality is that we think and act globally. The fact is that, we are no longer locked into the placed-based model of schooling, so we have no need to follow the same old rules. Instead of adhering to only four-by-four plan or 6-3-3-4 plan (which ends in four years of college), the new breed of global students are getting a “raging” education on campus, online, on the road, and on their terms and timelines. Not only are they not obsessing about the names of their alma mater, they are figuring out how to blend a perfect brew of education options that will allow them to glide into the global economy.

It should be noted that I’m not opposed to a four-year degree; instead, I’m simply making a strong case for an option that many people overlook when deciding what to do after high school. The fact is that there are pros and cons to both career colleges and traditional colleges. A traditional college education provides students with a broader knowledge base and does not typically involve a lot of hands on or practical education. Instead it focuses on the theories of subjects. Because of this, graduates often find themselves unemployed after school because jobs are going to those who already have experience and specific training.

In developing countries like Nigeria, it is imperative that we adopt the necessity of having career schools and making it accessible to students who prefer it.

The fact that a career school offers hands on training, job experience through internship and a good education at a much lower cost is a major benefit of receiving degrees from career colleges or schools. Applicable consideration should be given to this educational platform, because students can often find a career school in their area that offers classes in the fields that they are considering working or gaining a profession. Because of this, the exorbitant costs of rooms and boards often associated with traditional universities can be avoided, unless, of course, the school also caters to non-local students. In addition, admission is usually more open in career schools. This means that those who could not get into traditional schools can still have access to a good education and the tools that are necessary to acquire a fulfilling and successful career.

It is the goal of career schools to ensure that the curricula are focused on a specific field and as students get further along in the process, classes focus on the actual duties they will perform when they begin working in the real world. This removes the scary disconnect that often exists between what a student at a four year school is trained to do and what they are actually expected to do when they hit the ground at a new job, assuming they can get one right out of college.

Another benefit of a focused education is the fact that graduate students can join the workforce faster than they would be able to manage at a four year school. That means that they have more time in their professional lives to establish themselves as experts in their fields.

Many would argue that the starting salaries for graduates of career colleges are less than what a graduate with a bachelor’s degree might expect. While this is true in some cases, in other cases such as in technical industries, this could not be further from the truth.

In short, there are benefits and drawbacks to both kinds of education, and a student’s choice usually reflects their overall life goals and ambitions. An associate degree or diploma from a good career college or school is an asset and a good investment. I believe that educational entities, government and private sectors would want to ensure that the quality of education offered by career colleges and schools is every bit as good as that which is offered by traditional four year universities.

Even though, the global market is starting to shift to competency-based educational platforms, the fact still remains that for a lot of people, going to a four-year college seems like an automatic choice when they graduate from high school, not a choice based on the natural abilities of the students nor results from assessment tests based on natural mental capacity and desired future goals. Some of the reasons include higher income, family norm, and general expectation. The myth here is that a bachelor’s degree accounted for an average of $14,600 (using the US Dollars as a test case) in additional income per year compared to a high school diploma or career school diploma. The fact is that, this is not true any longer and it does not apply to all disciplines.

A graduate that works in a bank is likely to earn less than a high school student who attended a 12-24 months (one-two year) course in a course like process technology. Also due to the increasingly high costs associated with a college education and other draw backs, it is highly important that government and or private sectors consider providing students with alternative educational options such as trade or career schools.

Beside the expenses attached to four year college (vs. the amount attached to a career school), the length of schooling, drop out and late graduation rates, and the poor condition of educational curricula, job prospects for new graduates may not be as bright as they had expected. Although some college majors are faring better than others when it comes to labour market outcomes, over the past decade, graduates have faced sluggish labour markets, young graduates are faced with limited job opportunities and difficulty paying off incurred educational expenses. College degrees are a career investment that require a considerable amount of both time and money, and the portion of graduates who are unable to find desirable employment (or employment at all!) are seeing negative returns. That is one of the major problem plaguing developing countries like ours.

Certainly, it is true and important that we rapidly grow our technology base in general, and technology is certainly a way to emancipate our people and country economically, but that does not mean we should increase the number of years that the students will use to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, particularly in today’s fast-paced global market. What I propose we do is to provide state of the art resources, equipment and highly competent instructors that will provide hands on training for the student in focused areas, so that upon completing at least a 12-24 months course in specific field, not only will they be able to apply their didactic knowledge, but they will also be able to learn their hands on career on a daily basis. This will also prepare them for the work force and create little to no additional hands on training at work, except for the company’s onboarding process and orientation.

I believe that Nigeria should certainly become the catalyst for economic emancipation for other continents, however, I will say that what is needed at this point again, is not the number of years used in being schooled, particularly in technology, rather it is the engineering of a competency based educational platform, that will create a quick and sustainable socio-economic growth in Nigeria.

Again, it should be noted that I’m not opposed to a four-year degree; instead, I’m simply making a strong case for an option that many people overlook when deciding what to do after high school. And also asking government parties and non-governmental parties to consider the importance of competency based education as a resource that will become one of the marquis of educational platforms in the nearest future.

The fact still remains that it’s not everyone that will attend a four year college or that may even have the mental health, capacity, learning style and skill set for a four-year college, but everyone is capable and can learn. For our citizens that are hands-on learner, the excitement of getting out of the classroom and starting to work immediately after high school or completion of their vocation, keeps them engaged and foster a higher completion rate in the schools.

Going back to the basics; in most developing countries, like ours, Nigeria; and considering the economic status, fewer and fewer children graduate from secondary school and many don’t even finish primary school, these are a sure indication that the educational system needs to be reformed and revolutionised at the same time.

In Part 2, we will focus on: “The Necessity of Educational Flexibility.”

By Laide R. Alexander (Houston, Texas, United States of America)

Biosafety forum to address food security, economic development

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Biosafety forum to address food security, economic development

The Second National Biosafety Conference in Nigeria scheduled to hold between 10th and 11th November, 2016 in Abuja, the federal capital city, will address the twin objectives of food security and economic growth.

Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). Photo credit: climatereporters.com
Dr Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). Photo credit: climatereporters.com

Organised by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) in collaboration of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the theme of this year’s conference is “Biosafety, Food Security and Economic Development in Nigeria”.

The National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015 is the law that established NBMA to, among other things, be charged with the responsibility for providing regulatory framework, institutional and administrative mechanism for safety measures in the application of modern biotechnology in Nigeria.

The law is to operate in accordance with established International laws, procedures and rules that govern the global adoption of the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for the benefits of farmers, without adverse effects on human health and the environment.

The occasion is expected to be attended by Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who will be the Keynote Speaker. Director-General of RMRDC, Hussaini Ibrahim, and that of NBMA, Rufus Ebegba, will be Chief Host and Convener respectively.

The objectives of the conference, according to Dr Ebegba, in an interview, are “to enlighten stakeholders on the National Biosafety Act and the National Biosafety Management Agency’s  mandate; bring regulators and scientist together for information sharing on the role of NBMA with the national mandate to regulate modern biotechnology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria; to develop and maintain professional standards in the field of biosafety with a view of developing national academic biosafety curriculum.”

According to him, “other objectives are to advance biosafety as a scientific discipline through education and public awareness; to provide stakeholder sustained opportunities for biosafety communication, education and participation in the development of standards, guidelines and regulations; to expand Biosafety awareness and promoting safety at work place in order to reduce the potential for occupational illness and adverse environmental impact; to enlighten the media on the need to disseminate right information to the members of the public, on issues of Biosafety and GMOs for the general public not to be ill informed and to educate scientists on the need for responsible modern biotechnology engagement.”

Ebegba stressed that, in order to achieve the two-day conference objectives, which also serves as information sharing platform, a combination of key note address and plenary sessions would be employed through power point presentations.

The NBMA DG further said that stakeholders on GMO regulations would share information together and the media and scientists would be enlightened through different topics in Biosafety. “There is the veritable need for collaboration between regulators, researchers and international partners on the issue of biosafety capacity building for national development and building trust in the technology. Also, there is the need for professional standards in the field of biosafety with a view to develop national academic biosafety curriculum,” he said.

The expected outcomes of the conference will include but not limited to strengthened awareness and information sharing through conference; increased collaboration for national development through proper science based biosafety regulation; enlightened media on the need to disseminate right information to the members of the public, on issues of Biosafety and Genetically Modified Organisms for the general public not to be ill-informed and desired Biosafety curriculum.

While the NBMA Act of 2015 is the only safety valve in the adoption of modern biotechnology, the deployment and use of GMOs for national economic development in Nigeria, Ebegba added that the Act mandates the Agency to provide a regulatory framework, which include institutional and administrative mechanisms that would adequately safe guard human health and the environment while harnessing the potentials of the technology for the benefit of Nigerians.

Hajara Yusuf, Institutional Biosafety Officer with the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), explained that “NiBSA was inaugurated in 2010 as a response to global calls to institute biological safety measures to prevent unethical use of genetically modified organisms and other bio-threats. The NiBSA is a professional association, which aims to congregate practitioners to promote and facilitate the sharing of biosafety information in Nigeria.”

The growing world population is a major challenge that has led to increased demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel. It has also led to loss of agricultural land, shortage of water for irrigation, climate change, increasing demand for renewable fuels, reduced agro-biodiversity and loss of natural habitats and biodiversity.

As a result, Ebegba said, “The application of modern biotechnology under a legal framework can be a valuable tool for addressing the several challenges  arising from national population growth and giving consumers in Nigeria the sense of choice and availability of quality modern biotechnology products under a sustainable environment.

“Responsible and safe practice of modern biotechnology under a legal biosafety regime has become a hallmark of economic drive globally and Nigeria as a nation should take advantage of the safe aspects of the technology. The Act now paves the way for Institutions to carry out modern biotechnology innovation,” Ebegba concluded.

By Abdallah el-Kurebe 

GMO foods regulation and need for independent labelling agency

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GMO foods regulation and need for independent labelling agency

Recently, a very misleading press statement was released. The heading was titled “GMO foods: FG may shut Shoprite, Next superstores”. The opening paragraph read as follows:

A Shoprite outlet, one of the outfits involved in the GMO foods regulation controversy
A Shoprite outlet, one of the outfits involved in the GMO foods regulation controversy

“The Federal Government, through its National Biosafety Management Agency, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to retail store giants, Shoprite and Next Cash ‘N’ Carry to withdraw any product that contains Genetically Modified Organisms from their shelves or risk a total shutdown.”

It ended with the paragraph below:

“The NBMA boss added, ‘Please, it is an advice and this advice is not without a legal backing. So we urge you to withdraw all GMO foods from your shelves and formalise your dealings by obtaining permits’.”

Clearly, it is not about regulating or testing the safety of these GMO products, NBMA’s gripe is that these companies need to come and get licenses from them. At this point one must wonder where NAFDAC fits in all this.

In the past two years and with each passing day, it has become clear that the federal government is hell bent on shoving GMO foods down our throats whether we like it or not. This decision has been taken despite five million Nigerians petitioning the federal government through NBMA to stop the release of Monsanto’s GMO cotton and Corn in to our food system.

The so-called regulatory agency acts as a promoter for GMO foods, without carrying out independent animal or human trials on these foods. They are so eager to have us eating GMOs despite the Health, environmental and economic detriments to our balance of trade and exports.

Despite the fact that, even after 20 years, these foods are still steeped in controversy and six of the eight G8 countries have bans on cultivation and human consumption of these foods.

Despite the most recent investigative report published on the 29/10/16 by the New York times titled “Uncertain Harvest: Doubts About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops” concludes that, genetic modification in the United States and Canada has not accelerated increases in crop yields or led to an overall reduction in the use of chemical pesticides. I quote from the article below:

“The promise of genetic modification was twofold: By making crops immune to the effects of weed killers and inherently resistant to many pests, they would grow so robustly that they would become indispensable to feeding the world’s growing population, while also requiring fewer applications of sprayed pesticides.

Twenty years ago, Europe largely rejected genetic modification at the same time the United States and Canada were embracing it. Comparing results on the two continents, using independent data as well as academic and industry research, shows how the technology has fallen short of the promise.

An analysis by The Times using United Nations data showed that the United States and Canada have gained no discernible advantage in yields – food per acre – when measured against Western Europe, a region with comparably modernised agricultural producers like France and Germany.

Also, a recent National Academy of Sciences report found that ‘there was little evidence’ that the introduction of genetically modified crops in the United States had led to yield gains beyond those seen in conventional crops.”

Despite evidence of potential contamination of natural varieties by wind drift as well as the fact that Organic food has a retail value four times the value of GMO food with a huge global demand (A potential high source of forex). Neither has the fact that we would be shutting ourselves out of our biggest export market (Europe). Incidentally GMO producers such as the USA and CHINA are net exporters of food but net importers of Organic food.

Neither does the dependency on foreign nations and Bio-tech companies to supply us seeds that do not self-proliferate attached to patent claims making our farmers dependent on foreign seeds and expensive inputs every year to plant food.

Despite Japanese partnerships in Agriculture all over Africa, our Government is not interested in pursuing or partnering to learn and promote healthy organic agriculture that the industrial giant (Japan) is famous for.

Despite our president’s multiple trips to Germany, looking in to the methods by which Germany has created high yield agriculture in a sustainable and healthy way is a direction our government seems determined to look away from.

Despite the failures of GMO cotton in Burkina Faso and the expulsion of Monsanto from India (due to the high prices of using GMO seeds and inputs creating huge financial burdens on farmers), our government marches forward nonetheless.

Despite our lack of a robust, integrity filled regulatory Infrastructure, Our government tells us that they will ensure roasted corn on the road side is labelled as GMOs, and the tin cans Nigerians buy their beans in is labelled GMO beans, the bag of Ogi you buy in the market would also be labelled GMO…. We are supposed to believe this. A nation that is yet to achieve safe standards of beans for export to the European Union, an issue that would have been unheard of locally if Europe had not banned the importation of our beans because, guess what, you and I don’t matter; poisoned beans is good for you, it’s only an issue when we need to export. This is the regulatory system we are going to further burden and trust.

A Nigerian scientist (Samson prolific on twitter), is domesticating aeroponics in Nigeria, a process by which you can grow foods without soil (eliminating the need for weed control), there are videos of the young scientist harvesting yams from the air, there are farms practising agro-ecology, permaculture. Farmers are yet to get involved with integrated pest management systems (using beneficial insects instead of chemicals to control pest) as well as automated weed removal technology, sustainable boogies that use pneumatic (air) pressure to remove weeds. None of these deter our government from setting us on the GMO path despite the fact that these crops once released pollute our entire gene pool and cannot be recalled.

Since our government have barely educated the people about GMOs and its real cause for concern, instead has chosen to proceed full steam ahead with test and GMO licensing, I kindly ask our federal government and GMO overlords to kindly look favourably upon setting up a National Organic Promotion, Protection & Certification Council. The mandate of this body would be to:

  • Test for the contamination of natural varieties
  • Ensure sufficient distance is maintained to prevent contamination of our natural varieties
  • Help local farmers litigate against contamination of their foods
  • Educate farmers on best natural/organic practices
  • Help farmers meet export standards and key in to the huge global demand for organic foods
  • Certify foods to be Organic.
  • Engage independent scientist to conduct trials on foods and their effect on Human and animal health

We also need an independent GMO labelling agency. The NBMA is overflowing with conflict of interest. Rather than safe guard the Nigerian people’s health and interest, it would seem that they have been mandated to be GMO promoters. The labelling agency should be under the purview of the consumer protection agency. With these in place, just maybe the will of the people would not be completely trampled upon by what is shaping out to be, in this regard at least, a tyrannical government.

By Patrick Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

How sustainable transport can save trillions

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How sustainable transport can save trillions

Greater investment in greener, more sustainable transport systems is essential for propelling the economic and social development that is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to an expert panel report delivered to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last Friday.

The Bus Rapid Transit of Metz uses a diesel-electric hybrid driving system, developed by Belgian Van Hool manufacturer. Photo credit: Wikipedia
The Bus Rapid Transit of Metz uses a diesel-electric hybrid driving system, developed by Belgian Van Hool manufacturer. Photo credit: Wikipedia

Finding that global, national and local transport systems are hobbled by inefficiencies and a lack of sustainable investments, the expert panel issued a report entitled “Mobilising Sustainable Transport for Development”, which provides 10 recommendations on how governments, businesses and civil society should re-direct resources in the transport sector to advance sustainable development.

The experts, members of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, include representatives from aviation, road, rail, public transport and maritime industries and associations. The recommendations address issues of policy, technology and financing and grew out of the diverse perspectives and practical experience of the panel.

The report found that a transformational change to sustainable transport can be realised through annual investments of around $2 trillion, similar to the current ‘business as usual’ spending of $1.4 trillion to $2.1 trillion.

Investments in sustainable transport, the experts found, could lead to fuel savings and lower operational costs, decreased congestion and reduced air pollution. Additionally, it is estimated that efforts to promote sustainable transport can deliver savings of up to $70 trillion by 2050.

A move to sustainable freight and passenger transport that includes integrated port terminals, well-planned airports and harmonized standards and regulations for efficient border crossings, could produce a global GDP increase by $2.6 trillion.

Writing in the report’s foreword, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that sustainable transport was essential to efforts to fight climate change, reduce air pollution and improve road safety.

“Sustainable transport supports inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, access to markets, the empowerment of women, and the well-being of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.”

Focusing on important issues such as road safety, traffic congestion and climate impacts, the expert panel’s 10 specific actions include the establishment of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, the promotion of sustainable transport technologies and the increase of international development funding. The report calls for robust engagement by all stakeholders to ensure all members of society have access to jobs, markets, education and health care, through sustainable transport.

At present, the transport sector is responsible for approximately 23 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and 3.5 million premature deaths result from outdoor air pollution annually, mostly in low and middle income countries. About 10 to 15 per cent of food is lost during processing, transport and storage given a lack of modern facilities, trucks, access to refrigeration, and poor roads. Nearly one billion people worldwide still lack adequate access to road networks, which increase isolation and marginalisation and deepen social inequities. Over 1.2 million people are killed annually in road traffic accidents, causing in addition to human loss and suffering, billions of dollars of associated costs which amount, in some countries, to 1-3 per cent of GDP.

“Transport can build prosperity in the broadest sense, enhancing the quality of life for all while protecting the environment and fighting climate change,” said Martin Lundstedt, CEO of Volvo and co-chair of the High-Level Group. “We need bold innovation and a true partnership among governments, civil society and the private sector.”

“Sustainable Transport is crucial for the improvement in the quality of life of people both in cities and rural settings, at a national and international level,” stated Carolina Tohá, Mayor of Santiago, Chile and the other co-chair of the Group.

“Sustainable Transport enables people to access better services, jobs, opportunities and family connections. It is also a space where people spend a significant amount of time every day, and therefore it needs to consider safety issues as well as conditions of dignity for users. Leaving no-one behind in the context of Sustainable Transport means that in the coming decades we are able to build transport systems that are inclusive, integrated, gender-sensitive and that have people’s needs at their core.” High-Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport

On 8 August 2014, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed members of a High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport to provide recommendations on sustainable transport actionable at global, national, local and sector levels.

The Advisory Group, established for a period of three years, will work with governments, transport providers (aviation, marine, ferry, rail, road, and urban public transport), businesses, financial institutions, civil society and other stakeholders to promote sustainable transport systems and their integration into development strategies and policies, including in climate action.

300 million children breathe toxic air, says UNICEF

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300 million children breathe toxic air, says UNICEF

Almost one in seven of the world’s children, 300 million, live in areas with the most toxic levels of outdoor air pollution – six or more times higher than international guidelines – reveals a new UNICEF report.

Children exposed to air pollution
Children exposed to air pollution

Clear the Air for Children uses satellite imagery to show for the first time how many children are exposed to outdoor pollution that exceeds global guidelines set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and where they live across the globe.

The findings come a week ahead of the COP 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, where UNICEF is calling on world leaders to take urgent action to cut air pollution in their countries.

“Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year – and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake. “Pollutants don’t only harm children’s developing lungs – they can actually cross the blood-brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains – and, thus, their futures. No society can afford to ignore air pollution.”

The satellite imagery confirms that around two billion children live in areas where outdoor air pollution, caused by factors such as vehicle emissions, heavy use of fossil fuels, dust and burning of waste, exceeds minimum air quality guidelines set by the WHO. South Asia has the largest number of children living in these areas, at 620 million, with Africa following at 520 million children. The East Asia and Pacific region has 450 million children living in areas that exceed guideline limits.

The study also examines the heavy toll of indoor pollution, commonly caused by use of fuels like coal and wood for cooking and heating, which mostly affects children in low-income, rural areas.

Together, outdoor and indoor air pollution are directly linked to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases that account for almost one in 10 under-five deaths, making air pollution one of the leading dangers to children’s health.

Children are more susceptible than adults to both indoor and outdoor air pollution as their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing and their respiratory tracts are more permeable. Young children also breathe faster than adults, and take in more air relative to their body weight. The most disadvantaged, who already tend to have poorer health and inadequate access to health services, are the most vulnerable to the illnesses caused by polluted air.

UNICEF is asking world leaders attending COP 22 to take four urgent steps in their countries to protect children from air pollution.

  • Reduce pollution: All countries should work to meet WHO global air quality guidelines to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children. To achieve this, governments should adopt such measures as cutting back on fossil fuel combustion and investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
  • Increase children’s access to healthcare: Investing in children’s overall healthcare – including immunisation campaigns and improving knowledge, community management and numbers seeking care for pneumonia (a leading killer of children under five) – will improve their resilience to air pollution and their ability to recover from diseases and conditions linked to it.
  • Minimise children’s exposure: Sources of pollution such as factories should not be located within the vicinity of schools and playgrounds. Better waste management can reduce the amount of waste that is burned within communities. Cleaner cookstoves can help improve air quality within homes. Reducing air pollution overall can help lower children’s exposure.
  • Monitor air pollution: Better monitoring has been proven to help children, youth, families and communities to reduce their exposure to air pollution, become more informed about its causes, and advocate for changes that make the air safer to breathe.

“We protect our children when we protect the quality of our air. Both are central to our future,” Lake said.

UNICEF is advocating for lower levels of air pollution, while also working on the ground to protect children from its effects. For example, the children’s organisation backs the development, distribution and use of cleaner cookstoves in Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and other countries, and works through some of its country programmes to reduce the impact of outdoor air pollution on children’s health. It also supports programmes to increase children’s access to quality healthcare and to vaccinate them against conditions like pneumonia.

COP22: Least developed nations seek fair, ambitious action

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COP22: Least developed nations seek fair, ambitious action

A group of nations deemed highly disadvantaged in respective countries’ development process has called for fair and ambitious action at the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22), which holds 7-18 November 2016 in Marrakech. The negotiations come after a year of growing international political momentum to address climate change, following the historic adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015.

Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Chair of the LDC group, which is calling for fair and ambitious action at COP22
Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, Chair of the LDC group, which is calling for fair and ambitious action at COP22

The 48-nation group is operating under the umbrella body, the Least Developed Countries (LDC). Chair of LDC, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, says: “COP22 will be an action and implementation COP. As the world’s poorest countries, the LDC group calls for fair and ambitious action. We must build upon the foundations set in Paris to construct robust rules to support the Agreement’s implementation.”

Noting with concern that full implementation of current pledges by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions puts the world on track for 3-3.5°C of warming above pre-industrial levels, Mr Mpanu-Mpanu notes, adding: “Science tells us that beyond temperature increases of 1.5°C the future of our planet stands on increasingly thin ice. It is imperative for communities across the world that countries take seriously their goal to pursue efforts to keep temperatures below 1.5°C. We cannot afford to treat this as an aspirational goal. An upwards spiralling of commitments to cut emissions that is both fair and proportionate to challenge rising before us is vital.”

LDCs plan to contribute to these global efforts through the LDC Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative (REEEI) for Sustainable Development, among other ways.

He stresses: “The upcoming launch of the LDC REEEI in Marrakech demonstrates the continued commitment of the LDC group to real solutions that benefit real people on the ground. The Initiativewill enable LDCs to leapfrog fossil fuel based energy and generate prosperity by bringing modern, clean, resilient energy systems to millions of energy-starved people.”

LDCs are particularly vulnerable to climate change, with hazards including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, increased drought and floods and the spread of tropical diseases threatening health and food security. “As LDCs, we lack the resources and capacity to adequately protect our communities from the devastating impacts of climate change. In Marrakech we seek greater commitment from developed countries to provide financial support, technology and capacity building to enable LDCs to respond to the climate crisis,” says the LDC group chair.

The Marrakech meeting will see entry into force of the Paris Agreement on 4 November. He comments: “The first meeting of the CMA is an important springboard for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. We celebrate newfound global unity to act on climate change. But given the moment of entry into force has arrived earlier than anticipated we must also ensure countries yet to deposit their instruments of ratification are not left behind on the launchpad. We look forward to an inclusive and transparent process in Marrakech that allows all countries to participate as we approach this next hurdle.”

He underlines the necessity of pre-2020 action: “The impacts of climate change are already upon us. Pre-2020 action must be strengthened urgently to provide the thrust needed to propel our economies and policies towards effective, sustainable and ambitious actions.”

The LDC group has already convened in Marrakech for preparatory meetings from 1-2 November, to consolidate LDC positions and strategies ahead of the upcoming negotiations.

Currently, the 48 LDCs comprise around 880 million people, 12 per cent of the world population, which face severe structural impediments to growth. However, the LDCs account for less than 2 per cent of world GDP and around 1 per cent of world trade.

Mozambique, firm to build $80m solar plant

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Mozambique, firm to build $80m solar plant

Mozambique has reached an agreement with a private enterprise towards the development of the country’s first large scale solar plant. Scatec Solar and Norfund signed the Power Purchase Agreement securing  the sale of solar power over a 25-year period to the state owned utility Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM).

A solar panel being prepared for use. Mozambique is developing it’s first large scale solar plant Photo credit: greenchipstocks.com
A solar panel being prepared for use. Mozambique is developing it’s first large scale solar plant Photo credit: greenchipstocks.com

The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Maputo on Monday in the presence of the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Børge Brende; the Mozambican Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mrs Letícia Klemens; as well as Dr Mateus Magala, Chairman & CEO of EDM. The project is the first major solar plant to be built in the country and represents an important first step in realising Mozambique’s ambition to increase renewable power generation in its energy mix.

The 40 MW plant is located close to the city of Mocuba in the Zambézia Province, and is expected to deliver 77,000 MWh per year of much needed electricity to the northern regions of Mozambique. The plant will deliver power to the national grid and produce enough energy to serve about 175 000 households.

In addition to this new 40 MW plant in Mozambique, the company operates 200 MW of solar power plants in South Africa and Rwanda and has new projects under development across Africa, including Mali, Nigeria and Kenya.

A shareholder agreement was also signed between KLP Norfund Investments AS, Scatec Solar and EDM. The required project investment is estimated at $80 million. Scatec Solar (52.5%), KLP Norfund Investments (22.5%) and EDM (25%) will provide equity, while IFC, the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund intend to provide project finance debt. The parties are targeting financial close and solar plant construction start in the first quarter of 2017.

“This is an excellent example of how private public partnerships can deliver renewable energy and support further economic growth in Mozambique. EDM and the government of Mozambique have demonstrated strong leadership in taking this project forward and it paves the way for further investments in renewable energy in the country,” says Scatec Solar CEO, Raymond Carlsen.

“Access to reliable energy is a prerequisite for development. Only 3% of the world’s electricity is generated in Africa, although 15% of the world’s population lives here. Clean energy is a focus investment area for Norfund, and we appreciate being a partner in this first independent solar power producer project in Mozambique together with EDM and Scatec Solar,” says Norfund CEO, Kjell Roland.

The project is the result of a partnership between the governments of Norway and Mozambique. The Norwegian government has provided economic support as well as technical expertise to the energy sector in Mozambique for several years.

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