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Ivorian, Kpokro, joins mercury-free dentistry alliance exco

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Ivorian, Kpokro, joins mercury-free dentistry alliance exco

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has named Domimique Bally Kpokro of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to its five-person Executive Committee.

Domimique Bally Kpokro
Domimique Bally Kpokro

Mr. Kpokro is president of the African Centre for Environmenal Health and vice president for Africa, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry.  He will remain in Abidjan in these positions.

Mr. Charlie Brown, American, President of the World Alliance, said, “It has been my honour to work with Dominique Bally Kpokro since 2010; he is truly one of the foremost young environmental leaders in the world. I was in Abidjan last year (April 2015) for a splendid conference Dominique organised, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) workshop for francophone Africa to transition the region to mercury-free dentistry.”

The old form of dentistry was to use amalgam, a material that is 50% mercury, a powerful neurotoxin and environmental menace.  The Minamata Convention on Mercury calls for a transition to mercury-free dentistry. Since it burst onto the scene in 2010, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has steadily expanded its global mission, and now has programmes in every region, with a particular emphasis on West Africa and East Africa.

Led by NGO leader Mr. Leslie Adogame of SRADev Nigeria, the nation of Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s focal point in the campaign for mercury-free dentistry. The now-famous Abuja Declaration for Mercury-Free Dentistry for Africa, drafted in Abuja in 2014 and endorsed by 40 civil society organisations from across West, North, East, Central, and Southern Africa, calls for Africa to the be the first continent to be rid of mercury-free dentistry, starting with a ban for children.

Dr. Shahriar Hossain of Bangladesh, leader of the Asian campaign for the World Alliance, said: “Dominique Bally is well known in Asia for his work against toxins and for better environment for all. His appointment will be very well received in my region.”

Mr. Kpokro said: “I have been to 15 African nations to work for mercury-free dentistry.  In this new role with the World Alliance, I will make sure that Africa’s voice is equal to all others.  Working with my esteemed colleagues, I intend to accelerate the movement to mercury-free dentistry across Africa.  Today, I am pleased to say, we have campaigns across West, North, East, Central, and Southern Africa.”

With its Secretariat in Washington, the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry has a worldwide network with nine regional vice presidents and NGO representatives in 40 nations.  Led by professionals in dentistry, medicine, ecology, engineering, journalism, and law, it works in partnership with UNEP and governments to implement the transition to mercury-free, amalgam-free dentistry.

Kpokro added: “The government of Cote d’Ivoire is implementing a full transition to mercury-free dentistry, and I salute the work of The Ministry of environment Dr Allah Kouadio Remi through his General Director of Environment Pr. George Kouadio, for establishing and allowing a permanent dialogue with all stakeholders in charge of the implementation of such transition to mercury-free dentistry.”

‘Hawai’i Commitments’ emerges as global conservation summit ends

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‘Hawai’i Commitments’ emerges as global conservation summit ends

The IUCN World Conservation Congress closed on Saturday in Hawaiʻi, setting the global conservation agenda for the next four years and defining a roadmap for the implementation of the historic agreements adopted in 2015.

Dancers of Nakinimakalehua Consortium (with Halau Ke'alaokamaile, Pa'u O Hi'iaka, Halau Kamaluokaleihulu and Halau Hi'iakainamakalehua) take the stage during the closing performances in the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening ceremony, Neal S. Blaisdell Centre arena in Hawai'i, Thursday, September 1, 2016. Photo credit: CTY - HSA / Bruce Asato
Dancers of Nakinimakalehua Consortium (with Halau Ke’alaokamaile, Pa’u O Hi’iaka, Halau Kamaluokaleihulu and Halau Hi’iakainamakalehua) take the stage during the closing performances in the IUCN World Conservation Congress opening ceremony, Neal S. Blaisdell Centre arena in Hawai’i, Thursday, September 1, 2016. Photo credit: CTY – HSA / Bruce Asato

The IUCN Congress has drawn to a close with the presentation of the Hawai’i Commitments. This document, titled “Navigating Island Earth”, was shaped by debates and deliberations over the last 10 days, and opened for comment to some 10,000 participants from 192 countries.

It outlines opportunities to address some of the greatest challenges facing nature conservation and calls for a commitment to implement them. It encapsulates the collective commitment by all who attended the Congress to undertake profound transformations in how human societies live on Earth, with particular attention to making our patterns of production and consumption more sustainable.

“Some of the world’s greatest minds and most dedicated professionals met here at the IUCN Congress to decide on the most urgent action needed to ensure the long-term survival of life on Earth and our planet’s ability to sustain us,” says Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General. “This IUCN Congress has come at a pivotal time in our planet’s history as we find ourselves at a crossroad, facing challenges of unprecedented magnitude.

“Today, we leave Hawaiʻi equipped with a much clearer roadmap for advancing on the post-2015 agenda, confident that we have taken our first steps on the road to a sustainable future where nature and human progress support each other.”

With more than 10,000 registered participants, the event brought together leaders from government, civil society, indigenous, faith and spiritual communities, the private sector, and academia, to collectively decide on actions to address the most pressing conservation and sustainable development challenges.

More than 100 resolutions and recommendations have been adopted by IUCN Members – a unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs – many of which call on third parties to take action on a wide range of urgent conservation issues.

Key decisions included closure of domestic markets for elephant ivory, the urgency of protecting the high seas, the need to protect primary forests, no-go areas for industrial activities within protected areas and an official IUCN policy on biodiversity offsets.

“International decision-makers have converged on the most urgently needed conservation action,” says IUCN President, Zhang Xinsheng. “IUCN’s more than 1,300 Members behind these decisions give them the weight to drive the real change needed to address some of the biggest challenges our planet faces today.”

IUCN Members have also approved a new programme for IUCN for the next four years and elected new IUCN leadership.

The IUCN Congress put new issues on the global sustainability agenda, including the importance of linking spirituality, religion, culture and conservation, and the need to implement nature-based solutions – actions that protect and manage ecosystems, while effectively addressing societal challenges, such as food and water security, climate change, disaster risk reduction, human health and economic well-being.

U.S. President Obama’s announcement to expand the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument – now the largest protected area in the world – set the scene for the IUCN Congress.

Other announcements included the commitment from Governor Ige of Hawaiʻi to protect 30% of  Hawai’i’s highest  priority watershed  forests by 2030, effectively manage 30% of Hawai‘i’s nearshore waters by 2030, double local food production and achieve 100 % renewable energy in the electricity sector by 2045.

Colombia has announced the quadrupling in size of the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary bringing it to 27,000 km2.

The IUCN Congress also saw new commitments to the Bonn Challenge initiative to restore 150 million hectares of degraded land by 2050. With the latest pledges from Malawi and Guatemala, total Bonn Challenge pledges have now exceeded 113 million hectares, committed by 36 governments, organisations and companies.

The next IUCN World Conservation Congress will take place in 2020.

Market approaches adjudged key to combatting climate change

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Market approaches adjudged key to combatting climate change

Experience gained using markets in the Asia-Pacific region to combat climate change can help ensure success of the global climate change agreement adopted in Paris last December.

The International Convention Centre on Jeju Island in South Korea hosted the 2016 Asia-Pacific Carbon Forum, where participants explored market approaches to combat climate change. Photo credit: twitter.com
The International Convention Centre on Jeju Island in South Korea hosted the 2016 Asia-Pacific Carbon Forum, where participants explored market approaches to combat climate change. Photo credit: twitter.com

This was the consensus of the 300 participants, from 60 countries, at this year’s Asia-Pacific Carbon Forum that held recently in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

After three days of panel discussions, meetings and presentations, participants observed that:

  • China has more than 10 years of experience with carbon markets, starting with emission reduction and development projects under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), establishment of voluntary emissions trading, seven emissions trading system (ETS) pilots and plans for a national ETS in 2017.
  • The Republic of Korea has had an ETS since 2015, becoming the second country in Asia to introduce a nationwide cap-and-trade system, which now covers about 530 businesses.
  • Japan is pursuing a number market approaches to combat climate change, including a Joint Crediting Mechanism similar to the CDM, a system that awards offset credits to domestic entities that reduce emissions, a voluntary ETS and an ETS in the city of Tokyo.
  • New Zealand has had an emissions trading system since 2008, designed to assist the country in meeting its international climate change obligations and reduce domestic emissions below business as usual. The system is currently being reviewed.
  • Australia, after a few years of uncertainty and policy reversals, has stabilised its climate policy suite around its Emission Reduction Fund and the Safeguard Mechanism.

The Paris Climate Change Agreement, the gathering stressed, provides: for transferring mitigation outcomes, essentially emissions trading; a new Sustainable Development Mechanism; and a framework for non-market approaches. All three of these economic instruments, it was gathered, are described in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

“It was extremely encouraging to see the commitment of APCF participants to harness the carbon markets in achieving development outcomes, and as a climate and development practitioner I join in the effort,” said Rakshya Thapa, Regional Technical Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “I believe the carbon market is one of the most important instruments that can further the objectives of the Paris Agreement while simultaneously and coherently achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”

“The Forum drew together a wealth of experience in using market incentives to cut carbon emissions, whether in innovative climate finance or carbon trading,” said Dirk Forrister, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). “It is encouraging to learn how the new markets in Korea, China and the global aviation industry are shaping a future vision of international cooperation in protecting the climate.”

“Delighted to see growing enthusiasm for the resurgence of carbon markets after the adoption of the Paris Agreement,” said V.K. Duggal, Senior Climate Change Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“The forum brought together the emission trading community – governments, financial institutions, investors, donors and businesses – discussing a range of topics, including carbon markets, national mitigation actions, aviation, domestic carbon pricing systems, such as those in operation in the Republic of Korea and in China, and in development in Thailand and other jurisdictions,” said Niclas Svenningsen, Manager, Stakeholder and Relationship Management Unit, Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat. “The event was useful to shape up collaboration in the region in linking markets and to achieve our long-term climate and sustainability goals through market instruments, including UNFCCC instruments such as the clean development mechanism.”

APCF 2016 was organised by the ADB, IETA, UNFCCC secretariat and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

Support for Indigenous peoples’ rights gets a lift

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Support for Indigenous peoples’ rights gets a lift

Support for Indigenous peoples’ rights has received a boost, thanks to key decisions adopted last week by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Hawaiʻi, USA.

Peruvian amazonian indigenous peoples
Peruvian amazonian indigenous peoples

In a landmark pronouncement, the IUCN Members’ Assembly voted to create a new category of membership for Indigenous peoples’ organisations. According to the organisation, this will open the opportunity to strengthen the presence and role of Indigenous organisations in IUCN – a unique membership union gathering 217 state and government agencies, 1,066 NGOs, and networks of over 16,000 experts worldwide.

“Today’s decision to create a specific place for Indigenous peoples in the decision-making process of IUCN marks a major step towards achieving the equitable and sustainable use of natural resources,” says IUCN Director General, Inger Andersen. “Indigenous peoples are key stewards of the world’s biodiversity. By giving them this crucial opportunity to be heard on the international stage, we have made our Union stronger, more inclusive and more democratic.”

“This decision is historical in that it is the first time in IUCN’s history that a new membership category has been established,” says Aroha Te Pareake Mead, Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP). “It also marks a turning point for the inclusion and full participation of Indigenous peoples in all aspects of IUCN’s work.

“For Indigenous peoples this provides an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to global policy on biocultural conservation, indigenous issues, traditional knowledge and the future direction of conservation as distinct peoples. I am proud of IUCN and its members for doing the right thing and enabling Indigenous peoples to speak for themselves as full members of the Union.”

IUCN Members also called for all protected areas to be considered as no-go areas for environmentally damaging industrial activities and infrastructure developments. IUCN Members emphasised the need for respect of Indigenous peoples’ rights as a high priority, to ensure their free, prior and informed consent in relation to activities in sacred natural sites and territories conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities. To date, only World Heritage sites have been recognised as off limit.

The need for consideration of the rights of Indigenous peoples has also been emphasised as part of the decision to increase the coverage of marine protected areas in order to achieve effective conservation of the oceans.

IUCN Members voted on a motion related to primary forests, which highlights the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in conserving intact forest landscapes. Ecosystems such as primary forests are vital for the protection of Indigenous cultures and livelihoods of the poorest and most marginalised communities.

Other motions important for Indigenous peoples have also been adopted on a wide range of topics.

The Members’ Assembly is the highest decision-making body of IUCN. It brings together IUCN Members to debate and establish environmental policy, to approve the IUCN Programme and to elect the IUCN Council and President.

Motions are proposed by IUCN Members every four years to set priorities for the work of IUCN. IUCN’s membership currently stands at over 1,300 and includes some of the most influential government and civil society organisations from more than 160 countries, giving the decisions taken at the IUCN Congress a powerful mandate.

Resolutions and Recommendations on important conservation issues are adopted by this unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs, guiding IUCN’s policy and work programme and as well as influencing many other organisations around the world.

Akwa Ibom receives climate resilience development blueprint

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Akwa Ibom receives climate resilience development blueprint

In line with the objective of the recently held Climate Change and Clean Energy Summit aimed at developing a strategic framework for management and investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in the state, a draft Roadmap for Sustainable and Climate-resilient Economic Development in Akwa Ibom State has been presented to the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien, for further input into the document.

Lead consultant, Prof Hillary Inyang, presenting the Roadmap on Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last week
Lead consultant, Prof Hillary Inyang, presenting the Roadmap on Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, last week

At a stakeholder engagement workshop held last week in Uyo, the state capital, the Dr Essien commended the technical team for putting together the draft roadmap for sustainable environment and creation of green job in state. He commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for supporting the process leading to the development of the roadmap as well his commitment to the development of the state.

Presenting the roadmap, the lead consultant, Prof Hillary Inyang, highlighted the eight-chapter document to include: Climate Change Circumstances of Akwa Ibom State; Utility of Clean Development; Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, including recent  activities in the state; Fusion of Climate Change Management Actions with Akwa Ibom State’s Socio-Economic Development Initiatives; Integration of the State’s Climate Change into the Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs); and the Specific Objectives of the roadmap with implementation timeline and schedule of responsibility.

Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr. Eshiet Ikpe; the Director of International Programmes, University of Uyo, Prof. Ekanem Ekanem; as well as directors of the Ministry of Environment, Academia, representatives of NGOs, CBOs, and women groups.

Governor Emmanuel, during the First Akwa Ibom State Climate Change Summit, directed the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, and the implementing partners of the summit to document the summit proceedings into a strategic policy document for implementation in the state.

Ban Ki-moon accelerates fresh Paris Agreement drive

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Ban Ki-moon accelerates fresh Paris Agreement drive

Countries are accelerating efforts to join the Paris Agreement on climate change at a special high-level event to be hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday, 21 September.

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon at COP21. Photo credit: ibtimes.co.uk
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon at COP21. Photo credit: ibtimes.co.uk

“We must put the aspirations of Paris into action,” the Secretary-General said. “We have no time to waste, and much to gain, from the historic Paris Agreement on climate change entering into force this year. To build further momentum, I have asked leaders to come to New York with their instruments of ratification or to publicly commit to joining the agreement before the end of 2016.”

It is expected that President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria will sign the Paris Agreement at the event.

The 21 September high-level event will advance efforts to secure early entry into force of the Paris Agreement by providing an opportunity for countries to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the agreement with the Secretary-General, as stipulated in the agreement.

The event will also recognise those countries that have joined the agreement since the 22 April signing ceremony.   The event will further recognise countries that have committed to join the agreement in 2016, but because of the need to finalise domestic processes, cannot deposit their instruments on 21 September.

To date, 27 countries accounting for 39.08 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have officially joined the Paris Agreement. Efforts to join the agreement have accelerated since China and the United States officially joined the Agreement on 3 September by presenting their documents to the Secretary-General at a ceremony prior to the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.

The Paris Agreement will enter into force 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, deposit their instruments of ratification or acceptance with the Secretary-General.

In April, 175 countries signed the agreement – a record for one day – at a signing ceremony in New York. The final step in the process is for countries to join the agreement at the national level and deposit their legal instruments with the Secretary-General.

“With the Paris Agreement,” the Secretary-General said, “the world has an equitable, durable yet flexible global framework for reducing emissions, strengthening climate resilience and providing support to developing countries to build low-carbon economies and adapt to inevitable climate impacts.”

The 21 September event will take place in the General Assembly Hall from 8-9 a.m.  The event will be open to the press (deadline for media accreditation is 9 September) and a limited number of seats will be available for civil society.

Information on civil society attendance can be found at https://www.unngls.org/ — the deadline for applications is 12 September.

The Paris Climate Agreement, adopted by 195 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) last December in Paris, calls on countries to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future.

The Paris Agreement marked a watershed moment in taking action on climate change. After years of negotiation, countries agreed to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, while pursuing efforts to keep temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.

Even as the agreement was adopted, countries recognised that present pledges to reduce emissions were still insufficient to reach these goals. The Paris Agreement mandates regular meetings every five years, starting in 2018, to review progress and to consider whether it is necessary to increase ambition.

Five more nations ratify Nagoya Protocol

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Five more nations ratify Nagoya Protocol

France, Mali, the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova and Sweden are the latest countries to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation, bringing the total number of ratifications to 85.

Bamako, Mali. Mali is one of the five nations that recently ratified the Nagoya Protocol
Bamako, Mali. Mali is one of the five nations that recently ratified the Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and a key element in the global framework for sustainable development.

The Protocol builds on the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the CBD by establishing predictable conditions for access to genetic resources and by helping to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of these resources. It entered into force on 12 October 2014.

“I congratulate the governments of France, Mali, the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova and Sweden for becoming Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing and count on the support of Parties to the CBD to reach 100 ratifications before the important meetings of the CBD and its Protocols in December 2016,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary. “By reaching this goal the international community will demonstrate its support to the Nagoya Protocol and to making it a reality on the ground. Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol will also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including Target 2.5 on food security.”

France, Mali, the Netherlands, the Republic of Moldova and Sweden each deposited their instruments of ratification between 19 August and 8 September 2016. As Parties to the Protocol, they will be able to contribute to key decision-making during the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (COP-MOP 2), being held 4-17 December 2016 concurrently with the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 13) and the 8th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 8).

Since the first meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, held in 2014, membership has increased from 56 to 85 countries.

Nigeria is yet to ratify the global treaty.

Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and entering into force in December 1993, the Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources. With 196 Parties so far, the Convention has near universal participation among countries.

Global citizens can now make climate pledge

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Global citizens can now make climate pledge

The United Nations Climate Change Secretariat on Friday in New York launched the global Citizens Climate Pledge, urging citizens around the globe to cut their personal climate footprint by half within 10 years. The launch coincides with the first anniversary of Climate Neutral Now, an initiative that represents a global community of organisations and individuals committing to becoming climate neutral by the second half of the 21st century.

President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, was one of the first to sign the climate pledge
President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, was one of the first to sign the climate pledge

Prior to Friday’s global announcement, the pledge was launched by Myrskyvaroitus ry (Storm Warning Association) in Finland last year. It has been signed by thousands of Finnish citizens, including prominent artists, business leaders and politicians.

President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, was one of the first to sign the pledge and has since converted his private home to geothermal energy, cutting the household’s electricity consumption by half, and converted lighting to low-energy LED lamps. In addition to president Niinisto, two former presidents, president Tarja Halonen and president Martti Ahtisaari, have signed the pledge.

By visiting the Citizen’s Climate Pledge website, https://climatepledge.global/, citizens can calculate their personal CO2 footprint and then pledge to reduce it by half within 10 years by making low carbon choices around energy use, travel, eating and consumption habits, electronic devices and household appliances, and by offsetting emissions they cannot reduce.

Climate Neutral Now calls on organisations and individuals to measure, reduce and report greenhouse gas emissions and compensate those which cannot be avoided with UN-certified emission reductions. The initiative was launched in September, 2015 by a founding group of organisations that included Microsoft, Sony, the adidas Group and Marks & Spencer.

Storm Warning Board Member and Executive Director of Climate Leadership Council, Jouni Keronen. said: “Citizens’ role in the mitigation of climate change is bigger than most of us expect. We have studied that with just a handful of energy and transportation related choices and solutions, citizens can have significant potential to reduce CO2 emissions in Finland.”

UNFCCC’s Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa, said: “The climate talks in Paris this past December highlighted the urgent role that individuals are playing in addressing climate change. When we take hands-on action to reduce our personal climate footprint, we join a global movement of action on climate change.”

Nigeria may adopt Green Bonds to finance NDCs

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Nigeria may adopt Green Bonds to finance NDCs

Nigeria appears to have identified a fresh financial mechanism towards realising its climate action plans: Green Bonds.

Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed, making a presentation during the meeting on Green Bonds
Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed, making a presentation during the meeting on Green Bonds

At a Stakeholder Consultation held on Friday in Abuja at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Environment, participants debated the issuance of Green Bonds as an innovative source of funding climate and sustainable development programmes.

Green (or Climate) Bonds are fixed-income financial instruments issued in order to raise finance for climate change solutions. Like normal bonds, they are issued by governments, multi-national banks or corporations. The issuing entity guarantees to repay the bond over a certain period of time, plus either a fixed or variable rate of return.

Green Bonds have been the subject of increasing government, investor and media interest and expectations, driven by the prospect of matching large low‑carbon investment requirements with the trillions of dollars in global bond markets held by institutional investors.

Justine Leigh-Bell, Director of Marketing at Climate Bonds, speaking at the event
Justine Leigh-Bell, Director of Marketing at Climate Bonds, speaking at the event

“Today’s stakeholder forum is part of a continuing collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Finance to explore and develop a product that can leverage and channel resources towards viable Green projects but can also contribute to the achievement of the nation’s development objectives,” said Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said that there is significant market potential for Green Bonds in Nigeria as a developing market with a population in excess of 180 million people. He added that, with projected annual emissions of 900 million tonnes, it requires significant capital to develop mitigation and adaptation interventions that will reduce such discharges.

Onyema stated that Green Bonds could mobilise funds from investors who have strong environmental focus, require transparency and have lower risk appetite.

Nigeria, like most countries around the world, faces vast investment needs for the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon and climate resilient economy. The government has made it clear that private sources of finance are needed. Tapping into the international capital markets, as well as domestic capital is crucial, says the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Green Bonds have the potential to deliver the low-carbon, climate resilient infrastructure needed in Nigeria (such as renewable energy, low-carbon transport, water infrastructure and sustainable agriculture) with access to private capital.

Nigeria’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) document puts forth the stated targets for the nation’s contribution towards climate improvement and following a low-carbon path to progress. The resource needed to finance the NDCs is put at $142 million between now and 2030.

Friday’s event had participants drawn from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Debt Management Office (DMO), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), National Assembly, Africa Finance Corporation, World Bank, UNEP, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), McKingsey & Company, Chapel Hill Denham, Stanbic IBTC, DFID/NIAF and other private sector representatives.

It was graced by Mrs. Mohammed; Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (who also represented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun); Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology & Climate Change, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim; Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, Samuel Onuigbo; and Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Obinna Chidoka.

On Tuesday 17th May 2016, Mrs. Mohammed was presented with a proposal by the NSE in Lagos on the issuance of Green Bonds in Nigeria, after which several consultations with Federal Government entities, NSE, SEC and UNEP were held to critically look into the potential of financing Nigeria’s INDC implementation through Green Bonds and other muti-lateral funding mechanisms.

As a follow-up, a sensitisation workshop will be held in Lagos for capital market operators.

Nigeria shifts gear in ODS phase-out scheme

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Nigeria shifts gear in ODS phase-out scheme

Aiming to completely phase-out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), an ozone-depleting substance (ODS) by 2040, Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos took a major step towards realising the goal when stakeholders gathered to review and validate the findings of a survey, preparatory to the next stage of the initiative.

Participants on the high table during ODS meeting in Lagos
Participants on the high table during ODS meeting in Lagos

HCFCs are a group of man-made compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine atoms considered to be destructive to the ozone layer, a region of the earth’s atmosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. HCFCs are being phased out globally under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to reduce their abundance and protect the fragile ozone layer.

The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) – the cooperating agency – has been implementing the Montreal Protocol’s Hydrichlorofluorocarbons Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) project. As part of activities for preparation of Stage 2 of the HPMP, a nationwide survey of companies in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Manufacturing (RACM) sector was conducted to update information with regards to HCFC-22 consumption data and technology choices.

While seeking to validate the survey results and ushering in the next phase of the HPMP, participants at the daylong forum also attempted to unravel how financial institutions can be encouraged to provide the necessary support to stakeholders in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol’s ozone-depleting substance (ODS) phase-out programme in the country. They also sought to develop strategy for promoting and marketing of ozone and low global-warming alternative substances.

Dr Chuma Ezedinma, Officer-in-Charge, UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria, disclosed that, under the first phase of the HPMP, 75 low pressure foaming machines with a maximum output of 39kg/min and spare parts were distributed in 13 states, several training held, and technological promotions of low ozone-depleting product (ODP) chemicals carried out. According to him, the initial 30 machines distributed in Abuja and Ibadan was to contribute to the phase-out of 96.35MT (metric tonnes) or 10.6ODP tonnes of HCFC 141B.

He said: “As a pre-requisite and procedural approach to a successful programme development, the national survey for the RACM sector enterprises was carried out and updated. This will help to determine present dynamics on the market and the drivers of the trends in each of the subsector’s consumption. We have visited the enterprises and obtained information which will also help us ascertain the progress the country is making in the phase-out process.”

Dr Ezedinma reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment towards supporting the Nigerian government and promoting sustainable industrialisation without compromising the environment, adding that the organisation, in partnership with government, has developed and implemented various projects to alleviate environmental problems and promote an enabling environment for industries to thrive.

UNIDO, he added, developed the HPMP project with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Montreal Protocol was ratified by all countries since 1987 but finally came into force on January 1, 1989 with 46 signatories and 197 member countries. Nigeria joined 31 October, 1988.

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