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EU, US demand regulation, labelling of genetically-derived products

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EU, US demand regulation, labelling of genetically-derived products

The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD), a network of 77 EU and US consumer organisations, on Thursday published a new resolution on consumer concerns about new genetic engineering techniques. Consumers have right to know when new genetic engineering techniques are used, including in their food, but companies are lobbying to exempt such products from regulation. A number of new genetic engineering techniques have been developed which were not in use when current laws on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were drafted.

Steve Suppan, co-chair of the TACD Food Policy Committee
Steve Suppan, co-chair of the TACD Food Policy Committee

The new resolution states that risks to human health, animal welfare and the environment must be assessed before products derived from new genetic engineering techniques are placed on the market or released into the environment. Products must also be labelled in accordance with consumers’ rights to know and choose what they are buying, including what they eat.

The techniques covered by the resolution include gene editing techniques, such as CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), and other new genetic engineering techniques, called New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBT) by industry. The resolution considers application of these processes to plants and animals, including crops, trees, farm animals, fish and insects.

The resolution makes a set of recommendations to the EU and U.S. authorities for a framework that guarantees the adequate protection of EU and U.S. consumers alike.

TACD urges the EU and US governments to:

  • Regulate products of new genetic engineering techniques as genetically modified organisms (GMOs);
  • Strengthen regulatory systems to include mandatory pre-market human health evaluation that will screen all foods produced using new genetic engineering techniques for potential hazards;
  • Develop strong systems of pre-market environmental safety evaluation and post-market monitoring;
  • Fully consider the welfare of animals altered using new genetic engineering techniques prior to approval;
  • Adopt mandatory labelling rules for all food produced using new genetic engineering techniques;
  • Adopt and enforce strict rules for corporate liability and mandatory insurance for companies that want to release organisms altered using new genetic engineering techniques into the environment;
  • Establish and maintain systems to ensure that identity-preserved supplies of non-genetically-engineered ingredients remain available.

Steve Suppan, co-chair of the TACD Food Policy Committee said: “Our resolution and technical appendix provide recommendations and a framework towards regulating the products of the new genetic engineering techniques on the basis of 21st century science. U.S. pressure on the European Commission to emulate US procedures to deregulate such products in order to promote trade is strongly opposed by TACD members.

In fact, the US should learn the lessons from the present debacle on GM crops and listen to consumers from the start and regulate and label the new GM techniques. The EU should apply existing GM laws to all products derived from so called ‘NPBT’ and gene-editing.”

Leaders, businesses, donors commit $30b to boost African agriculture

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Leaders, businesses, donors commit $30b to boost African agriculture

It was an epic moment for African agriculture on Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya as African leaders, businesses, and major development partners pledged more than $30 billion dollars in investments to increase production, income and employment for smallholder farmers and local African agriculture businesses over the next 10 years. The collective pledges at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) are believed to represent the largest package of financial commitments to the African agricultural sector to date, backed by the broadest coalitions ever assembled in support of food production on the continent.

Leaders at the AGRF in Nairobi, Kenya
Leaders at the AGRF in Nairobi, Kenya

The commitments were made at the official opening of the sixth African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) that has attracted more than 1,500 influential figures from 40 countries for three days of brokering new agricultural initiatives. The historic investments represent just the first wave of support for the new “Seize the Moment” campaign, one backed by the African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), key NGOs, companies and donor countries.

While African agriculture has seen significant progress in the last 10 years, the “Seize the Moment” campaign is a frank acknowledgment that much more is needed for African countries to achieve inclusive economic development – and ultimately realise the international community’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The campaign is a decisive push for the political, policy, and financial commitments essential to transforming Africa’s agricultural sector. The goal: a new era of business opportunities for the 70 percent of the African population that depend on farming for food and income, yet too often face poverty and poor nutrition.

Joined by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, officially opened AGRF 2016 by laying out a bold vision for how agriculture transformation should play out in Kenya and across Africa. Committing himself to deliver on both the political and policy agenda, President Kenyatta announced his government will invest $200 million so at least 150,000 young farmers and young agriculture entrepreneurs can gain access to markets, finance, and insurance. He then called on his fellow heads of state across Africa to step-up and invest aggressively over the next five years in agriculture-related endeavors.

Gayle Smith, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), set the tone for the day with a call for investors and donors to be bold and do their part to achieve “A Food-Secure 2030”. The US government already has invested more than $6.6 billion in global food security and nutrition efforts through its Feed the Future initiative.

This commitment is now locked in for the long-term following approval in July of the bipartisan Global Food Security Act legislation. Smith noted that the initiative “signals the US government’s enduring commitment to global food security and nutrition and is the largest development authorisation the US Congress has made in a decade.”

Other agriculture investors and development partners announcing new financial and policy commitments included: The African Development Bank, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Group, OCP Africa, World Food Programme, Yara International ASA, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Additional new investments are expected at the three-day forum. Strive Masiyiwa, AGRF Partners Chairman and Founder and CEO of Econet, recorded the specific commitments in detail and called for other investors and partners to join the “Seize the Moment” campaign during the year ahead.

President Kenyatta, as Chair of the African Peer Review Mechanism, concluded the ceremony by calling for a continental scorecard that will measure and track the commitments to agriculture transformation and ensure they translate into action.

Specific commitments came from each of the following champions of African agriculture:

  • USAID launched a global report entitled “A Food-Secure 2030”. The US government has invested more than $6.6 billion in global food security and nutrition efforts through its Feed the Future initiative, and “the Global Food Security Act signals the US government’s enduring commitment to global food security and nutrition and is the largest development authorisation the US Congress has made in a decade.”
  • $24 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) over the next 10 years, a 400 percent increase over previous commitments, to help drive agricultural transformation in Africa. Remarks from AfDB President Akin Adesina noted that a “key pillar” of the AfDB work will be support for the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation or TAAT programme, which is scaling up various agriculture technologies for millions of farmers. Adesina said AfDB support will also accelerate access to commercial financing, buttressed by proven approaches to reducing risks of commercial lending to smallholder farmers and other agriculture businesses. “Now is the time to come to the aid of our long-suffering farmers and give them the modern agriculture technologies they need to ensure a good return for their labour and hard work,” Adesina said.
  • Support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to contribute at least $5 billion to African development over the next five years. It is expected that will include at least $1 billion for agriculture, based on expenditures in recent years. The agriculture investments will continue the Gates Foundation’s work to expand crop and livestock research, strengthen data for decision-making, and improve systems to deliver better tools, information and innovations to farmers. In addition, both the Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation today promised to renew their support for AGRA as it embarks on an ambitious series of partnerships to support agriculture-led economic transformation across entire countries. The Gates Foundation also promised to match “dollar for dollar” other development partner support for AGRA programmes. Speaking to the conference via a pre-recorded video, Bill Gates praised AGRA, which sponsors and organises the AGRF, for work over the last ten years that has reached some 15 million farmers. Reflecting on AGRA’s 10-year anniversary, Gates said, “We’re excited about what AGRA has achieved. We are committed to them and feel like it is a huge part of this whole vision.”
  • $180 million in additional commitments from The Rockefeller Foundation. The contribution includes $50 million beyond the $105 million already invested in AGRA and its partners over the last 10 years. In addition, the Foundation is providing $130 million for its Yieldwise initiative, work directed by AGRA and other partners that is deploying better storage, handling and processing capabilities to reduce the significant post-harvest losses on African farms due spoilage or pests.“Food loss and waste across the value chain threatens farmers’ livelihoods and costs the global economy more than the combined 2015 profits of the Fortune 500,” said Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation. “In sub-Saharan Africa, 40 to 50 percent of certain staple crops are lost post-harvest.”
  • $350 million from Kenya Commercial Bank Group (KCB) to finance agriculture business opportunities that could reach some two million smallholder farmers, which is 5 percent of the bank’s overall lending portfolio. $200 million will go toward improving market infrastructure and mobilising farmers and $150 million through the KCB Foundation to support livestock farmers. KCB will also work with the MasterCard Foundation, contributing US $30 million each year to helping smallholder farmers access credit and market information via mobile devices. Moreover, Mr. Joshua Oigara, CEO of KCB – East Africa’s largest commercial bank – challenged his colleagues at other leading financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to match KCB’s commitment. That could infuse several billion dollars into Africa’s agriculture sector, where a dearth of financing has been a major impediment to boosting production and income for smallholder farmers, local seed companies and other agriculture businesses.
  • A commitment by the World Food Programme (WFP) to purchasing at least $120 million of its agricultural products each year from smallholder farmers through a partnership called the Patient Procurement Platform. That $120 million represents 10 percent of WFP’s annual procurement budget. Ertharin Cousin, WFP Executive Director, also announced that the Patient Procurement Platform would expand into Kenya and three other countries in 2017.
  • $150 million over the next five years from OCP Africa to support local fertilizer distribution, storage and blending in Africa. Mr. Tark Choho, Managing Director of the OCP Group and Chief Executive Officer of OCP Africa, said OCP also will focus on building fertilizer plants in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa and is in discussions with five countries. This investment is expected to significantly increase access to fertilizers for Africa’s smallholder farmers and is projected to cost $1 billion.
  • Over $3 billion to African agriculture over the next six years from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) – in keeping with its current policy of spending at least 50 percent of its annual $1.1 billion in Africa. IFAD’s investments focus on intensive efforts to generate jobs in farming and food production, particularly for African youth and African women. “Those of us who have been fortunate to achieve so much over a rich and full lifetime must now do everything in our power to provide our young people with opportunity and hope,” said Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of IFAD and first winner of the prestigious new Africa Food Prize.
  • Yara International ASA (Yara), which has been involved in African agriculture for more than 50 years, has pledged to continue with significant investments that can link smallholder farmers to lucrative value chains. “We believe there is a tremendous opportunity for the African agriculture sector to grow from being a net importer to an exporter of food,” said Yara CEO Svein Tore Holsether.

NAMA funding secured for Colombia transit-oriented development

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NAMA funding secured for Colombia transit-oriented development

An innovative Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) in Colombia that integrates transport and land-use planning at the local level can now move to implementation following a 14.7 million euro grant from the NAMA Facility.

Manizales, Colombia, is focusing on a pedestrian-oriented redevelopment of its historical town centre to promote accessibility and social inclusion around a recently inaugurated station of the public cable transportation system
Manizales, Colombia, is focusing on a pedestrian-oriented redevelopment of its historical town centre to promote accessibility and social inclusion around a recently inaugurated station of the public cable transportation system

The Colombia Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) NAMA is designed to promote better-planned, walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods, to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and also reduce household transportation costs, expand access to jobs and services, and improve social inclusion.

 

Background

Transport is Colombia’s fastest growing sector in terms of energy consumption and GHG emissions. Motor vehicles are also the dominant source of air pollution, responsible for more than 95 percent of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emissions in metropolitan Bogotá. A University of Los Andes analysis indicates that driving in Colombia is expected to quadruple over the next 30 years, exacerbating to traffic congestion and emissions. TOD can play an important role in mitigating this growth in driving to help Colombia meet national climate mitigation goals and advance sustainable and equitable economic growth.

Colombia, already a leader in implementing bus rapid transit (BRT) systems (having successfully implemented BRTs in six large cities) and currently structuring new public transport systems for medium-sized cities, was ready to take on a more integrated approach to tackle traffic and GHG emissions over the long term – one that coordinates land-use and transport systems, and integrates with social housing policy.

The Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), worked on the ground with leading Colombian stakeholders to develop a proposal for the TOD NAMA in order to finance and implement transit-centered neighborhoods.

 

A Holistic Approach

At the core of the NAMA is the creation of an independent center for the promotion of transit–oriented development (CIUDAT), housed within the national development bank, Findeter. CIUDAT provides cities with technical and financial assistance on TOD implementation, based on locally specified needs. CIUDAT also serves a policy advisory role to advance and harmonise national policy goals on urban transportation, housing and environment, economic development and social equity.

Before development of the TOD NAMA, there had been insufficient policy integration and coordination among public entities, and limited public-private collaboration. The TOD NAMA was designed to address many of these barriers to implementation, as well as to increase local capacity for TOD projects. The NAMA’s innovative approach promotes coordination between five government agencies: Transportation, Environment, Planning, Housing and the National Development Bank (Findeter). CIUDAT is governed by a Board made up of vice ministers and directors from these five organisations, with CCAP providing advisory input. Technical and policy experts from the six bodies now meet regularly as the advisory committee to CIUDAT to guide NAMA implementation.

 

Work is already underway

The TOD NAMA will target investment to at least three pilot projects in Colombia’s cities to serve as demonstration cases to catalyse and inform replication of the TOD model across Colombian cities. Three cities have been identified as having promising catalytic project opportunities: Cali, Medellín and Manizales.

Cali is transforming an old rail corridor, which currently divides the city, into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly zone connecting housing, public space and commerce.

Medellín is undertaking a public-private partnership for TOD around a new metro station in a former industrial area to respond to growing market demand for development in an under-utilised area of the central river valley.

Manizales is focusing on a pedestrian-oriented redevelopment of its historical town centre to promote accessibility and social inclusion around a recently inaugurated station of the public cable transportation system.

Findeter is proving technical assistance on TOD planning to three other cities – Montería, Bucaramanga and Pasto.

The NAMA has received an additional 1.5 million euros from the French Agency for Development (AFD) to support TOD planning in Cali and analysis of “value capture” policy opportunities to direct a portion of increases in land value to support TOD implementation.

The TOD NAMA is projected to reduce annual GHG emissions by 3.5 to 5.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. In December 2013, the TOD NAMA was preliminarily selected by the NAMA Facility.

The project went through an extensive appraisal process, which included further development of the implementation structure and institutional organisation of the NAMA. While this appraisal process took longer than expected, the time allowed for improved coordination between the technical and financial components of the project and for refining meaningful and practical indicators. During the appraisal process, Colombia and CCAP ensured that the NAMA maintained momentum at the national and local levels to ensure an efficient launch. Funding for the project began in August 2016.

CCAP serves as the delivery organisation managing the technical component of the project. The German development bank, KfW, serves as the delivery organisation for the financial component. Findeter, as the host of CIUDAT, serves as implementing agency for both the technical and financial components.

NBMA asked to conduct tests to prove there’s no GM rice in Nigeria

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NBMA asked to conduct tests to prove there’s no GM rice in Nigeria

In a reaction to claims by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), through its Director-General, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, that there is no iota of truth in the report that genetically modified (GM) rice is present in Nigeria, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has charged the agency to conduct tests to assure Nigerians there is no GM rice in the country. While trying to allay the fears of Nigerians, the DG added that GM rice has neither been imported nor released officially into the country.

Nnimmo Bassey is urging the NBMA to conduct tests to assure Nigerians there is no GM rice in the country
Nnimmo Bassey is urging the NBMA to conduct tests to assure Nigerians there is no GM rice in the country

“The DG missed the point,” says Nnimmo Bassey, Director of HOMEF, while reacting to the NBMA response on Thursday. “The clarification the agency should make is whether there is GM rice in Nigeria even if such were brought in illegally. It is also not enough to say that since there are no known commercially grown GM rice in the world and no legally released GM rice in Nigeria, or since there is a ban on the importation of rice, therefore there is no imported rice in Nigeria. That argument cannot stand. The job of NBMA is not only to approve that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or to track only approved products. The Biosafety Agency has to oversee everything biosafety in Nigeria, illegal or not.”

On whether GM rice has been commercially released anywhere in the world, HOMEF recalls that the LibertyLink variety 601 GM rice was tested for and found in the Nigerian market by Friends of the Earth Nigeria in 2006 as well as in 2007.

“I was part of the team that collected rice samples and we tested rice from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon,” says Mariann Bassey Orovwuje, Food Sovereignty campaigner of Friends of the Earth Africa/International. “That illegal rice variety was approved for release in the USA in November 2006 after complaints of its contamination was raised around the world. Indeed, at that time, the illegal rice was pulled off the shelves in some countries in Europe. Unless, and until, tests are conducted the assurances are mere talks.”

Gbadebo Vivour-Rhodes said, “The matter of GMO contamination of our foods cannot be waived off by hosting a press conference. NBMA should talk less and get to work on addressing fundamental deficiencies manifest in the regulatory system and ensuring that risky technologies are not allowed into Nigeria.”

HOMEF and other concerned groups are concerned that regulatory agencies, such as NBMA and National Food and Drugs Administration Commission (NAFDAC), may use the cover of “non official release of GMOs” to avoid monitoring the markets and thus allowing illegal flooding of Nigerian markets with risky and unhealthy GMOs.

Bassey added: “If NBMA has the laboratories and capacities it prides itself to have, it should immediately audit all suspected food products in the Nigerian market, including those distributed to IDPs. Once suspicion is raised, it is results from laboratories that we want to hear about. The risk of contamination is always there and cannot be wished away.

“HOMEF reiterates its call for the urgent repeal or drastic review of the NBMA Act 2015 to assure Nigerians of protection of biodiversity and safety of its food systems. We also repeat our call for the withdrawal of permits hastily granted to Monsanto to conduct field trials of GM maize and to grow GM cotton in Zaria and neighbouring areas.”

Nigeria and climate change finance

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Nigeria and climate change finance

For those still beclouded by their dreams, it is time to wake up from the slumber. It is no more an illusion that outburst of climate change keeps hovering over the continent and its manifestation is quite obvious and being felt across the globe. It is no longer news that the reality of climate change is staring at Africa in the face, what with different countries strategising ways to adapt to and mitigate the emerging phenomenon.

Scientists say the Lake Chad, that borders Nigeria and some other countries, has shrunken by 95 percent over the past 50 years. Photo credit: AP/Christophe Ena
Scientists say the Lake Chad, which borders Nigeria and some other countries, has shrunken by 95 percent over the past 50 years. Photo credit: AP/Christophe Ena

It is quite shocking and evident to note that Nigeria isn’t excluded from these multifaceted climate change threats – adjudged to be deadlier than terrorism by environmental experts – which keep unfolding recurrently in diverse folds. It appears the Nigerian government is beginning to emerge from her lukewarm perception towards climate change. Some of the devastating impacts of climate change in Nigeria are increase in temperature and flooding, desertification and the perpetual shrinking of Lake Chad.

Most especially, there is wide apprehension that Lake Chad, a major source of livelihood for farmers, fishermen, and herdsmen in the extreme North Eastern part of Nigeria — strategically sharing boundaries with Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria — is fast shrinking and could soon totally fizzle out if proactive actions are not adopted.

Andrew Bomford, an investigation journalist, said in 2006: “Once, it was a huge inland sea, and just 40 years ago there was 15,000 square miles of water. Now the latest satellite pictures put it at just over 500 square miles.”

My fear: that size might have further contracted.

No doubt, now that terrorism in the zone has been routed, absolute disappearance of the lake would fuel idleness, dwindle the wheel of economic growth, enhance robbery and other illicit acts that could renew crisis in the zone. However, absolute cooperation among the adjoining countries is crucially needed at this dire strait; this would play a prominent role by enhancing and fast tracking the Lake Chad resuscitation.

While receiving Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Irina Bokova, in Abuja recently, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari emphatically stressed the urgent need to revitalise the lake, by saying: “The failure to regenerate the Lake Chad would lead to another round of migration by people living in the area. Nigeria and other countries of the Lake Chad Basin lack the billions of dollars required to channel water from the Congo Basin into the Lake.”

Implementation of this initiative is evidently hampered by Nigeria’s current economic recession; knowing full well that other adjoining countries are also grappling to meet up with their wide financial obligations.

It will be recalled that revival of the shrinking lake formed a foundation of Nigeria’s climate action plans – which was submitted at Paris. The pertinent question at this crucial juncture is, where does the funds come from? What are the funding options for developing countries? This has raised serious concerns and suspicion on sincerity of the developed countries who pledged towards financing climate change adaptation and mitigation in the developing countries – as unanimously promised in the 2015 Paris climate negotiations agreement.

If truly climate change impact is to be jointly tackled for optimum results, the developed countries need to synergise with developing countries towards stabilising and doing justice to the threats posed by climate change. Towards preserving the earth, this ought to the basis upon which COP21 agreements would further be consolidated – with premium emphasis on financing at the forthcoming COP22 to be held at Marrakech, Morocco in November.

By Odewale Abayomi Joseph; Climate Tracker, Nigeria; +2347068801344; @ODEWALEAbayomi)

Impacts of climate change in Nigeria

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Impacts of climate change in Nigeria

Climate events and occurrences in Nigeria and every other part of the world attest to the fact that climate change phenomenon is real. Nigeria as any other country in the world is vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.

Climate change impacts: Flooded parts of Lokoja in Kogi State in 2012
Climate change impacts: Flooded parts of Lokoja in Kogi State in 2012

It is no news that climate impacts are the result of natural events and human activities, which occurred due to a rise in average global temperature. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere have warmed the earth, and these have caused several negative impacts, which include rising sea levels, melting snow and ice, drought, flooding and more extreme weather conditions.

It is, however, worrisome that, despite all these sad realities, the Nigerian government is yet to put in place adequate measures that will enable the country adapt to the risks of a changing climate.

Evidently, people’s welfare and living conditions are threatened due to incessant flooding, drought, desertification and desert encroachment witnessed in various parts of the country. Millions of species of animals are endangered, lakes are drying up, rainfall patterns are fluctuating and increasing temperature are some of the impact felt in this part of the world.

It is important we take ourselves down the memory lane for a clearer picture of how we are being struck by climate change horrendous effects.

Lake Chad that happens to be one of the largest lakes in the world experienced an unprecedented decline by as much as 95% of its original size from about 1963 to 1998, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This shrinking was caused as a result of shifting climate patterns. This unexampled shrinking endangered hundreds of species of animals and left thousands of people unemployed. It also resulted into violence as to right of ownership. As if that is not enough, poverty, hunger and hatred continue to spread like pandemic in Lake Chad’s neighbouring communities such as villages in Borno State and it’s environ.

More so, incessant flooding exercise was experienced in some parts of the country in 2012, which is so far the deadliest flood disaster ever in the history of the country. It led to the death of hundreds of people, with thousands of hectares of farmland destroyed and displaced about 2.1 million people. Thirty out of the 36 states in Nigeria were affected. Kogi, being the worst affected state. accounted for 623,900 people being displaced and 152,575 hectares of farmland destroyed, according to a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The flood fury in 2012 was caused by water level rise and persistent torrential rainfall, which forced the Cameroonian government to open the Lagdo Dam that washed several countries with Nigeria inclusive.

It is quite unfortunate that the large expanse of land in the Northern part of Nigeria that can be utilised for agriculture and other economic activities has been eroded over the years due to increasing temperature and deforestation. However, desert encroachment is responsible for 350,000 hectares of land loss every year in the country and, if we are not careful, most parts of Nigeria will be greeted by desertification by 2020. Desertification and desert encroachment brings about demographic displacements in villages across 11 northern states. Thus, this and many more are the impacts of climate change in Nigeria.

Conclusively, even if we can’t do anything about natural events of climate change, I strongly believe to a large extent that we can curb human deadly activities resulting in climate change and, with the help of the government, we can make sure the average global temperature does not exceed 1.5 0C. By so doing, we will be saving our generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We must always remember that, “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrowed it from our children.”

By Alabede Surajdeen (environmentalist and SDGs Advocate; alabedekayode@gmail.com; @BabsSuraj)

Images: US climate envoy, Pershing, in Nigeria

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Images: US climate envoy, Pershing, in Nigeria

United States Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr Jonathan Pershing, on Wednesday in Abuja met with Nigerian authorities lead by Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, to discuss the importance of climate and clean energy cooperation in US-Nigeria relations.

Dr Pershing also discussed opportunities for leadership by Nigeria in the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The visit, it was gathered, was a part of meetings with Nigerian interlocutors on climate and clean energy cooperation.

Besides Federal Government officials, the envoy also had sessions with businessmen and civil society members. He was likewise scheduled to undertake a tour of a solar energy project in the federal capital city.

Dr Pershin in a handshake with Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, the Environment Minister of State, as Jibril and Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, welcome the envoy to the ministry's head offices in Abuja
Dr Jonathan Pershing in a handshake with Mallam Ibrahim Jibril, the Environment Minister of State, as Jibril and Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, welcome the envoy to the ministry’s head offices in Abuja

 

The envoy chats with the ministers
The envoy chats with the ministers
The envoy meets with the ministers and directors, including the ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Bukar Hassan. The smiles and laugh show the warm reception received by Dr. Pershin
The envoy meets with the ministers and directors, including the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Bukar Hassan. The smiles and laugh show the warm reception received by Dr. Pershing
The envoy with Nigeria's climate chief, Dr Peter Tarfa
The envoy with Nigeria’s climate chief, Dr Peter Tarfa
The envoy and his delegation with Nigerian officials in a group photograph
The envoy and his delegation with Nigerian officials in a group photograph
Dr Pershing also met with Climate Change Advocates and Social Entrepreneurs at the US Embassy
Dr Pershing also met with Climate Change Advocates and Social Entrepreneurs at the US Embassy
The envoy exchanges pleasantries with Miss Esther Agbarakwe, an aide to the Environment Minister
The envoy exchanges pleasantries with Ms Esther Agbarakwe, an aide to the Environment Minister
The minister congratulates the US on the ratification of the Paris Agreement while calling for stronger partnership between both countries
The minister congratulates the US on the ratification of the Paris Agreement while calling for stronger partnership between both countries

 

 

Lamentations as ocean inundates Lagos coastal community

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Lamentations as ocean inundates Lagos coastal community

The aftermath of over 72-hours of rain-fueled ocean surge that ravaged Okun Alfa (popularly known as Alfa Beach), a coastal community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos has left the residents melancholic and in turmoil.

Buildings destroyed by the surging ocean at Okun Alfa, Lagos
Buildings destroyed by the surging ocean at Okun Alfa, Lagos

The ocean surge which happened around 9 p.m on September 2, flooded the community, demolished six buildings and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.The impact of the incessant ocean surge has caused coastal erosion and destroyed the sea breakers at Okun Alfa.

On Monday, Sept. 5, the residents who had all fled when the incident occurred returned to behold the catastrophic effects of the sea that was still roaring menacingly a few metres away from the community.

Noticeable is a middle-aged woman simply referred to as “Iya Sheri”, narrating her ordeal to a group of women, while standing in the middle of the flooded Baale Street.

“Someone called me on the phone to enquire about my well-being and to know if my night was restful. I couldn’t respond.

“How can I have a restful night when I haven’t slept in days. I doubt if anyone can sleep in this community when Olokun (sea goddess) is angry. Everywhere was in chaos, we were running helter skelter towards safety and far from the approaching raging sea,” she said.

Indisputably, sustainability of many coastal communities in Lagos is threatened by incidence of ocean surge. The precarious situation of these communities is compounded as sea levels rise and extreme rainfall events become more frequent due to global temperature rise.

Sadly, Alfa Beach, previously a major tourist spot, has lost its appeal, land mass and on the brink of extinction just like Alaguntan, Morekete, Apese, Olukotun, Inupa, Alagbonkan, other coastal communities that have been destroyed.

Flooded Palace of Baale Okun Alfa, Chief Yusuf Elegushi Atewolara
Flooded Palace of Baale Okun Alfa, Chief Yusuf Elegushi Atewolara

Acknowledging the critical situation of the community, Chief Yusuf Elegushi Atewolara, the Baale of Okun Alfa community, stressed that government should salvage the situation by constructing embankment and reclaiming lost land space.

The traditional ruler noted that the situation had displaced many residents; caused relocation of some from the community and affected the livelihood of several others.

“Before, the population of this community was about 10, 000 but now it has reduced to about 1,500 people.

“This is the third place that we moved to because of ocean surge that constantly ravage our community. Our roads have been washed away and the source of livelihood of many residents have been lost.

“Our fishermen can no longer fish in the water; no more land to farm on, coconut trees in the community have been destroyed leaving the traders with nothing to depend on,” Atewolara said.

According to him, the occurrence and severity of the ocean surge had increased compared to previous years.

He said, “In the past, the ocean surge occurs maybe once in three years because our forefathers usually make sacrificial appeasement to the sea goddess to avert the incidence but now we experience it at least twice in a year.”

A resident, Mr Ifeanyi Sunday, lamented that he was stranded at the bus-stop for about 30 minutes thereby resorted to trek the distance.

He said, “Most commercial motorcyclists that usually navigate rough and flooded terrain refuse to venture into our streets because they said that the seawater that flooded the street will spoil their motorcycles.”

However, some of the residents criticised the ongoing Eko Atlantic City Project, saying that the construction had aggravated coastal erosion and ocean surges in the community and other coastal region around Lekki to Eti-Osa axis.

Notably, recognising the disastrous effects of incidence of ocean surge on its coastline, the Lagos State Government earmarked N36 billion to tackle the menace. The fund is for construction of 18 groynes (sea breakers), at intervals of 40 metres between Goshen Estate and Alpha Beach.

Meanwhile, Dr Ako Amadi, Executive Director, Community Conservation and Development Initiatives (CCDI), noted that before residents started settling, there should have been an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Alfa Beach, to ascertain if the area was suitable for human settlement considering the vulnerability of Nigeria’s shoreline to accelerated sea level rise and coastal erosion.

“For about 30 years, there has been warning concerning it but no one seems to be concerned.

“Very long ago, they should have put measures to stabilise the coastal areas through embankment, replenishing the areas with sand and through planting of vegetation to ensure the soil are compacted.

“Anytim, there’s ocean surge people run to government, this is nature and government cannot control it,” the marine biologist said.

On the speculation that the ongoing construction of Eko Atlantic City had worsened the ocean surge in other coastal communities, Amadi said, “It is possible but there is no scientific proof to back their claim for now.” However, he noted that construction of the Eko Atlantic City took place without an Environmental Impact Assessment.

The expert said, “What has been happening on the coast is a very messy situation. One person lives here and another there, everyone accusing each other.

“The thing is that they have all committed an environmental crime by not looking at the risk factor before settling where they decided to settle and now they are all paying for it.”

Corroborating Amadi, Dr Ibidun Adelekan, Lead Researcher, Coastal Cities at Risk (CCaR-Lagos), stressed that discouraging people from settling in coastal areas and enforcement of building control would reduce the destructive effects of ocean surge on residents.

She emphasised that the rising sea levels occasioned by climate change would make future impact of ocean surge more devastating in the state.

According to her, protecting the city by fast tracking investment in structural defences would safeguard not only the vulnerable poor residents in coastal rural communities but also the numerous estates along the coastal Eti-Osa axis.

By Funke Ishola

Government debunks imported GM rice reports

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Government debunks imported GM rice reports

Sequel to a media report that the Federal Government and a firm have flooded the Nigerian market with Genetically Modified (GM) rice purported to be poisonous, the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has described the report as false, insisting that GM rice has neither been imported nor released into the country.

Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). He claims that GM rice has neither been imported nor released into the country. Photo credit: climatereporters.com
Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). He claims that GM rice has neither been imported nor released into the country. Photo credit: climatereporters.com

Director-General of NBMA, ‎Dr. Rufus Ebegba, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that there was no iota of truth in the report.

Ebegba noted that there was no where in the world where any genetically modified rice has been released commercially, while also recalling that the government had already banned the importation of rice into the country.

“The purpose of calling you to this press briefing is to inform you that the attention of the NBMA has been drawn to a certain spurious online post being circulated in the social media that a firm and government of Nigeria has flooded the Nigerian market with GM rice purported to be poisonous. This falsehood definitely is the product of the writer’s imagination who probably in using pseudo a name.

“It will suffice to note that there is no GM‎ rice that has been commercially released anywhere in the world. It should also be recalled that government has banned the importation of rice in Nigeria. This ban was widely publicised in the media and there no indications that the ban has been lifted,” he said.

Ebegba stressed that, in a bid to cast aspersions on the modest efforts of the government towards adoption of safe biotechnology in Nigeria, the writer “craftily ‎and maliciously laced his post with poison” to cause unnecessary public panic.

The Biosafety boss explained that the reason for the misinformation was best known to whoever is spreading it, but added that there is a trade war between agro-chemical and biotechnology companies as well as organic farmers.

He appealed to the general public not to be lured into this trade war, saying Nigeria will set its standards and deploy enough hands and human resources to ensure that these standards are met to serve the nation’s aspiration.

He, therefore, urged ‎Nigerians to disregard the report and join hands with the agency in its quest to ensure safety in the practice of modern technology in Nigeria in line with global beat practices.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja

Paris can spur national action, ambition – Regional Dialogues

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Paris can spur national action, ambition – Regional Dialogues

Tackling climate change will take broad-based action – from towns and cities, the private sector, public and private organisations, even individuals. This fact is clear in the Paris Climate Change Agreement with its strong focus on action by “non-State actors”.

James Grabert, Director, Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme at the UNFCCC. He insists that the results of the regional dialogues are important
James Grabert, Director, Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme at the UNFCCC. He insists that the results of the regional dialogues are important

Reports just released from five regional meetings reveal the views of non-State actors in developing countries on the Paris Agreement’s provisions for (1) transferring mitigation outcomes, essentially emissions trading; (2) a new Sustainable Development Mechanism; and (3) a framework for non-market approaches. All three of the economic instruments are described in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

At the meetings, held to kick-start dialogue, representatives of regional bodies, organisations and think-tanks, consultants, academics, researchers, and project developers concluded, among other things and with varying levels of agreement, that:

  • The economic instruments under the Paris Agreement could help countries achieve their national plans (so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)) and/or allow countries to commit to greater ambition
  • Consideration of sustainable development benefits needs to be strengthened, especially in relation to poverty alleviation and adaptation co-benefits, perhaps by establishing a link with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  • The economic instruments should enable transparency and ensure a robust monitoring, reporting and verification of results while being simple and user friendly
  • Quantified NDCs should be a prerequisite for transfers of emission reduction outcomes, but highlighted difficulties as NDCs might not be comparable
  • Transferred emission reduction outcomes should be quantifiable in similar units, such as tonnes of CO2-equivalent
  • Great similarity could exist between the Sustainable Development Mechanism under the Paris Agreement and the market-based mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol, which incentivise the private sector to develop emission reduction and development projects.

“Countries adopted the Paris Agreement, but it will be up to all of society to implement it,” said James Grabert, Director, Sustainable Development Mechanisms programme at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat. “The economic instruments described in the agreement have tremendous potential to spur action and ambition; that’s why the results of these regional dialogues are so important.”

Regional non-State actor dialogues on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement were held in in Bangkok, Thailand, on 9 June 2016, in St. George’s, Grenada, on 12 July, in Bogota, Colombia, on 14 July 2016, in Entebbe, Uganda, on 18 July and in Lomé, Togo, on 22 July. In total, 82 regional experts took part.

The dialogues formed the second stage of a project, started in 2015, funded by the governments of Germany and Norway, aimed at supporting developing countries in the use of economic instruments to achieve their NDCs.

Reports of the dialogue, including a synthesis report, are available at the links below and on the webpages of the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centres.

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