The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations 2024 to prevent and minimise pollution and waste emanating from batteries in Nigeria.
Used lead-acid batteries
The regulations seek to ensure environmentally sound management of used batteries in the country.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated this at the unveiling of the document on Thursday, August 29, 2024, in Abuja.
He said that the regulations also seek to address the challenges of waste battery management in Nigeria.
Lawal said it was in line with the provisions and recommendations of the Basel and Bamako Conventions, and other related guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of hazardous waste.
The minister was represented by Mr Usman Bokani, Director, Pollution and Public Health, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
He said that batteries, particularly those used in renewable energy, telecommunication and automotive sectors, were critical to Nigeria’s economic development.
Lawal said that batteries contained hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and lithium amongst others.
He said batteries when improperly disposed of, could lead to severe health conditions including cancer, kidney damage and neurological disorders.
“Vulnerable populations, particularly children, face the greatest risk from exposure to these toxic substances.
“These regulations aim to ensure the environmentally sound management of all types of batteries throughout their life cycle, from production, usage, collection, transportation, storage, recycling and disposal.
“The informal sector, which often handles waste batteries without regulation, significantly contributes to environmental pollution, including soil, air and water contamination,” he said.
In an address, Dr Innocent Barikor, Director-General, NESREA, said the regulations would support the Government’s efforts to ensure sustainable handling of waste batteries.
“The enforcement of this germane Regulation therefore would address the gaps in the abatement of unsound environmental practices in the entire Battery value chain.
“It will also prevent possible adverse health impacts on the target population, especially women and children who are vulnerably involved in the mishandling of batteries, especially Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs),” he said.
In a goodwill message, Rep. Pondi Gbabojor, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Environment, said the regulation represented a significant milestone in stakeholders’ collective efforts to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
Gbabojor, who was represented by his deputy, Rep. Terseer Ugbor, commended NESREA for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigeria environment.
He said that batteries are essential components in many of the devices and technologies that power our modern lives.
“However, improper disposal and management of batteries pose a significant threat to our environment and public health,” he said.
The Federal Government is seeking the United Nations technical assistance and financial support to meet Nigeria’s energy targets.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu
Mr Bolaji Tunji, the Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
Tunji said that the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said this at a dialogue with an international audience made up of representatives from Britain, Brazil, Pakistan, Tonga, Philippines, Uruguay and Moldova, among others.
He said that the event was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
He said that the Minister, who joined the event virtually, made a presentation titled: “Generating Sustainable Energy for Development…Nigeria’s Bold and Ambitious Vision”.
Adelabu urged the United Nations to be involved in Nigeria’s effort at achieving its energy targets by providing technical assistance, capacity building, and financial support.
The minister said that the Federal Government had implemented a multi-prolonged approach designed to tackle issues across the country’s electricity supply industry value chain and set the sector on a path to recovery and prosperity.
According to Adelabu, Nigeria is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2060 with a short-term target under its vision 30:30:30, to attain 30 Gilo Watt (GW) of grid energy supply with a 30 per cent Renewable Energy mix by 2030, and a long-term goal of universal energy access.
He said that these targets presented an opportunity for Nigeria to adopt cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions, as the country strives to achieve energy security and meet the demands of the country’s growing economy.
The minister said Nigeria was faced with challenges, which included mobilisation of finance for project development, inadequate technical and commercial capacity across the value chain.
Other challenges he said included limited local content in products and services, and infrastructure limitations that hinder the adoption of variable renewable energy technologies on the national grid.
“To set the power sector on the recovery path, the Federal Government has streamlined legislative and policy processes to reduce bureaucratic red tape and encourage active participation from sub-national entities thereby, fostering investment and project execution.
“We are leveraging both public and private funds to de-risk project investments and attract more substantial finance commitment, enabling larger and faster project rollout.
“We are embracing technology and innovation to help investors identify optimal investment opportunities.”
According to him, we have initiated a national programme to fast-track infrastructure development aimed at building a robust, viable, and resilient grid network.
The minister said that the Federal Government was also fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations with investment communities and development partners to leverage global expertise, share resources, and co-invest in the energy sector.
He expressed delight at the opportunity given to him to speak at the forum, adding that it provided him the opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities that countries face in establishing and executing clean energy transition pathways.
“The very concept of this event, which seeks to identify the barriers to universal clean transition, especially in developing countries, speaks volumes about our global shared vision of energy sustainability and economic development,” he said.
The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) Lagos Chapter has promised to work collaboratively with civil society groups to disentangle women from societal norms that hold them down.
L-R: Comrade Abiodun Bakare, AUPCTRE Lagos chapter secretary; Comrade Medinat Balogun of the textile union; Comrade Olawale Ige Jenyo, AUPCTRE Lagos chapter chairperson; the Women leader, Comrade Ngozi Edet; and Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), at the event
This was the conclusion reached at the AUPCTRE Lagos Chapter Women Retreat on Empowering Women for Exploits which held in Lekki, Lagos.
Chairperson of Women Committee of AUPCTRE in Lagos, Comrade Ngozi Edet, said that the retreat which had notable civil society and union leaders present was a strategy of deepening the intellectual capacity of the female members of the union to take on roles beyond domestics.
She said that women must be encouraged to take on greater challenges to ensure they not only contribute to society but also achieve their lifelong dreams of self-fulfilment.
Executive director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Philip Jakpor, who was Special Guest at the event, said that the quest for women’s emancipation did not begin today – recalling that the 1929 Aba Women’s Resistance, mischaracterised as a “riot” by British colonialists, is the first well planned and coordinated advocacy for inclusion of women in governance in West Africa.
Jakpor said that the women employed a peaceful sit-in approach during their protests, forcing many Warrant Chiefs to resign and forcing the colonial government to abolish warrant chiefs in 1930. Women were also appointed into the native court system.
He went on to mention notable women who also advocated and fought to advance women’s rights including the late Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who campaigned against unfair taxes on market women and led marches and protests of up to 10,000 women, forcing the ruling Alake at the time to temporarily abdicate in 1949.
He noted that in more recent time there have been women who did not allow societal norms or prejudices to hold them down. They include the former director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, current director-general of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and author, Chimamada Adichie. He explained that the aforementioned women have been able to strike a balance between their work and their family life.
He thereafter listed some of the immediate challenges to women emancipation in Nigeria and most of Africa which include lack of access to water, impacts of climate change, issues of girl child education, sexual exploitation of girls in schools and lack of women participation in politics and government. He added that the challenges women faced on the issue of land rights and gender-based violence are also key issues women should take up and confront.
He also stressed that women could capacitate themselves to overcome these challenges through continuous training, sharing of experiences, and unity in advancing a common cause.
In her intervention on “The Role of Women in the Trade Union”, Comrade Medinat Balogun, Assistant General Secretary/Gender Officer, National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), said that women in Nigeria when compared to their counterparts from other African nations do not take active part in leadership of trade unions; and if at all their participation is very minimal.
Balogun explained that while there is increased membership of women in the formal sector there is less participation of women in leadership roles in the unions.
The unionist said that the quest to emancipate women is backed by international bodies such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which stipulates that unions should evolve strategies that will consistently encourage equal representation of both men and women in leadership positions because of the following reasons. The body equally recommended that women should account for an increasing proportion of the workforce.
On a sad note, she lamented that the women who have contributed to the growth and development of trade unions are continually being neglected and relegated to the background.
She however noted that SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
She maintained that addressing gender issues is essential for advancing development and reducing poverty, as women are entitled to live with dignity and freedom from want and fear, adding that empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities, and they improve prospects for the next generation.
Her words: “Women’s empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality. It includes increasing a woman’s sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home and her ability to effect change.”
Other speakers at the event were Lagos Chapter Chairperson of AUPCTRE, Comrade Olawale Ige-Jenyo, who said the union is determined to ensure women are not relegated to the background in their activities and leadership.
Earlier, Comrade Abiodun Bakare, AUPCTRE Lagos State Chapter Secretary, said that the retreat should be more frequent so that more women topics can be addressed in the unions and can be trained on issues of equality and equity.
TotalEnergies says it has launched of a pilot project consisting of a floating wind turbine to supply renewable power to Culzean offshore platform in the UK North Sea, thus pioneering an innovative decarbonisation scheme.
The floating wind turbine
The 3 MW floating wind turbine will be located 2 km west of the Culzean platform, 220 km off the eastern coast of Scotland. The turbine, expected to be fully operational by end 2025, will supply around 20% of Culzean’s power requirement, thereby reducing its GHG emissions. The turbine will be installed on a modular, light semi-submersible floater hull designed by Ocergy, allowing for fast assembly and optimised costs.
“This innovative pilot project aims at proving the concept of hybridization of power generation on an offshore facility, by integrating the generation of renewable electricity from a floating wind turbine with the existing power generation from gas turbines. It also aims at qualifying a promising floater design for the future of floating offshore wind,” said Marie-Noelle Semeria, Chief Technology Officer at TotalEnergies.
The pilot project was selected in Crown Estate Scotland’s Innovation and Targeted Oil & Gas (INTOG) leasing round, designed to encourage and support the use of offshore wind energy to directly supply offshore oil & gas platforms.
No fewer than 20 villages in eastern Sudan have reportedly been “destroyed”, with 70 impacted overall, after floodwaters burst through a major dam, according to UN humanitarians.
Sudan dam collapse
The UN humanitarians said that the situation has added to the suffering of communities already devastated by the ongoing war between rival militaries.
The Arba’at Dam, located around 38 kilometers (24 miles) northwest of Port Sudan, collapsed on Sunday, damaging roads, electricity, and telecommunication networks, making it difficult to assess the situation, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.
Authorities estimate that around 50,000 people living on the western side of the dam have been severely affected, while the impact on the eastern banks is still being assessed.
Provincial and federal government teams on the ground are working to open roads and conduct search and rescue operations.
“The government delegation reported that about 70 villages around Arba’at Dam have reportedly been affected by the flash flooding of which 20 villages have been destroyed,” OCHA said in a statement on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
At least 30 fatalities have been confirmed, as of Monday, but the actual number of casualties is feared to be much higher.
Severe damage to infrastructure has also been reported, including the collapse of 84 borehole wells and 70 schools have been fully or partially destroyed. Over 10,000 livestock are also missing.
The Arba’at Dam is the primary source of freshwater for the key city of Port Sudan.
It handles the majority of the country’s international trade and has been a hub for humanitarian operations since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April last year.
An inter-agency team led by OCHA has been deployed to the impacted areas and is coordinating with partners and authorities to support a full assessment.
“A helicopter is urgently required to assist with aerial assessment as some areas are impassable by road due to flooding,” OCHA said.
The aircraft would also boost search and rescue efforts, as some residents are said to have been trapped in the mountains where they fled for safety, while others are still marooned by floodwater, it added.
Since the onset of the rains in June, floods have wreaked havoc across many parts of Sudan, with the most affected regions being in North and West Darfur, and the River Nile states.
Even before the dam collapsed, more than 310,000 people had been impacted by flooding across the country, adding to the misery inflicted by the brutal fighting, now in its seventeenth month.
More than 12 million people have been displaced from their homes, both within Sudan and outside its borders.
The war has also decimated livelihoods and destroyed crops, leading to severe food shortages and now famine in several parts of the country.
NIPCO Gas Ltd. and its Joint Venture Partner, NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd. (NGML), on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, inaugurated a gas supply project for the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC) in Lagos.
Officials at the inaugurated of the gas supply project
The project is delivering over 100 million standard cubic feet (MMscf) of gas daily.
During the inauguration, the Managing Director of NIPCO Gas, Mr Nagendara Verma, explained that this milestone represented a significant advancement in utilising Nigeria’s natural gas resources to fuel economic development.
Verma emphasised that the project would stimulate industrial growth and job creation in the Lekki area, thereby contributing to the nation’s economic development.
He noted, “NIPCO Gas believes that the collaboration between NGML and NIPCO Gas will attract industries to establish their operations here, given the Lekki Free Zone’s strategic advantages, such as its proximity to the seaport, export promotion zone benefits and improved road connectivity.”
He said that the NGML-NIPCO Gas JV’s distribution network extended along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, supplying gas to various industries and now expanding to Ibadan and Abeokuta.
Verma said, “The availability of a reliable natural gas network is encouraging industries to set up their facilities in the area, leading to overall regional development, job creation and socio-economic upliftment.
“Industries benefit from a dependable, cost-effective and clean fuel source, which reduces fuel costs and maintenance expenses.
“NIPCO Gas entered into a partnership with NGML for the supply and distribution of natural gas in the Lekki Gas Distribution Area in June 2022.
“Subsequently, the NGML-NIPCO Gas JV signed a Gas Infrastructure and Development Agreement with LFZDC in November 2022 to ensure natural gas supplies for industries and a power plant.”
The Managing Director of NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd., Mr Justin Ezeala, described the event as a landmark in the country’s gas infrastructure development.
He commended NIPCO Gas for its dedication and professionalism, expressing pride in the successful collaboration.
Ezeala noted, “We knew the gas business required seamless delivery and partnering with NIPCO Gas, known for its expertise in gas marketing and infrastructure development, has been a strategic move.’’
The Managing Director of LFZDC, Mr Dai Shunfa, said that the project would enhance development in the zone and positively impact the local community.
He lauded NIPCO Gas for ensuring a steady gas supply for business operations and expressed readiness to commence operations.
Shunfa said, “The gas project will boost the economy and local capacity. We have successfully negotiated this agreement, and it has become a reality.’’
The gas infrastructure development will promote business growth in the Ibeju Lekki community and support economic advancement in Lagos.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved the sum $3.28 million to tackle land degradation in Kebbi State under the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) initiative.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State
Mr Jonah Stanley, the Operational Focal Point for GEF, disclosed this at an interactive session with the Federal Ministry of Environment, NAGGW and Sec Diarra & Sages Consult Group on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, in Abuja.
GEF is a multilateral environmental fund that provides grants and blended finance for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, among others.
“The project aligned for Nigeria, is to be carried out by NAGGW; recently, GEF approved $3.28 million to deal with dry lands, land degradation and ecosystem regeneration in Kebbi,’’ Stanley said.
Stanley, who is also the Director, Planning Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Environment, said that GEF was a funding mechanism that supported more than 185 countries around the world including Nigeria in dealing with environmental issues.
He said that Nigeria had benefited from GEF over the years.
According to him, the support comes in circles, adding that Nigeria is now in GEF 8 circle which started in 2022 and will last until 2026.
On his part, Prof. Robert Yougbar, representative from Sec Diarra & Sages Consult Group, said the target of the funds was to get the land restored and community resuscitation.
In his remark, Mr Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of NAGGW, assured that the project would be executed with the funds.
Also, Dr Innocent Alenyi, acting Director, Planning Policy and Coordinator, NAGGW, commended the establishment of the agency to tackle deforestation and land degradation.
He said that civil societies were key to success of the agency’s initiatives in the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria is the first country in Africa to receive mpox vaccines, aimed at combating the spread of the new strain of mpox virus.
First-ever delivery of mpox vaccines in Africa outside of clinical trials arrives in Nigeria. Photo credit WHO
WHO in a statement stated that Nigeria received 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines on Tuesday, August 28, 2024.
On Aug. 14 the chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the rise of mpox, formerly monkeypox, a public health emergency of international concern.
Following his announcement, the chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said he was working with partners to facilitate equitable access to vaccines.
The United States government has donated the Jynneos (MVA) vaccine to Nigeria, and it is set to be distributed in five of the country’s states, where the most mpox cases have been detected.
“We are pleased to receive this modest initial donation of the mpox vaccine, which is safe and efficacious,” Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate, said.
“We will continue to strengthen surveillance and be vigilant to prevent and control mpox.”
The MVA vaccine will be given to 5,000 people most at risk of the virus in a two-dose schedule.
This includes “close contacts of mpox cases and frontline healthcare workers, with a provision for reactive vaccination in other states as the need arises,” according to WHO’s regional office for Africa.
While waiting for the vaccines to be administered, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, has approved the vaccine’s emergency use.
“The delivery of the mpox vaccines to Nigeria not only constitutes a crucial addition to the ongoing measures to halt the virus and protect health, but it is also a clear demonstration of international solidarity in the face of global public health emergencies,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director of Africa, said.
WHO’s Africa office says “serious gaps in mpox vaccine access” remain in Africa.
The organisation is working with countries and manufacturers to increase access to the needed vaccines.
Further, WHO is collaborating with partners including the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and others to “enable donations from countries with existing stockpiles.”
The partners are also developing a “donation scheme” to ensure the limited vaccines are used in areas where it is most needed.
WHO’s Africa office is assisting the Nigerian Government to improve “surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory capacity, risk communication, and community engagement” as the country has had 786 suspected mpox cases and 39 confirmed cases as of Aug. 10.
Health officials are also implementing early case detection and diagnostics, as well as increasing cross-border surveillance, notably at main points of entry throughout the country.
Linus Unah, the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) friend of the month of August 2024, is a Nigerian producer, journalist, and emerging documentary filmmaker working with Wild Africa. He previously worked as an independent journalist for six years and produced multimedia stories on wildlife conservation, development, global health, and conflict for Mongabay, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, National Public Radio, Devex, The Christian Science Monitor, and several others.
His fondness for documentary film grew out of his role at San Francisco-based Wild Aid Organisation, an international environmental charity, where he assisted in producing environmental TV series and shortform videos on the illegal wildlife trade and local conservation projects. Recently, the EPI Foundation worked closely with Linus in the launch of Nigeria’s first National Elephant Action Plan, which he described as a significant step forward towards providing a strategic framework for ensuring the long-term survival of elephants
Linus Unah at the Sheldrick Trust in Nairobi, Kenya
Have you always been passionate about wildlife conservation?
My passion for wildlife conservation has roots in my childhood in central Nigeria, a place surrounded by trees like mangoes, neems, and cashews. As a kid, I loved birdwatching, spotting nests, and helping a friend raise pigeons. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what wildlife conservation meant – it was more about the simple joys of exploring nature, much like my peers. We played football, chased birds, and marvelled at the weaver birds nesting in the mango trees behind our home. After completing my bachelor’s degree in communications, I was mainly focused on covering stories on insecurity, climate change, and various development issues like water, sanitation, and education.
However, my perspective changed in 2018 when I visited Agbokim Waterfalls village in Cross River State in southern Nigeria to interview Cameronian refugees fleeing the conflict back home. Coming from Lagos, a city with scarce green spaces, I was stunned by the pristine rainforests in Cross River. I also heard stories about the region’s unique wildlife – gorillas, chimpanzees, drill monkeys, and more.
This was a turning point for me. I realised these stories weren’t being told as widely as possible. Shortly after, I came across a call for pitches on Mongabay focused on great apes in mid-2018. I applied and was selected, marking the beginning of my work in wildlife storytelling. Since then, I’ve reported extensively on conservation efforts in Nigeria and Costa Rica, covering the work of people dedicated to fighting poaching and habitat loss. I’ve truly found my calling in telling these stories today with Wild Africa, where I work, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
How did your journey into journalism begin?
My journey into journalism was shaped by an early exposure to literature, thanks to my older brothers, who were deeply immersed in Shakespearean plays and the poetry of William Wordsworth, Robert Frost, and John Milton. Our home was filled with the works of Nigerian authors like Cyprian Ekwensi, Amos Tutuola, Ola Rotimi, Chinua Achebe, and Wole Soyinka, among others.
In both elementary and high school, I was actively involved in press clubs – a small group of students who listened to Radio Nigeria network news daily, read local and national newspapers, and distilled everything into a short news bulletin that we presented at the morning assembly. I also eagerly awaited weekly copies of Newswatch magazine, where I was captivated by the incisive writing of Ray Ekpu and Dan Agbese. Their fearless and hard-hitting style left a lasting impression on me. Their work deepened my fascination with journalism and its critical role in society.
As I grew older, I became a regular reader of The Sun newspaper, where I followed columns written by Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe. Inspired by these influences, I pursued a degree in mass communication at the University of Nigeria and eventually ventured into freelance journalism after graduation.
You have worked with global, Pan-African and local news organisations. What are some of the common themes that influence how conservation issues in Africa are reported globally?
In Africa, conservation stories are usually centred on poaching, deforestation, and endangered animals. Although these are serious challenges, this framing sometimes overlooks more nuanced stories about local conservation efforts, indigenous knowledge, and successful community-driven initiatives.
Another recurring element is a preoccupation with well-known species like elephants, rhinos, lions, and gorillas, which receive international attention and funding. This emphasis, however, sometimes overlooks less “charismatic” species and broader biodiversity issues that are equally vital for ecological balance.
The tension between the demands of local development needs and conservation goals is another recurring theme. Global reporting frequently highlights the need to protect wildlife and landscapes, sometimes portraying local communities as impediments to attaining these noble objectives. This can provide a one-dimensional representation of the interaction between humans and nature while ignoring the socioeconomic dynamics at work.
Despite their critical role in protecting nature, local perspectives and voices are sometimes missing from conservation stories. There is a fixation with quoting experts, often without a clear definition of what qualifies someone as an expert in the first place.
Do you think that it is important to invest funds in amplifying African voices in conservation? If so, why? And what impact could that create?
Yes, without a doubt. For decades, African communities have coexisted with wildlife and found ways to protect their natural resources. By investing in and amplifying these voices, we elevate solutions that are grounded in local realities and encourage local communities to feel a sense of ownership. This ensures that conservation efforts are co-created and led by the people who will be most impacted, rather than merely being top-down initiatives. Additionally, African journalists, community leaders, and conservationists become effective change agents when they are given the means and platforms to share their own stories. This not only shifts the narrative but also inspires the next generation of conservationists across the continent.
This year has been monumental for Nigeria’s elephant conservation efforts. First, the ivory crush happened; recently, the National Elephant Action Plan was launched, and you were present for both events. How have these events influenced your vision for the conservation of Nigeria’s elephants?
The ivory crush event was a powerful symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade and protecting its elephants. Similarly, the launch of the National Elephant Action Plan marked a significant step forward, providing a strategic framework for ensuring the long-term survival of elephants through habitat protection, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and community engagement.
Being present at both events reinforced the importance of a coordinated approach that involves not just the government but also local communities, conservation organisations, and the private sector. Moving forward, I am more committed than ever to raising awareness and telling stories that highlight the progress being made while keeping a close eye on areas that need more attention.
Pacific Islands are facing a triple threat due to climate change: accelerating sea level rise, ocean warming, and acidification. These escalating challenges are jeopardising not only the socioeconomic stability of these islands but also their existence, highlights a new WMO report.
Climate change has heightened Pacific Islands’ vulnerability
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2023 report details how sea level rise in the region is above the global average. In much of the western tropical Pacific, sea level has risen approximately 10–15 cm, close to or nearly twice the global rate measured since 1993. In the central tropical Pacific, sea level has risen approximately 5–10 cm.
In addition, sea surface temperatures have risen three times faster than the global average since 1980. During that time marine heatwaves have approximately doubled in frequency since 1980 and are more intense and are lasting longer.
The report was released by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and WMO Secretary-General, Celeste Saulo, at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga. It was accompanied by a special briefing document on Surging Seas in a Warming World, described by Mr Guterres as “an SOS on sea level rise.”
He also noted that Pacific Islands are particularly exposed to the consequences of climate change, despite accounting for just 0.02% of global emissions. Their average elevation is just one to two metres above sea level; 90% of the population live within 5 kilometres of the coast and half the infrastructure is within 500 metres of the sea.
The State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2023 report was prepared in cooperation with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and other United Nations agencies and international partners. It also looks at climate drivers in 2023 – including the last El Niño event – temperature, precipitation and extreme events such as tropical cyclones, drought and extreme heat in the region.
Overall, 34 reported hydrometeorological hazard events in 2023 – most of them storm or flood related – led to over 200 fatalities and impacted more than 25 million people in the region.
“Climate change has become a global crisis and is the defining challenge that humanity currently faces. Communities, economies and ecosystems throughout the South-West Pacific region are significantly affected by its cascading impacts. It is increasingly evident that we are fast running out of time to turn the tide,” said Saulo.
