Afghanistan on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland became the latest Party to the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are toxic to humans and wildlife. The Asian nation is the 179th.
COP 7 President Johanna Lissinger Peitz. Photo credit: iisd.ca
In implementing the Convention, which entered into force May 17th 2004, governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.
At the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 7) to the Stockholm Convention holding in the Swiss capital, COP President Johanna Lissinger Peitz formally welcomed Afghanistan, even as the gathering deliberated on numerous issues. In plenary, the COP sought to address matters related to implementation of the convention, including the listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C, and measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use.
Contact groups also met throughout the day to address issues including technical assistance and financial resources; technical matters; listing of chemicals; budget; RC non-compliance; and cooperation and coordination.
On implementing the convention for instance, the Secretariat introduced the documents, noting that the POPRC recommended that the COP consider listing chlorinated naphthalenes (CNs), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports on its cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on endocrine disrupting chemicals and suggested that endocrine disruption be added to the POPs screening criteria.
The African Group, GRULAC (Latin American and Caribbean Group), Belarus, New Zealand, Pakistan, Mexico, Thailand, Norway, Australia, Canada, the Cook Islands, Serbia, Georgia and Panama supported the POPRC’s recommendations. India opposed listing any of the chemicals. The Russian Federation opposed listing CNs.
The Republic of Korea, the EU and Switzerland preferred no exemptions for PCP. Oman requested a five-year exemption for some uses of HCBD. China said it is open to the recommendations but expressed concerns about the benefits of listing CNs and HCBD in Annex C and, with Thailand and GRULAC, noted the need for financial and technical assistance to meet obligations arising from new listings.
IPEN supported listing all three chemicals, underscoring the adverse health effects of PCP, including contamination of soils and groundwater, and called for listing it in Annex A without exemptions. The Inuit Circumpolar Council underscored specific challenges faced by Arctic indigenous peoples. The US described actions it has taken to reduce PCP.
Delegates agreed to establish a contact group to discuss listing all three chemicals, with David Kapindula (Zambia) and Björn Hansen (EU) as Co-Chairs.
Essentially, the Stockholm Convention focuses on eliminating or reducing releases of 12 POPs, the so-called “Dirty Dozen“, setting up a system for tackling additional chemicals identified as unacceptably hazardous.
Palm oil conglomerate ordered to halt expansion of operations following multiple violations of RSPO standards
Palm oil plantation in Kalimantan. Photo credit: greenpeace.org
The Complaints Panel of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has upheld the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) in its complaint against Golden Agri Resources, which was seeking to expand 18 of its operations in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world.
After concluding that it has ‘reasonable grounds’ to conclude that the company is in violation of several RSPO norms, the latest ‘determination’ by the Panel notes: “The Panel hereby prohibits GAR from acquiring or developing any new areas until this complaint has been dealt with to the satisfaction of the Complaints Panel.”
Repeated field surveys by FPP with local partner, LinkAR-Borneo, show that the company has sluggishly responded, after the NGOs had repeatedly raised concerns first with the company and then the RSPO. The NGOs found that the company had filed to expand its operations after it had taken land without proper consent, had not completed required High Conservation Value assessments and was of questionable legality.
The Complaints Panel rules that: “GAR must also take remedial steps to correct any shortcomings in its land acquisition process with the affected communities… and insists that GAR must honor its commitment to allocate 20 % of the land for the smallholders as it has promised to do…”
Agus Sutomo Executive Director of Pontianak-based LinkAR Borneo says: “We need the Government to take note of this decision. Chaotic law enforcement and handing out permits for oil palm plantations on indigenous peoples’ lands without even informing them in advance is bad for people, bad for forests and bad for Indonesia.”
In past years NGOs have expressed growing dismay that the RSPO was failing to enforce its standards and turning a blind eye to multiple violations.
“We hope this decision will now persuade GAR/SMART that it has to renegotiate with communities where it has taken over their lands without their informed consent,” says Marcus Colchester, Senior Policy Advisor of the Forest Peoples Programme. “We are greatly encouraged that the RSPO is upholding its standard. We need to eliminate all land-grabbing from the RSPO-endorsed supply chain.”
Entries are now open under the 2015 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) in Nigeria for students aged between 15 and 20 years of age in public and private secondary schools throughout the country. They will close on 31st May, 2015.
Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Svante Kilander (left); Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, Dr Olusanya Bamgboye (middle); and PAVE programme manager, Temiloluwa Ogunniyi …at the launch
This disclosure was made recently in Abuja by officials of the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) during the official launch of the SJWP-Nigeria, which will hold yearly courtesy of PAVE and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria.
The PAVE programme manager, Temiloluwa Ogunniyi, while thanking the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Svante Kilander, and the Swedish Embassy for hosting the event, underscored the SJWP’s importance.
His words: “The SJWP is more than just a competition; it is also a major event that has a long-term human and environmental impact while demonstrating a strong commitment to using the innovative and creative power of the youths to address one of the world’s most urgent issues – the growing water crisis. The idea is a joint global effort to save the world from the looming water crisis.”
Recently, PAVE signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in Sweden as the National Organiser in Nigeria for the SJWP for the period 2015-2017.
“We are collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources through the technical partnership of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna for project evaluation. Among the judging criteria includes Relevance, Creative ability, Methodology, Subject Knowledge, Practical skills and Report and Presentation,” disclosed Ogunniyi, who represented the PAVE president, Anthony Akpan.
PAVE’s responsibility under the agreement includes: to organise each year starting 2015 a national Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Nigeria (SJWP-Nigeria); to finance the national competition through the engagement of sponsors; and to select students to represent the winning project in the International Final in Stockholm.
Other responsibilities of the organisation include: to pay for the finalist travelling and accompany them to the International Final in Stockholm; to appoint a National Jury; and to inform SIWI about members of the National Jury.
“In the context of financing the national competition through the engagements of sponsors, we call on public and private corporate organisations and philanthropic individuals to partner with us as sponsors,” declared Ogunniyi.
According to him, for 18 years, SJWP has congregated the world’s most imaginative young minds for an outstanding competition in the capital of Sweden, with the aim of encouraging their continued interest in water and sustainability issues.
He added: “Each year, thousands of participants in over 30 countries all around the globe join national competitions in hopes of earning the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during the World Water Week in Stockholm.
“The national and international competitions are open to young people between the ages of 15 and 20 who have conducted water-related projects of proven environmental, scientific, social or technological significance. The projects range from local or regional to national or global topics.
“The winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize receives a USD 15,000 award, a blue crystal prize sculpture, a diploma as well as the stay in Stockholm. H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
“Finalists from the participating countries are invited to Stockholm for five consecutive days where they actively take part in the global conference through a variety of activities. Inside the World Water Week conference venue, a poster exhibition of all student projects will give the finalists an opportunity to discuss their projects with the wide range of conference attendees, including researchers, politicians and media. Each of the finalists is further interviewed by a jury of international experts, who decide on the winner announced at the prize ceremony.
“During their time in Stockholm, the winners of the national competitions get the opportunity to meet and learn from the present leaders of the global water community, and get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to receive the international prize during an exciting award ceremony. The students also make life-long friendships with international compatriots who share a passion for water and science.”
PAVE is a Lagos-based non-profit, non-political and non-governmental organisation established with the aim of promoting sustainable development through research, documentation, policy dialogues, workshops, advocacy and consultancy services.
It deals with development issues in their environmental and socio-economic aspects with emphasis on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets regarding water and sanitation and other related human settlement issues including Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate change and Clean Energy promotion.
Nigeria formally commenced the preparation of its climate action plan, tagged Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 in Abuja when a host of stakeholders brainstormed all day long.
Left to Right: Aniefon Akpabio of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Bennett Agube of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof Emmanuel Olukayode Oladipo (Member, National Committee for COP 21), Ambassador Martins Uhomorbhi (Co-chair, National Committee for COP 21), Mrs L. Braide (Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment), Dr Samuel Adejuwon (Director, Department of Climate Change, FME), Muyiwa Odele (representing Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, the UNDP Country Director) and Ifeanyi Nnodim of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET)… at the Stakeholders Technical Workshop on the Development of Nigeria’s INDCs, in Abuja on Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The INDCs is a requirement to be submitted by all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a major component of the climate change treaty to be adopted in Paris, France later in the year.
Nigeria’s INDCs, just like those of other nations, are to be communicated well in advance of the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC to be held in December in Paris. A number of nations have already submitted theirs, including Gabon, making it the first African country to do so.
But Nigeria set the ball rolling last week at a day-long project initiation workshop, where Mrs Nana Fatima Mede, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, reaffirmed the need to set up processes and procedural approaches of estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for developing the INDCs documents as an uncompromising priority for Nigeria. To this end, she pointed out, the Ministry through the Department of Climate Change (DCC) is committed to ensuring its commitment to the UNFCCC.
Addressing the participants, she stressed: “As technicians participating in this endeavour, your undivided cooperation is required in developing this national document. Provision of data and information and your participation in the whole process of development of the document will make the product a national document containing national contribution and related concerns and interest.”
While commending the “unflinching support of the UNDP in the ministry’s activities and specifically for financial support towards development of the INDCs,” the perm sec noted that participants’ contributions would go a long way in moving the nation’s effort towards achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC.
Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, the UNDP Country Director, told participants (comprising civil society organisations, NGOs, academia, media, grassroots organisations, private sector players and MDAs) that their presence “is not only crucial but is the major building block in a series of steps towards developing an all-inclusive and realistic INDCs for Nigeria.”
According to him, the UNDP is counting on the stakeholders’ collective experiences and knowledge in identifying:
Unique national circumstances, capacities and capabilities which affect the INDCs process;
Existing initiatives and mechanisms under the UNFCCC that can contribute to the formulations of INDCs;
Opportunities for linkages/alignment with existing national development priorities; and,
Key sectors to be prioritised.
He said: “The UNDP, within its framework of partnership with the DCC, has been providing support aimed at promoting informed national actions on climate change towards sustainable development. Our support is to assist Nigeria in meeting its obligations towards UNFCCC thorough the preparation and submission of its INDCs and to strengthen national capacities for integrating environmental and energy concerns into development plans at all levels.
“Knowing fully well that national GHG inventories are a critical starting place for preparing the INDCs, it is noteworthy that the entire process would benefit immensely from national capacities developed with UNDP’s support during the preparation of the First and Second National Communications to UNFCCC. Coincidentally this would set the tone for the preparation of the Third National Communications.”
In a presentation titled: “Relevance of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs) in the Global Climate Change Framework: Nigeria Readiness,” Dr Samuel Jare Adejuwon, Director in the DCC, declared that the INDCs would largely determine whether the world achieves an ambitious 2015 agreement and is put on a path towards a low carbon, climate-resilient future.
He pointed out however that the climate action plan should reflect diversity of national circumstances while recognising varying capacities and capabilities.
“While national priorities will determine contribution types and scope, it is Important to secure a political mandate with clear goals, timeline and defined roles and responsibilities. It should be linked to development plans, be fair, equitable and transparent. INDCs link climate change to other national priorities such as sustainable development and poverty reduction,” said Nigeria’s climate chief.
Adejuwon added that, apart from the initiation workshop, other steps to be taken for the INDCs preparation include:
Training of selected experts on INDC (GHG inventory and mitigation experts);
Collection, analysis of information (data collection and analysis) and preparation of draft INDC through consultancy;
Peer review of draft INDC;
Stakeholders validation meeting;
Presentation at the Federal Executive Council and FEC approval;
Communication to COP through the UNFCCC Secretariat; and,
Publication and dissemination of the document.
In conclusion, Adejuwon submitted: “A well-designed INDCs will signal to the world that the country is doing its part to combat climate change and limit future climate risks. Countries should follow a transparent process when preparing their INDCs in order to build trust and accountability with domestic and international stakeholders.
“A good INDC should be ambitious, leading to transformation in carbon-intensive sectors and industry. A good INDC must be transparent so that stakeholders can track progress and ensue countries meet their stated goals. A good INDC must be equitable so that each country does its fair share to address climate change. All these must be taken into consideration while developing Nigeria’s INDCs.”
Similarly, Peter Tarfa, Adejuwon’s deputy, while exploring options for designing an INDC, stated that INDCs can be framed either in terms of means or desired outcomes.
He said: “A Party could commit to implementing specific emissions-reduction actions, such as policies or mitigation actions like advancing a feed-in tariff for renewable energy technologies, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, or converting to no-tillage agricultural practices.
“Alternatively, a Party could commit to a certain outcome or result – for example, reducing emissions to a specific level (a greenhouse gas outcome) or generating a certain percentage of renewable energy or increasing energy efficiency to a certain level (both non-greenhouse gas outcomes). The variety of domestic situations each country faces in reducing emissions will drive a wide diversity of INDCs, ranging from emissions targets to energy targets to actions in particular sectors.”
Vulnerability is “the extent to which a natural or social system is susceptible to sustaining damage from climate change, and is a function of the magnitude of climate change, the sensitivity of the systems to changes in climate and the ability of the systems to adapt to changes in climate” (IPCC, 2001).
Prof. Emmanuel Olukayode Oladipo
Others have extended this idea by relating the concept to three overlapping properties: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Exposure refers to the extent of climate stress to which a particular unit or system is exposed. Sensitivity to climate change relates to how readily a particular system such as agriculture would react (usually negatively) to changes associated with climate. Adaptive capacity is a function of several parameters, which may be summarized under wealth, access to technology and infrastructures.
Nigeria’s economy and other sectors of development are very vulnerable to climate change. The 2014 World Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) published by the UK-based risk company, Maplecroft, classifies Nigeria as being of high risk. In terms of the relative vulnerability of Nigeria among the countries of the world, the analysis shows that the country is one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world.
A recently nationally commissioned study used the Indicator Method, to determine the spatial changes in the vulnerability of Nigeria on geopolitical basis. The study focused on three principal determinants of vulnerability – adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure. The indicators used in the study were a combinations of many variables ranging from physical (e.g. rainfall, temperature, changes in sea level, relief, soil conditions etc.) to socio-economic (e.g. education, assets, income, access to information, services and technology, poverty, etc.), and they were sufficiently broad in relevance to allow a meaningful assessment of vulnerability of different parts of the country to climate change. Vulnerability was defined as a function of potential impact less the adaptive capacity.
On geo-political zonal basis, the study shows that the north-eastern zone has the least adaptive capacity, followed by the north-western zone. The south-western sub-region has highest adaptive capacity, followed by the southeast. The pattern is a general reflection of both the geographical extent and level of socio-economic development of the country, and implies that special attention must be given to improving the factors of adaptive capacity in the north-eastern and north-western zones of the country.
On the spatial variation of the country’s sensitivity to climate change, the study shows that the north central has the lowest sensitivity, while the south-south has the highest. The relatively higher value of sensitivity in the north-western zone compared with the other two zones in the north is associated with presence of large human-made water bodies that are used for irrigation in the zone.
The relative exposure of the various parts of Nigeria to climate change shows that the southwest is the least exposed while the most exposed are the northeast and southeast zones. Clearly, exposure to the challenges of climate change is not a purely regional phenomenon in terms of north/south divide. Rather, it is a wholly national phenomenon, which implies that exposure factors should be addressed in the various parts of the country. For example, while rainfall decline and, therefore water supply, is an exposure issue in the northern part while land management to prevent water loss through infiltration is crucial in the south east.
The spatial content for the relative vulnerability of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria shows that there is a general south-north divide, but the south west is relatively the least vulnerable of the zones. The three zones in the north show higher vulnerability when compared with those in the south, a reflection of the higher rainfall and certain better socio-economic development in the south. The south-south shows highest relative variability of the three zones in the south, reflecting the challenges of coastal flooding and erosion as well as petroleum exploration and exploitation in that part of the country.
On the spatial pattern of vulnerabilities along the Nigerian coast, the report shows that the Niger delta region has the largest spread and depth of vulnerability of the country’s marine and coastal environment.
In summary, the southwest is relatively less vulnerable than most other parts of the country. On the other hand, the northeast is most vulnerable. Understanding these spatial vulnerabilities is crucial to analyzing climate change impact and putting in place adaptation actions imperative to shaping climate-resilient development in Nigeria, as well as determining the cost implication of tackling the crisis.
In general, the impacts of climate change in Nigeria will vary in extent, severity and intensity, but the exact degree still remains uncertain. Of course these impacts are not going to be felt overnight, and one could therefore argue that the structure of the economy will gradually change during the actual time period before the impacts are likely to be fully realized. Consequently, it is important to note that these potential impacts only serve as rough indications of what may likely happen if the current trends in temperature and rainfall changes persist, and if no adaptation and other adjustments take place. They serve as general guidelines for future policy directions and the imperative to take immediate action without waiting for the potential calamitous effects of climate change on the economy and livelihoods of the people to take place.
At the national level, a detailed and in-depth research into the vulnerability of Nigeria’s economy is yet to be undertaken. However, desk-reviewed evidences show that all sectors of Nigeria’s socio-economic development and the natural ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change. The impacts will vary in extent, severity and intensity, but the exact degree still remains uncertain. Some known impacts of climate change on various sectors of Nigeria’s economy and development will constitute part of future write ups on how to make Nigeria climate resilient for sustainable human development.
(People who are interested in additional technical details can read the report of the Federal Ministry of Environment), 2010: National Environmental, Economic and Development Study (NEEDS) for Climate Change in Nigeria. National Report Submitted to the UNFCCC in which the author is the major contributor, as well as IPCC 2001. Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Cambridge University Press)
By Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo (Climate Change Specialist and Adjunct Professor, Department of Geography, University of Lagos, Nigeria. Email: olukayode_oladipo@yahoo.co.uk)
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) on Friday, May 1st, 2015 officially released a publication aimed at enhancing country activities ahead of the much-vaunted COP 21 in Paris later in the year.
Titled: “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs): A Handbook for Practitioners,” the publication, says PACJA officials in a press statement, is vital as many countries are in the process of submitting or formulating their INDCs pledges. According to them, INDCs put forward by countries will form a key input to the negotiations leading towards the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Programmes Manager at PACJA, Samson Ogallah, stated: “The INDCs handbook also comes at a time when most countries missed the 31 March 2015 as encouraged by The Lima Call for Action. Only 35 countries, including the only African country Gabon, have formally submitted their INDCs to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Mexico, Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland and the United States are amongst countries that have already communicated their INDCs.
“A second implicit submission deadline has now been set for 01 October 2015, after which submissions are still allowed, but will not be included in the UNFCCC’s synthesis report, which will be made available to Parties in time for the 21st Conference of Parties in Paris, December 2015.”
He pointed out that the Alliance’s strategic role in influencing policy from the national to the regional and international level remains the driving force for its focus on INDCs.
“With over 50 African countries expected to submit their INDCs to the Secretariat of UNFCCC and the 15th Ordinary Session of AMCEN’s Decision in Cairo on INDCs, the role of African civil society in actively participating and contributing to the process from the national to the regional level cannot be over-emphasised.
“For African civil society, INDCs must be a total package that takes into account all the elements of adaptation, mitigation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building and means of implementation. In a nutshell, for the continent and other developing countries, INDCs should include the international support needed as well as their proposed domestic actions for both mitigation and adaptation and also for loss and damage, in a way that reinforces an equitable global deal, and reflects the demands and needs of people,” Ogallah emphasised.
Founded in 2008 and with a membership of more than 1,000 organisations and networks across Africa, PACJA is a continental coalition of civil society organisations from diverse backgrounds in Africa. It aims at unifying and coordinating isolated civil society efforts on climate change advocacy in Africa, so as to ensure that pro-poor and people-centred response measures are given attention as governments in Africa seek to mainstream climate change into national poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies and actions.
Country Manager, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Mallam Kabir Yari, along with Chair, African Planning Association, Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, have been confirmed as speakers at a forum designed to beget sustainable urban development in Nigeria as well as examine the role of African cities in the emerging urban agendas.
Mallam Kabir Yari
Titled “Promoting Durable Urban Knowledge Institutions in Africa by activating the African Urban Research Initiative Project,” the workshop is scheduled to hold on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the University of Lagos, Akoka.
Organised by the African Urban Research Initiative (AURI) and Lagos Urban Research Network (LURNet), the lecture will address from an African/Nigerian perspective:
how to conceptualise and respond to urban informality,
how to conceptualise and promote urban resilience,
how to conceptualise and respond to urban spatial inequality, and
how to do so through co-production methods.
It will also provide a forum for:
identifying the most critical and important issues at country level, which could then be consolidated to help develop regional policy,
documenting the views of key local and national constituencies (including government, private sector and civil society groups) in the Nigerian urban development and environmental management sectors sector in activities leading up to Habitat III, and
generating localised awareness and support of AURI activities while giving momentum to key AURI arguments and positions that will serve an input towards Africities and Habitat III events.
“As an AURI Partner, LURNet is pleased to organise this in-country workshop on the place of African cities in the emerging global development agendas. We are hopeful that the narrative on Nigerian urbanisation will be well articulated and advanced as we work towards achieving inclusive and sustainable cities,” submitted Dr Taibat Lawanson, who heads the Department of Urban & Regional Planning at the University of Lagos.
A multi-disciplinary urban laboratory domiciled at the Department, LURNet was conceived for the promotion of theoretical and applied research in urban planning and development and serves as a real-time incubator for research on the Lagos Urban Area and Nigeria in its broad context.
According to Lawanson, LURNet provides an avenue for interdisciplinary research and intellectual discourse on Urban and Regional Planning and Development, with a view to promoting sustainable and acceptable urban development.
“It organises the annual Urban Dialogue Public Lecture where public figures speak of city dynamics from their own perspectives as well as several exhibitions highlighting contemporary issues such as climate change, city branding, place making and reconciling old and new cities,” she added.
In 2011 the African Centre for Cities (based at the University of Cape Town, South Africa) received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to pursue a project to scale-up applied urban research and practice in Africa. The African Urban Research Initiative (AURI) was a response to the need to support existing and future homegrown applied research centres to inform and enhance urban policy actors and networks in African countries towards the development of responsive urban policy and management.
With support from the Cities Alliance, Mistra Urban Futures Programme and the Ford Foundation, a series of workshops have been held in various African cities to develop this narrative. The first workshop, held in Addis Ababa in March 2013, was to raise the debate and foster action amongst key research and donor stakeholders in the urban field, whilst establishing a shared understanding of the scope and implications for research and knowledge management of the urban transition in Africa.
The second meeting was held in Nairobi in February 2014, with the theme “Institutional models of co-production in the African city.” A third AURI workshop meeting was held in November 2014, in Cape Town with a theme “Urban research for reducing urban poverty.”
The meetings highlighted the fact that AURI has an important advocacy role to play in providing the basis for developing compelling research and advocacy agenda around African urbanisation and urban poverty reduction, targeting key events such as the 2015 Africities meeting as well as the 2016 Habitat III conference.
However, it was also recognised that AURI needs to develop its positions and arguments in a very limited timeframe. These arguments need to be regional in their scope, yet also acknowledge the diversity of urban processes and forms across the African continent. As such the necessity for regional workshops are imperative. It is towards achieving this objective vis-a-vis the situation in Nigeria that the workshop at the University of Lagos is being organised by LURNet. The workshop is sponsored by AURI.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on countries to close the gaps in prevention and treatment to defeat malaria. But when people are allowed to live in filthy, polluted environments as seen in this video, one will begin to question the possibility of Nigeria ever eradicating malaria.
Mining has been a massive driver for development, as seen in developed countries. Now that Nigeria is diversifying from her mono economy of petroleum, mining amongst other sectors should be looked at. Therefore, plans to manage the sector throughout its life cycle should also be put in place. Old mine practice that brought about adverse environmental degradation, without attention to managing social impacts of mining, should be avoided. Mining impacts must be managed judiciously “from cradle to grave” to accomplish sustainable development outcomes. Thus, mining will be all encompassing viable economically, environmentally and socially.
Participants at the forum
This message was passed by Mrs. Maryam Olayeni, the Executive Director of Conservative Environmental Growth and Development Centre (CEGDEC), at a knowledge-sharing workshop held recently at Igun-Ijesha gold mining community in Atakumosa West Local Government in Osun State. The workshop was based on experience gained from the Australian African Awards on Managing Social and Environmental Impacts of mining, a seven weeks intensive training which basically incorporated social issues in environmental development.
Examples were drawn from good practices around the world, especially from Australia and Madagascar. Artisanal mining should equally adopt; as seen in the large scale mining sector, the practice of mine planning to reduce impact, environmental and risk management systems, environmental protection, water use management and impact; and mined land rehabilitation. To socially manage mining impacts on the other hand, social responsibility in mining, community engagement, stakeholders’ agreement processes, gender and mining; and mining related health issues should be addressed.
CEGDEC in its plight of mitigating the adverse effects of mining advised the community to be proactive in developing their local capacity. The community should be prepared to sustain livelihood after the life of a mine, as mining operation is terminal. Emphasis was laid on being self-reliant, by facilitating the promotion of agriculture, culture and local livelihoods. The community largely represented by farmers and miners were also admonished to incorporate community involvement and participation, respect for cultural heritage, consideration for gender inclusion in mining, and corporate social performance as means of gaining social license.
In his speech, the DG/CEO of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) duly represented by its Osun State Field Officer, Mr. Maike Shukwunweizu Ahmad, admonished the miners to always be law abiding.
His words: “Illegal mining is totally unacceptable as it gives no cognisance to the environment and the people. Sustainable mining begins with following regulations and standards strictly. The issue of health and safety on mines cannot be underestimated. NESREA is within reach should there be need to contact on issues of non-compliance.”
The Atakumosa West Local Government was equally applauded for the development in terms of newly constructed tarred road to the community, though mining is for the purpose of development, said Olayeni, adding that more emphasis on a positive economic environment in the mining region should be laid.
In his response, the Onigun of Igun I, Oba Sunday Oladipupo Ajilore thanked the CEGDEC and NESREA teams for enlightening Igun-Ijesha Township.
“We are welcoming investors in our rich gold town,” he stated.
Established on the basis of reducing the human footprints on the environment, CEGDEC contributes to building community values and practices and promotes sustainable development in campaigning for a give-back to the environment through research, advocacy, education/awareness creation, capacity building, economic empowerment and environmental management.
The UN energy forum is expected to advance innovative, on-the-ground solutions to fight both energy poverty and climate change in lead-up to 2015 UN Summit and Climate Conference
R&B artist, philanthropist and founder of Akon Lighting Africa, Akon, will join other dignitaries to grace the event. Photo credit: waploaded.com
At the second annual United Nations Sustainable Energy For All Forum scheduled for 18th to 21st May 2015, leaders from government, business and civil society will announce new commitments and drive action to end energy poverty and fight climate change.
They will present ways to catalyse finance and investment at the scale required to meet the targets of the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative on energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Over 1,000 practitioners will share and advance innovative energy solutions. The Forum will build momentum on energy issues ahead of both the September UN Summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda, and the December Climate Conference in Paris, and contribute to shaping the direction of energy policy for the crucial decades to come.
The event will be graced by dignitaries like: Heads of State and over 40 ministers of energy and finance; New York City Mayor, Bill De Blasio; R&B artist and philanthropist Akon, founder of Akon Lighting Africa; over 50 global leaders, including private sector CEOs, heads of UN agencies, development banks and other international organisations; leaders from broader civil society, including the research and investment communities; and, over 1,000 energy innovators and practitioners from both the developing and the developed world, including women’s and youth groups active on energy issues.
The first day will feature multi-stakeholder sessions along with dozens of sessions organised by energy innovators to share and advance sustainable energy solutions, including for financing, renewable energy – both on and off grid, access to modern cooking fuels, cookstoves and lighting, energy efficiency initiatives, climate action and reducing gas flaring. Also on policy innovations, energy for women’s and children’s health, and growing the sustainable energy movement.
Highlight of the next day’s event holds at the NASDAQ Times Square, where the SE4All Advisory Board will ring the opening bell at NASDAQ. The following day on the 20th will feature the Global Energy Ministerial: Policy Dialogue with opening statements by President of the UN General Assembly Sam Kutesa, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and Heads of State attending.
Similarly, events such as high-level panels on catalysing a trillion dollar investment, ending energy poverty, doubling energy efficiency and renewable energy, by 2030 will follow. The will also be special panels on energy for women’s and children’s health; BRICS panel on investing in clean energy and expanding energy access; strengthening global cooperation and governance on energy.
The fourth and closing day (21st May) holds the Global Energy Ministerial: Actions and Commitments with opening statement by Helen Clark, Chair, UN Development Group and Administrator, UNDP.
This will be followed by announcements of actions and commitments towards sustainable energy for all, including on finance, energy access, energy efficiency and renewables; as well as special panel on monitoring and tracking for results. Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, will give the closing statement.
Launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2011, the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, a multi-stakeholder partnership, aims to achieve three inter-linked global targets: to ensure universal access to modern energy services, to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, all by 2030. At the UN, governments have already identified sustainable energy as one of the new generation of sustainable development goals that are expected to be adopted in September.
According to the UN, one out of five people lives without access to electricity, and nearly 40 per cent of the world’s population rely on wood, coal, charcoal or animal waste to cook and heat their homes, leading to over four million deaths each year, mostly women and children, from the effects of indoor smoke. The international organisation believes that how to address this energy poverty while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change is a crucial global challenge.
