A huge cloud of uncertainty is hanging over the much-vaunted Nigerian REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Programme following the arrest a couple of days ago in Calabar, Cross River State of long-serving and erstwhile chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC), Mr Odigha Odigha. He has since been released on bail.
Educator, environmentalist and activist, Odigha Odigha was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2003, for his efforts on protection of the rainforests of Cross River State from industrial logging. Photo credit: climatereporters.com
Feelers indicate that new Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, ordered the arrest of Odigha, along with three directors of the CRSFC in order to pave way for the takeover of the state-owned massive forest reserve – upon which the concept and ideals of the REDD+ Programme is based – by a Chinese firm for exploitation.
Regarded as one of the largest forest blocks remaining in the West African region, the Cross River Forest Reserve covers 312 square kilometres. It lies between the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Mbe Mountains Community Forest, both of which are home to Cross River gorillas, and form a corridor between the two.
An official of the Commission disclosed that the state governor had concessioned the forest to a Chinese paper producing firm and that, going by the terms of agreement, the Cross River forest would be considerably exploited – a policy that Odigha had dedicated is life to over the decades, and prompting the United Nations REDD+ Programme to select the reserve as a pilot site for the programme in the country.
An educator, environmentalist and activist, Odigha was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2003 for his efforts on protection of the rainforests of Cross River State from industrial logging – an action that did not go down well with some local and international industrialists who see the reserve as a gold mine.
Immediate past governor of the state, Liyel Imoke, was in favour of the conservation and “lock-up” of the forest reserve, and he supported Odigha’s work during his eight-year tenure in power.
But things took a fresh twist immediately after the May 29, 2015 swearing-in of Prof Ayade as governor, who appears not to be an apostle of a complete lock-up of the state forest reserve. According to sources close to him, Ayade believes that the forest should be an avenue to generate revenue that will go a long way in helping it to meet its financial obligations and clear its backlog of debts.
It was also alleged that the governor was furious over the activities of the Forestry Anti-logging Task Force operating within the CRSFC but reporting directly to Imoke.
Speaking with our correspondent on phone, Odigha said he was detained for 24 hours and that the Secretary to the State Government listed as part of the reasons for his arrest was the fact that forests under his care had been depleted. But Odigha denied the allegation, saying that, quite to the contrary, the forest reserve and communities therein prospered when he headed the CRSFC.
“As I speak to you now, the forestry commission has been dissolved and the state anti-deforestation committee has also been dissolved. The secretary to state government alleged that under my leadership the state forests depleted – which is the reason they called for my arrest and dissolved the Board of the Commission,” he said.
Governor Ayade’s aide on media and publicity, Christian Ita, said the governor was not pleased with the United Nations report that the state forests under the watch of Mr Odigha were being stolen by over six per cent annually. He said the arrest of Odigha was to enable proper investigation into the matter to ensure that the state maintained its global leadership in forest matters.
An environmentalist, Dr Okon Joseph, said the happening in the state was targeted at rubbishing the huge achievements of the leadership of the Commission, which has taken the state to global reckoning in terms of the UN-REDD+ programme.
Odigha was detained and released along with Mr. Arikpo Arikpo, a member of the CRSFC board.
The road map to a new universal climate agreement will step into a higher gear over the next two months as the world works towards Paris in December.
Bonn, Germany. Photo credit: destination360.com
Governments on Thursday in Bonn, Germany at the close of the UN Climate Talks asked the two delegates who are co-chairing the negotiations to table text in mid-July that begins shaping what will be the Paris agreement and what will be the supporting decisions – the so called “Paris Package”.
The decisions will operationalise the ambition contained in the Paris Agreement which is aimed at deeper, more accelerated and long term global action to address climate change: namely by keeping a global temperature rise under 2 degrees C while protecting the vulnerable from harmful impacts.
The co-chairs text should also make it easier for governments including ministers to identify the key political decisions that will have to be taken at and in advance of the UN climate convention conference in France.
Several key ministerial meetings have been organised over the coming months including by the French Presidency of the UN climate conference.
“The path to Paris is now happening on both the political and negotiating levels and with a mood of exceptional confidence and engagement – what is being managed here is no longer resistance to an agreement but complexity, enthusiasm and an understanding that every nation is playing its part,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“The negotiations are also occurring against the backdrop of an accelerating wave of climate action from non-State actors including cities, regions, territories and companies which is contributing confidence to the process,” she said.
“Each moving part is gearing and firing up the rest to advance forward and to ensure the world remains on track to deliver in Paris,” said Ms. Figueres.
“Governments are committed to reach an agreement that sets down the pathways and the supporting structures for a century-long transformation that allows all countries to reach a sustainable, clean energy future,” she added.
“What is occurring is in many ways unprecedented in the history of international cooperation in respect to vision and scale. Everyone’s concerns are being accommodated and everything has to move in parallel – it is understandably a complex but now also a very dynamic process,” said Ms. Figueres.
Major Impetus from G7 and Non-State Actors
During the Bonn meeting, the global commitment to keep the world below a 2˚C temperature rise received significant impetus from the industrialised G7 nations.
The G7, at their summit in Schloss Elmau, Germany, issued a final communique which emphasised that deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required with a decarbonization of the global economy over the course of this century. They also said they would continue efforts to provide USD 100 billion a year by 2020 to support developing countries own climate actions.
Meanwhile, a new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) found that non-State climate initiatives might bring emissions savings of close to 1.8 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020.
Countries under the UNFCCC reconvene in Bonn from 31 August to 4 September where the new text developed by co-chairs Ahmed Djoghlaf of Algeria and Daniel Reifsnyder of the United States will form the basis of the next round of negotiations.
A further round of negotiations is scheduled for October in advance of the Paris climate conference (COP 21).
Further highlights from the Bonn meeting
The Bonn climate change meeting also addressed a range of technical and implementation-related work.
Forests protection
Governments made important progress on how to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). A package of three decisions, which is to be approved by COP 21, covers the transparency and quality of information countries must report when implementing their forest protection programmes, in particular on how they are addressing safeguards, for example those related to indigenous rights and biodiversity.
Multilateral Assessment
The second round of the multilateral assessment (MA) successfully concluded at the Bonn Climate Change Conference on 5 June 2015. This process offered Parties a unique opportunity to assess how developed countries are implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A total of 24 developed countries were assessed on how they are progressing towards their economy-wide emission reduction targets.
Countries presented their actions in an open way, outlining national circumstances, challenges and achievements. Countries agreed that being informed of the actions that others are undertaking and how significantly increased transparency and trust.
2013-15 Review report
Governments meeting in Bonn discussed a review of whether the internationally agreed goal to keep the global average temperature from rising beyond 2°C above pre-industrial levels is adequate to meet the current challenge of climate change.
A central conclusion of the report is that it is critically important to stay within 2°C or lower in order to avoid the worst climate impacts. The recommendations will be forwarded to the COP.
Dialogue on climate education and training
Governments and other stakeholders shared their experiences and ideas regarding Article 6 of the UNFCCC. Article 6, which also has been given a face-lift at the meeting by being re-branded Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), focuses on climate change education, training, public awareness, public access to information and international cooperation.
A special dialogue with key stakeholders on climate change education, training and international cooperation also took place. At the event, George Marshall, founder of the Climate Outreach Information Network and author of “Don’t Even Think About It: Why our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change”, gave an inspiring keynote address.
Gender and climate change
An in-session workshop on gender-responsive climate policy, mandated by the Lima Work Programme on Gender, took place over two days on 8 & 9 June.
Both days were well attended and many good ideas on concrete action, overcoming challenges and enhancing synergies within the UNFCCC process and in national strategies were aired over the duration of the workshop, via presenters, panelists and participants.
Countries have requested the report to be published as soon as possible in order that the ideas and actions identified can be used by Parties in their preparations for Paris.
Work on Raising Immediate Ambition
As part of work to raise ambition before 2020, when the new agreement comes into effect, technical expert meetings on renewable energy supply and energy efficiency in urban areas took place in Bonn, building on similar meetings last year.
The meetings focused on the most promising and feasible technologies and policies that could be implemented and scaled up in the near future.
For renewable energy supply, this includes distributed power generation and key financial incentives such as feed-in tariffs.
In the area of urban energy efficiency, participants said that due to rapidly growing urban populations, trillions of dollars in new investments need to be channeled into low-carbon and greater resilience to climate change.
Experts looked at solutions ranging from energy efficient buildings to sustainable urban transport.
Climate Action Fair
At the Bonn conference, the Climate Action Fair also provided an opportunity for leaders from business, politics and intergovernmental organisations to discuss renewable energy and energy efficiency.
A key message that emerged from the fair is that business and city leaders are driving innovation and transformational change, and can do more with the right policies in place.
For example, at the fair, the furnishing company IKEA announced plans to spend 1 billion Euros on renewable energy and steps to help poor nations cope with climate change.
The information and communications industry under the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (Gesi) also showed how it can help to deliver a 20% reduction of global emissions by 2030, and over USD$11 trillion in new economic benefits.
After Gabon, Morocco and Ethiopia have respectively become the second and third African nations to submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
After the initial submission of INDCs in March 2015, an assessment phase follows to review and if needed adjust submitted INDCs before the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in December in Paris, France. Photo credit: www.huffingtonpost.com
While Morocco submitted on Friday, June 5, 2015, Ethiopia handed over its climate plan to the UN body on Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Gabon had earlier submitted its INDCs on April 1, 2015.
This brings to 12 the total number of countries/regions that have submitted their INDCs as at Thursday, June 11 2015.
The other countries are: Canada (submitted May 15, 2015), Andorra (April 30), Liechtenstein (April 23), Russia (April 1), USA (March 31), Mexico (March 30), Norway (March 27), Latvia/EU (March 6) and Switzerland (February 27).
The Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, by its decision 1/CP.20, requested the secretariat to publish on the UNFCCC website the INDCs as communicated. They can be accessed here: http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/indc/Submission%20Pages/submissions.aspx
Leading to the 2015 UN climate change conference in Paris, France, countries have been asked to publicly declare what actions they intend to take under a global agreement. The country commitments, or INDCs, are expected to indicate through their form and strength what shape any 2015 agreement might take.
The INDCs will not only contain steps taken towards emission reductions, but also aim to address steps taken to adapt to climate change impacts and what support the country needs or will provide to address climate change.
Several INDCs were submitted during March, with a second wave between that time and September as INDCs submitted after October 1, 2015 will not be included in the UNFCCC synthesis report to the 2015 COP.
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) observers called out the juxtaposition between growing real world momentum for a 100% renewable energy world and the slow pace of the UN climate negotiations which came to a close in Bonn, Germany on Thursday, June 11, 2015.
Jaco du Toit, climate change officer, WWF. Photo credit: www.wwf.org.za
In the negotiations toward a new global climate agreement due to be signed in Paris this December, countries will agree that the the co-chairs in charge will produce a new draft for senior politicians to review. This will allow them to tackle crunch issues over the coming months before talks resume in August. The co-chairs will also set forward initial ideas about how a Paris package covering finance, mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage should be structured. And after difficult negotiations, all countries have come forward with proposals to achieve more ambitious and immediate emissions cuts over the next five years – another key element of the Paris package. A work programme on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation also closed, providing guidance to those working in the field.
Officials of member organisations of the Climate Action Network (CAN) International have been commenting on the development.
Jaco du Toit, climate change officer, WWF: “The reality is that we need much faster progress on the post-2020 negotiations, that we need to ramp up what we are doing already, that we cannot ignore that impacts are already hitting people everywhere, and that the solutions, from falling renewable energy prices to low carbon transport are out there, waiting to be scaled up.”
Mohamed Adow, senior climate change advisor, Christian Aid:“The text which will make up the Paris agreement is like a lens we’re all looking through to a safe and secure world. At the moment it’s a bit grubby and hard to see through. The co-chairs of the negotiations on the Paris agreement need to go away and give it a good clean so that leaders can see what needs to be done.”
Jake Schmidt, director of international programme, Natural Resources Defense Council: “All around the world, we are witnessing a groundswell of climate action – from companies, governments and financial institutions. Now there is a clear path for our leaders to make the necessary, bold decisions in the coming months that will ensure historic international action on climate change.”
Martin Kaiser, head of international climate politics, Greenpeace:“The Luddites of climate action in the coal and oil industry should take note of the signals coming from G7 and progressive business leaders. The negotiators in Bonn should take note too, and make more rapid progress in the upcoming formal and informal meetings. The Paris climate protocol should accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, building in new commitments from major emitting countries every five years, so that we can achieve the vision of 100% renewable energy by 2050.”
Alden Meyer, director of policy and strategy, Union of Concerned Scientists: “From floods and droughts to hurricanes, typhoons and heat waves, the impacts of climate change are increasingly evident all over the world. The world expects an agreement in Paris that accelerates the shift away from a global economy based on polluting fossil fuels towards one based on clean renewable energy sources, and that helps vulnerable communities deal with climate impacts. Ministers and national leaders must actively engage with each other over the summer to provide the political guidance that will enable their negotiators to pick up the pace when they return to Bonn in late August.”
Jan Kowalzig, climate change policy adviser, Oxfam:“Negotiators avoided a show-down over crunch issues like finance and increasing near term emissions cuts, but they are only delaying the inevitable. A clearer mandate from Heads of State and ministers is needed to ignite the talks and ensure key questions are answered. Upcoming events like the Financing for Development meeting in Addis, the UN General Assembly in New York or the G20 in Turkey offer the perfect opportunity for high level political signals to be sent. Political leaders need to give a clear steer on how to address the inadequacy of current emissions reductions pledges, but also on the urgent financial support needed for the most vulnerable countries and populations.”
Niranjali M. Amerasinghe, director, climate & energy programme, Center for International Environmental Law:“The conclusion of the work program on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation provides a little more clarity on safeguards reporting and the importance of promoting the multiple benefits that forests provide, but it is minimal. Now all eyes are on finance and implementation, and we will have to be vigilant in tracking whether safeguards are actually respected on the ground.”
Environmental activists have underlined the need for a strong national institution that will provide leadership, coordination and create access to information to fully respond to the immediate and future challenges posed by climate change. In this regard, they called for the passage and implementation of the National Climate Change Commission/Agency which stagnated in the seventh National Assembly waiting for Presidential signature.
Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, ERA/F0EN (third from left), flanked by other resource persons at the meeting
At a recent forum in Abuja on 5th June 2015 to commemorate the World Environment Day (WED) courtesy of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA)/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN), participants clamoured a shift from fossil fuel-based energy sources to cleaner energy options such as solar and mini-dams. According to them, the provision of reliable, clean, affordable energy access is required to create economic opportunities especially in the rural areas where there is need to grow Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Similarly, at forum on “Environmental Sustainability Agenda for National Development”, the activists called for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which, according to them, will guarantee the unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and transparency and accountability in the oil sector. They recommended metering at the point of extraction of the country’s oil to check oil theft and shore up oil revenues.
The gathering likewise recommended the immediate implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland, adding that oil companies should be required to contribute an initial amount of $100 billion to address the issues raised in the UNEP report, in particular, restoration of the degraded environment.
Participants also underscored the need for a National Basic Income Scheme (NaBIS) to cater for the unemployed and aged that suffer social exclusion and livelihood losses from environmental degradation. A social security scheme initiative of N10,000 monthly, they reasoned, would unlock creative potentials and create social cohesion while building citizen’s morale.
Participants at the daylong event were drawn from community campaigners from across Nigeria, civil society groups, lawyers, labour unions, the academia, and the media among others, who brainstormed on the state of the Nigerian environment with a view to charting the way forward.
The gathering served as a platform for ERA/FoEN to present a roadmap to the Muhammadu Buhari government in form of a memo on how to tackle the myriad of environmental challenges and social exclusion of majority of Nigerians as part of the administrations “change” agenda.
In the course of the meeting participants made the following observations:
Even with Nigeria’s much-touted commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country is yet to set up a National Climate Change Commission and unveil any credible roadmap to tackle climate change phenomenon.
Environmental degradation continues to expand from northern Nigeria where desertification is ravaging 11 states, to the east that suffers from gulley erosion, and the south and west that suffer deforestation and unmitigated oil pollution respectively.
Nigeria still relies heavily on oil and gas resources to the detriment of renewable sources of energy
The extractive industry, particularly those operating in the Niger Delta, have institutionalised disdain for the environment due to their imperious influence on the Nigerian government.
Nigerians still do not know exactly how much oil is extracted vis-à-vis volumes sold from the export terminals. Oil extraction and export is still fraught with theft as the oil companies continue to challenge metering at the point of extraction and at the export terminals
Four years after its release, the Federal Government is yet to instigate or demonstrate the political will to implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on Ogoniland
Social exclusion in the Nigerian polity continues to grow, creating discontent and a recourse to militancy and terrorism in various parts of the country.
The Lome Declaration of Oilwatch Africa on Climate Justice and Food Sovereignty in Africa
Members of Oilwatch Africa network met in Lome, Togo, on 9 June 2015 and robustly considered the implications of the world’s stubborn dependence on fossil fuels on climate, food sovereignty, nutrition and well-being in Africa.
Oil spewing from busted Shell equipment in Nigeria. Photo credit: greengrants.org
Participants at the conference shared experiences on impacts of extractive activities on their communities and countries. The conference particularly examined the environmental and socio-economic impacts of oil, gas and coal extraction. The impacts on food production, water pollution and deforestation were discussed as well as the growing trend of land grabbing on the continent.
Oilwatch Africa frowns at the trend where corporate interests and international groupings, such as the G7 and the like, aimed at polluting our biodiversity, grabbing our lands, water and seeds, are being promoted under the banners of Africana being hungry and now being malnourished, stunted and going blind, as unacceptable ploys to destroy our agriculture, subvert our economies, recolonise the continent and subjugate our peoples.
The conference noted that the current level of consumption of fossil fuels is in denial of the demand not to burn 80% of known fossil fuel reserves without raising global temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and triggering catastrophic climate change.
The conference noted that fossil fuel dependence fuels corruption, engenders conflicts and distorts the value base of our communities.
Oilwatch Africa members regretted that the false dreams that African countries can build their economies on the extractivist path has unfortunately been bought by our governments. Furthermore, with the rise of new fossil fuel reserves being found and extracted across the continent, there is no respect for pristine areas of high cultural and world heritage value.
The conference noted the serious impact on agriculture by the pollution of our lands, salinization of fresh waters and the destruction of fisheries as inimical to our economy and overall wellbeing.
The meeting also noted that this trap is an extension of the colonial route that saw Africa merely as a source of raw materials and strapped colonial and neo-colonial governments on the treadmill of cash cropping and mineral extraction for export.
With a resolve that urgent actions must be taken to save the African continent from being wholly degraded, grabbed and burnt, Oilwatch Africa declares and demands as follows:
1. Global distortions brought about by excessive consumption of fossil fuels and the externalisation of costs to parts of the world that consume less energy and fossil fuels lock in unacceptable injustices and must be urgently and openly addressed.
2. The world must wake up to the fact that at least 80% of known reserves of fossil fuels must be left unburned and this should be the core of climate negotiations if the Planet is not to be burnt on the altar of profiteers who do not care about future generations and other species on the planet.
3. Africa is one of the most exposed regions of the world to climate change impacts, with temperature rise at least 50% above global averages. Global action to tackle this cannot be based on voluntary independently nationally determined contributions (INDCs) being pursued at the Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
4. African governments must reject false solutions to global warming including those pushed though REDD+, geoengineering and other strategies that are threatening to elevate the currently intolerable levels of land grabbing to that of a whole continent grab.
5. Floods, droughts and expanding desertification on the continent are all fed by the world’s continual addiction to fossil fuels.
6. Obnoxious activities such as pollution and gas flaring which alarmingly continue in the oil fields of Nigeria, Angola, Algeria and elsewhere must be stopped and energy needs be met with abundant renewable alternatives. In particular, Oilwatch calls on the new government in Nigeria to implement the almost four years old UNEP Report on Ogoni environment and give the people a chance to enjoy a healthy environment.
7. Oilwatch Africa declares that with uncontaminated lands and adequate support for local agricultural production Africa can feed Africans and levels of nutrition can be maintained without resort to commercially and politically driven genetic engineering of our staple crops for enhanced vitamin levels. We insist that nutrition cannot be manufactured in laboratories.
8. We demand access to land and security of land tenure for women
9. Oilwatch Africa calls for stoppage of fossil exploration and other expansion activities on the continent, demands an audit of already accumulated impacts and full restitution for harm suffered.
10. Oilwatch Africa resolved to support the fight for justice by communities impacted by mining and other extractive activities in Togo and elsewhere in Africa.
11. In line with the United Nation’s declaration of 2015 as the Year of the Soil, Oilwatch Africa reminds all that the soil supports life and culture and that extractive activities are inimical to keeping our soils healthy and alive and reiterate our call to leave fossil fuels underground and work to build a better life above the ground. Leaving fossils underground has been a clarion call of Oilwatch for decades and has recently been confirmed by neoliberal institutions such as the World Bank ands the International Energy Agency.
Oilwatch members and communities at the conference declared that Africans must stand together in the global struggle for food sovereignty, stand with the movements that say Yes to Life and No to destructive Mining and pledged to remain active in the movement for climate and food justice all aimed at building a well-being economy inspired by the African spirit of solidarity economy and Ubuntu.
Finally, Oilwatch Africa called to memory the many martyrs of environmental justice struggles in Africa and around the world. Calling to mind that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Ogoni leader and activist and Africa’s foremost environmental justice campaigner, Oilwatch Africa resolved that their struggles will not be in vain.
Signed by: Host Community Network members from Ghana, Nigeria and Togo; Civil Society and Oilwatch Africa members from Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Togo and Uganda
Almost 80 per cent of citizens across the globe are very concerned about the impacts of climate change, but close to 70 per cent also see action to combat it as an opportunity to improve their quality of life.
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC
These are among the findings of the largest ever citizen consultation on climate change carried out by the more than 100 partners of the World Wide Views Alliance in the run up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris 7 (COP 21), taking place this December.
The debate and citizen consultation, conducted on a single day in 75 countries starting in Fiji in the Pacific and ending in Arizona in the United States, involved 10,000 people carefully selected for being demographically representative of their countries. Well over 90 per cent said the new universal agreement to be inked in Paris should have a long term goal of zero emissions at the end of the century.
* 67 per cent say this should be legally binding for all countries with 17 per cent saying it should be only a legal requirement for developed and hemerging nations. Ten per cent said the long term goal should be voluntary.
The debate among citizens also found strong support for action by their owcountry even if others do not act. * Asked “should your country take measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?” 79 per cent said yes, even if many other countries do not take measures.
Education and Protecting Tropical Forests Cited as Big Wins for Cutting Carbon Pollution * Questioned as to which instruments they thought most relevant to reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions, 77 per cent chose education” programmes on climate for a broader public. * Action to protect tropical forests was the second most popular action for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The debate and citizen consultation, which took place on 6 June, was a collaborative endeavor involving the secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Missions Publiques, the French National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) and the Danish Board of Technology Foundation.
Participants were provided with information about climate change and the different views under negotiation for COP 21 before the event began.
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, said: “We were delighted to co-initiate this debate and citizen consultation and bring the voice of the ordinary woman and man into the climate negotiations.”
“Many cities, companies and NGOs are voicing their support for a transformational agreement in Paris. The view of citizens is also crystal clear – they see the threats and they see the opportunities: the vast majority want action now, and they want action that is sustained over the long term to bend the emissions down to zero by the end of the century along with support for developing countries for their efforts,” she said.
* Asked if high-income countries should pay more than the already agreed $100 billion annually by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation in low-income countries, 78 per cent said yes.
Among the many other findings are: * There is no difference between the so called North and South. Climate change impacts are a source of threat and concern for the large majority of people consulted both in developed and developing countries.
* Another big issue in the negotiations is that of differentiated responsibilities of each country. Citizens were asked: What would be the best basis for setting the ambition of national climate contributions?
* 21 per cent said historical emissions; 39 per cent said current or anticipated emissions and 32 per cent said current or future economic capabilities.
* The vast majority of citizens said the private sector has an important role in contributing to climate action, with 85 per cent agreeing, 53 per cent saying the private sector must contribute half or more and 32 per cent saying it has to contribute, but in a small part.
The project is coordinated by the Danish Board of Technology Foundation, in collaboration with Missions Publiques and the French National Commission for Public Debate. It is co-initiated by the UNFCCC secretariat and implemented by partners in the World Wide Views Alliance, with support from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development and the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy as COP 21 host.
The theme of this year’s celebration for World Environment Day is: “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume With Care.” The following anecdote may suffice to better explain the meaning of the theme.
Surveyor Efik
The theme can be said to depict seven billion “Golden Hens” inhabiting one enclosed Basket. This is the only Basket that gives them life and should not be broken or damaged so that the Hens are not destroyed or go into extinction. No other Basket can make them survive or give them life.
The Basket is yet fragile but very fertile to enable the golden hens undergo a natural process of fending for their food, livelihoods and sustenance. They grow and advance in their skills of developing industrial and mechanised means for their movement, housing, security, trade, culture and education amongst themselves.
Their uncontrolled mechanised activities thus brought about the exploitation and rape of the inherent natural resources within the Basket, including cutting down of trees for energy and development purposes. This indeed polarised the air that guarantees their survival in the Basket and further lead to environmental pollution. As a result, the Basket becomes stuffy and the temperature no longer remains moderate but gives way to heat waves in the Basket. The weather and climatic condition are impaired and the rainfall pattern that is usually experienced in moderate proportion in the Basket changed drastically, leading to excessive but destructive floods in some parts of the Basket and severe droughts in other parts. The scenario posed great threat to the survival of the Golden Hens and the Basket as disasters of diverse magnitude now rock the Golden Hens, with attendant genocidal crises for survival.
Upon confirmation of the reality of the threat to their survival and the survival of the basket, the various species of the Golden Hens realised the need to indulge in Care for the Basket and care for the ecosystem and the resources therein and even care for their activities, actions and decisions so as to remedy the situation and keep the temperature at 2oC or below. In the light of this, care for mitigating the activities that polarised the air and care for adapting to the precarious situation in the Basket should consume the focus of the Golden Hens, isn’t it?
In a nutshell, the theme is simply saying that the dreams of Seven Billion Human Populace on Planet Earth should be underlined with actions of care for the environment. Actions of care for the survival of the one and only life-sustaining Planet, and actions of care for the survival of the seven billion and fast-increasing human population on Earth, as well as actions of care for sustainable development.
Please as you all mark the greatest day of Global Unity, Global Commitment, Global Action and Global Care for our environment and our common planet, epitomised by the World Environment Day (WED), always do remember to plant a tree to save our planet and plant two where one is cut down. As human needs oxygen to survive, so our planet Earth needs the trees to survive the suffocation caused by excessive greenhouse gas emissions (otherwise known as carbon emissions), which our human activities have contributed to. Think how fragile the Hen and the Basket are, and Think of us in the same light.
By Surveyor Efik (National Coordinator, Climate Change Network Nigeria)
Before the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, left office after the completion of his two-term tenure on March 28, 2015, it was reported in the dailies that he signed (into law?) model city plans for Ikoyi/Victoria Island, Agege/IfakoIjaiye and Apapa. For Lagosians, this is pleasant news and a good parting gift particularly for the residents of the three districts who are the direct beneficiaries of the plans. Kudos must be given to the former governor for the brilliant initiative. Likewise, the former Commissioner for Physical Planning, Tpl. Toyin Ayinde, and the retinue of indigenous town planning consultants and sundry stakeholders directly involved in the planning process before the plans were concretised into plan documents, ready for implementation by all concerned-government, town planning officials, community based organisations and the residents of Ikoyi/Victoria Island, Agege/IfakoIjaiye and Apapa.
Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State. Photo credit: ecomium.org
While the former governor would not be in office to oversee the implementation of the plans in phases, it is incumbent on his successor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, to take charge and ensure smooth implementation of these plans, on the belief that government is a continuum. A lot of state resources must have gone into the preparation of the plans in terms of financial and human and, by extension, the extent of time it took to format the array of information (data, statistics, divergent opinions, etc) into a readable document. If the painstaking task is considered and the amount of money the state government paid for the services of the consultants who prepared the plans, it would be justified to prevail on Governor Ambode to take the plans seriously and accord same high priority among other populist programmes he promised to do for Lagos State during his tenure. However, methinks it is going to be an uphill task for Ambode, since he is not going to be in every nook and cranny of the three districts covered by the plans. Administratively, the governor would rely heavily on the report of his Commissioner for Physical Planning and District Planning Officers who would be responsible for enforcement, monitoring and evaluation of the effects of the plans on the three districts. This preface brings readers to the central focus of this piece: matters arising and suggestions to Governor Ambode about the strategies to facilitate smooth implementation of model city plans whether on-going or on the drawing board.
A plan is as good as dead or worthless if its provisions are not complied with and respected, not inclusive/people-centred, not periodically reviewed by the superintendent ministry and amended as may be necessary. If Governor Ambode is to record any appreciable level of success concerning the implementation of the various model city plans for different districts/areas within Lagos Mega City, it would do a lot of good for him to take to heart the admonitions contained in this piece, more so when it is from coming a stakeholder resident whose vocation is town planning and advocacy.
Let us start with history. Lagos State had a Master Plan for Metropolitan Lagos (1980-2000) and Lagos State Regional Plan (1980-2000) all in the effort to properly guide developments within the Lagos Metropolitan area and the regional plan was to serve as an overall guide for future physical developments, thus providing the foundation for all urban and local area plans. As good as the recommendations contained in these pioneer plans were, their implementation suffered serious setback. For example, the Master Plan for Metropolitan Lagos recommended the establishment of 28 activity centres, to serve the commercial needs and employment centres for the fast growing Metropolis while acting as spring board for rapid economic development. Throughout the 20-year life span of the Master Plan, no single activity centre was established, despite the necessity for such need. This was a great error on the part of the government because the adverse impact of the error could still be felt regarding the inadequacy of central places within the densely populated metropolis, which has now transformed into the second largest mega city in Africa.
The Lagos State Regional Plan (1980-2000) did not fare better. There was absolute disregard for the land use element of the plan in particular. Wetlands and Conservation areas designated in the plan to protect agricultural farmland, natural habitat for flora and fauna; and to check-mate urban sprawl were flagrantly encroached upon. The Alapere Conservation area is a classic example where urban sprawl has overrun the wetland and altered the entire ecology of the area. Houses are being built on flood plain and storm water catchment areas with reckless abandon.
Proper monitoring was not done to ensure compliance with the provisions of the plans, while the periodic review expected to be carried at five years interval was never done. Albeit feeble attempts were made in 2005 and 2007, it was too late. It was a case of medicine after death because colossal damages had been done.
In the two examples cited here, the government lacked the political will to implement the provisions of the plans, which negates the value of the plans. While the colossal damages were being done, the state government could not hold any culprit responsible, more so the plans were never backed by any force of law. It is in the light of this experience that cautious optimism rather than euphoria should greet the news of the three model city plans signed by erstwhile Governor Babatunde Fashola before he left office in May this year. However, Governor Abode could avoid a repeat of the mistake of the past if he could be proactive and do the needful.
The model city plans must be backed by force of law, which would make the plan document the legally approved development plans for the three districts. All stakeholders including the government, sundry developers and the citizenry must comply with the provisions of the plans. All development approvals must conform to the development regulations/standards specified in the plans, while arbitrary change of land use must be discouraged. But where it is necessary, justified and inevitable, such proposal must be brought to a public hearing for a collective decision, not a decision made at the whims and caprices or fancy of a powerful individual or government officials. Punitive measure must be taken against any individual or corporate entity that violates this provision of the law.
The law must declare the plan document as the “people’s plan” subject to the protection of each district’s residents, who would be empowered to monitor and report to designated authority any development activities not in conformity to the plan’s guidelines. This is to immediately check-mate any illegal development at the nick of time before it is full blown. The eyes of the government cannot be everywhere. Therefore, the government should allow the formation of a “Citizen Brigade” in each district for in-situ oversight functions in the coverage area for effective implementation of the plan. The citizenry should be allowed the right to challenge any noticeable the wrong-doing, while the state government should create a window where aggrieved residents can petition for fair hearing.
The provision of new public infrastructure is essential. And as recommended in the model city plans, the state government should have the “political will” to provide the infrastructure in phases, realizing the fact that the financial requirement for wholesale capital improvement projects might be too costly for the budget of the state government. In the alternative, the state government might want to enlist the involvement of the private sector under its well-established Public Private Partnership (PPP) for such development as shopping malls, traditional markets, tourism, multi-level parking, health farms, golf course, commercial offices, hotels and bus transport services, which are areas where the private sector has financial capacity and entrepreneurship to succeed. The government should just provide the enabling policy, incentive and conducive environment for the private sector businesses to thrive, which in turn will create more sources for revenue generation. The lack of political will to implement many of the physical planning and socio-economic recommendations in the previous plans, contributed to some of the problems the Lagos Mega City has and is still contending with over the last 35 years- traffic congestion, housing shortage, urban sprawl, flooding, shortage of public parks and vehicle parking facilities, environmental pollution and urban decay.
Effective monitoring, transparency and accountability are pivotal to successful implementation of any plan, model city plan inclusive. Governor Ambode must not mince words in this important aspect. The governor must put the Commissioner for Physical Planning on his toes by ensuring that the latter holds brief with his principal on a regular basis concerning the implementation of the model city plans. In turn, the Commissioner must be briefed by his management team about the activities of the District Planning Officers who are directly in the field and are better-placed to enforce compliance with the development plan’s regulations. These are the officers who should demonstrate high level of transparency and shun the temptation to do things that are inimical to the good intensions of the plans because of lucre and unwholesome enticement. Planners are trained to improve the lot of the areas where they operate and must not be caught doing bad things that could atrophied the communities.
Governor Ambode must hold government town planning officials responsible and accountable for any lapses arising from the implementation of the model city plans under their watch. Erring officials must be sanctioned for proven professional misconduct to serve as deterrent to others who might be nursing the wicked thought to kill the spirit and the lofty ideals of the model city plans, for an all-embracing urban renewal effort by the Lagos State Government.
By Yacoob Abiodun(Urban Planning Advocate and former Secretary, Federal Housing Policy Council, Abuja)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) last week approved a $90 million grant programme for a global partnership to promote investments in biodiversity conservation, preserve wildlife and encourage sustainable livelihoods in Africa and Asia.
Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson
The new Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development builds on the urgent need to address wildlife poaching and illegal trade as a development issue that deprives countries of their natural assets. It aims to strengthen cooperation between development partners that will bring together biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods activities, and poverty reduction.
“The GEF is pleased to support the critical fight against illegal wildlife trade and poaching, and we are looking forward to work with country partners and other stakeholders to address this significant driver of biodiversity loss that has such negative impacts on protected area sustainability and human wellbeing in Africa and elsewhere,” said Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson.
“The recent wildlife poaching crisis in Africa has undermined its financial, social and economic capital while threatening the development of tourism and fueling political instability,” said Makhtar Diop, Vice-President of the Africa Region, World Bank. “We hope that this partnership will preserve wildlife and increase the resilience of communities whose livelihoods depend on these natural resources.
Participating countries include Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Congo Republic, Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, India, and Indonesia. The GEF agencies contributing to the partnership include the Asian Development Bank, International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Environment Program, the World Bank and World Wildlife Fund. In addition to the GEF grant funds, the partnership will leverage US$513 million in co-financing from other sources including, IBRD and IDA. The World Bank, as lead agency of the new programme, will coordinate the partnership and ensure a cross-fertilization of the lessons learned across projects and countries.
“UNDP is fully committed to work with our partner countries in addressing the illegal wildlife trade which is pushing endangered species toward extinction, fueling corruption and conflict, destroying lives and deepening poverty and inequality. We believe that addressing the current crisis involves three key strategies: generating sustainable livelihoods for communities, strengthening law enforcement, and reducing the demand for illegally traded wildlife, strategies which are employed by the recently approved program,” said Adriana Dinu, Executive Coordinator, Environmental Finance, UNDP.
The country projects will focus on designing and implementing national strategies to improve wildlife and protected areas management, enhance community livelihood benefits, reduce poaching, and eliminate illegal wildlife trade. The activities will use an approach that create stronger incentives for local communities to engage in protecting wildlife and for public-private partnerships to invest in sustainable local development.
“Industrial scale poaching is violently upending pathways out of poverty for thousands of rural families across Africa,” said Paula Caballero, Senior Director, Environment & Natural Resources Global Practice, World Bank. “This program will build on national efforts to stop the slaughter and will once more make a country’s wildlife wealth available to support pro-poor decision-making.”
“This program aims to raise the scale of what the GEF can do to stop the bleeding across Africa and lay the foundation for wildlife to become a positive force for economic development across the continent,” said Gustavo Fonseca, Director of Programs in the GEF.
Illegal wildlife trade is a multifaceted global threat that is gaining increased international attention. The problem is particularly acute in Africa, where species such as the African elephant, white and black rhinos, and several other species are being poached to the brink of extinction. In 2014, over 25,000 elephants were slaughtered for their ivory. Presently, the global wildlife market is estimated at $8 billion – $10 billion annually, with wildlife crime becoming more international and better connected to organised crime and insurgency.
Crime affecting natural resources and the environment inflict damage on developing countries worth more than US$70 billion a year. This means that when natural resources and wildlife are extracted illegally, private and public income is effectively lost. This World Bank-led partnership will support international efforts to stop the environmental and social crises generated by the poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking between Africa and Asia.
“Vulnerability to environmental crimes, and the underlying demand driving the related trade, is often deepened by overarching problems of governance, corruption, and weaknesses in accountability at the national level,” said Leonard McCarthy, WBG Vice-President for Integrity. “This cancer of corruption can only be excised through hard-nosed prosecution, transparency and partnership”.
The London Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in 2014 and the follow-up Kasane Conference in 2015 resulted in a declaration signed by 46 countries to stop the illegal wildlife trade around the world. The World Bank will build upon these milestones to ensure a successful implementation of this partnership.
