About 193 world leaders will commit to 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Without water, however, these goals cannot be achieved. SIWI, in New York, will further amplify the importance of water to the global development agenda.
The United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda is holding in New York, convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly. One of the 17 global goals (Goal 6) aims to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
SIWI welcomes a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal on water. It is paramount for addressing our world’s water-related challenges. Water’s relevance to the implementation of the goals should not be limited to Goal 6 however. Access to water is a prerequisite for the achievement of the majority of the other goals such as poverty, health, food, energy, climate, and infrastructure.
SIWI Executive Director, Torgny Holmgren, will participate in a high-level event, “Catalysing Implementation and Achievement of the Water-related SDGs,” which will take place on the margins of the summit on Sunday. Speakers include several heads of state, ministers, UNDP Administrator Ms. Helen Clark, Secretary-General of the United Nations Secretary H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon and President of 70th session of the UNGA H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft.
Representatives from the Swedish Government, including Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven and Minister for Environment, Åsa Romson, are attending the summit, and continue to reinforce Sweden’s commitment to sustainable development.
In his opening address at the recent World Water Week in Stockholm, the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, said: “When the international community is shaping a new sustainable development agenda, water management and allocation must be at its heart. Not only as a separate goal but as an essential vehicle for development and health”. SIWI Director of World Water Week, International Processes and Prizes, Karin Léxen, is also attending the summit.
Since 2008, Climate Investment Funds (CIF) have been funding a quiet, billion-dollar revolution aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transforming the economies of countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Mafalda Duarte, Programme Manager of the Climate Investment Funds
And with a number of events this week highlighting the urgency and importance of tackling climate change, Mafalda Duarte, Programme Manager of the Climate Investment Funds, says “the momentum is building on climate action.”
She said: “With the Pope bringing his message to the United States, Climate Week taking place in New York, and the United Nations adopting new goals for sustainable development, the momentum is building on climate action. Climate change affects us all but it’s hitting poor people first and worst. Climate change threatens to wipe out decades of development progress.”
The CIF has been working with partners to support the expansion of investments in renewable energy technologies at an unprecedented rate to stimulate markets and increase energy access in 33 countries worldwide. Close to 60 percent of CIF funding – $4.8 billion – is focused on renewable energy development, especially geothermal Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
“A low-carbon economy can deliver more jobs, increase growth, and reduce climate impacts. And with our investments in renewable energy – from geothermal to Concentrated Solar Power – the CIF is demonstrating the power of well-placed concessional financing to stimulate climate action,” said Duarte.
Climate change is affecting poor countries disproportionately and in different ways – droughts can destroy a harvest, floods can wreck homes and schools, and extreme weather can have a devastating impact on countries’ economies. So building countries’ resilience to adapt to a changing climate is crucial, says Duarte, adding:
“Attention must be given to managing current and future impacts of climate change to protect lives and livelihoods. With our investments in adaptation, the CIF is well-placed to share lessons on how to help communities and countries not just survive but thrive.”
The CIF is providing 72 developing and middle income countries with urgently needed resources to mitigate and manage the challenges of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The CIF allocates financing through four funding windows:
The $5.3 billion Clean Technology Fund (CTF)provides middle-income countries with highly concessional resources to scale up the demonstration, deployment, and transfer of low carbon technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transport.
The $785 million Forest Investment Program (FIP)supports efforts of developing countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable forest management that leads to emissions’ reductions and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD +).
The $1.2 billion Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR)is helping developing countries integrate climate resilience into development planning and offers additional funding to support public and private sector investments for implementation.
Manager of the $8.1 billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF), Duarte is over 15 years of work experience and in-depth knowledge in development and climate change. She has been responsible for the design and implementation of several funding mechanisms and new thematic programs. She holds degrees in international relations, economic policy management and climate change.
Bayer CropScience has agreed to pay a $975,000 fine and spend $452,000 on a series of measures to improve chemical storage facilities across the United States over allegations of serious safety violations that helped cause a massive explosion that killed two workers at the company’s Institute/WV plant. Bayer will also spend $4.23 million to improve emergency preparedness in Institute and to protect the Kanawha River.
Flames shot 50 to 100 feet into the air at the Bayer Plant in Institute as explosions rocketed the valley in 2008
Federal investigators found that safety lapses led to the deadly runaway chemical reaction in 2008. A congressional investigation even stated that the explosion “came dangerously close” to compromising an MIC storage tank 80 feet away. Had the residue treater hit the tank, “the consequences could have eclipsed the 1984 disaster in Bhopal/India.”
Environmental groups from the US and from abroad demanded for decades to dismantle the methyl isocyanate (MIC) stockpiles at the plant. MIC killed thousands in a 1984 leak at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal. By then the Institute factory also belonged to Union Carbide and was regarded as the “Bhopal sister plant”. After Bhopal, other chemical companies stopped storing large quantities of MIC, switching to making the deadly chemical as it was needed.
Prior to the 2008 explosion the Coalition against Bayer Dangers, based in Germany, introduced several counter motions to Bayer´s Annual Shareholder Meetings demanding to stop MIC production in Institute. However, when the Coalition spoke up on the issue four months ahead of the explosion at the shareholder meeting, Bayer CEO Werner Wenning rejected any need for action. The plant allegedly conformed to the “latest safety standards” and had an “excellent incident rate”/Axel Koehler-Schnura from the Coalition against Bayer Dangers comments: “Highly hazardous substances such as phosgene and MIC do not belong in mass production, and certainly not in the vicinity of residential areas. Ever since the company became established, Bayer has endeavored, by exerting pressure and making threats, to suppress information and criticism – also at Institute. The truth and the interests of humans and the environment are left by the wayside.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice announced the settlement on Monday. The proposal would resolve allegations contained in a 13-count civil complaint, filed Monday in federal court in Charleston, that accused Bayer of violations that “caused or contributed to conditions that” led to the explosion and “released extremely hazardous substances into the atmosphere.”
EPA alleged in its complaint that “numerous problems” occurred at the Bayer plant when the company did not comply with its “risk management plan” to prevent chemical releases. For example, EPA said, a new digital control system was installed, but a safety interlock associated with it was not properly engaged at the time of the explosion. Employees were not fully trained to understand or operate the system, and failed to follow procedures for sampling, temperature control and flow safeguards, EPA said.
“The result was an uncontrollable buildup in a treatment unit causing a chemical reaction resulting in the explosion, fire and loss of life,” EPA said. “During the incident, the company delayed emergency officials trying to access the plant, and failed to provide adequate information to 911 operators.”
“The multiple safety failures that existed at this facility that led to a loss of life, demonstrates why safeguards are necessary to protect people’s health and the environment,” said Shawn M. Garvin, administrator of EPA’s Mid-Atlantic regional office in Philadelphia.
The 173-page settlement document outlines seven “supplemental environmental projects” that Bayer will undertake at a total cost of $4.23 million. The largest of the projects is a $3.1 million “West Sump Expansion” to provide additional storage capacity to prevent untreated chemical process wastewater from overflowing into the Kanawha River during heavy rain events, fire-fighting emergencies and chemical process upsets. Other projects aim to improve communications between plant personnel and local emergency responders during plant incidents, provide better training for local firefighters, and ensure proper handling of hazardous materials at local schools.
In its press release, EPA said Bayer will also take “a series of steps to prevent future chemical releases” in West Virginia, Texas, Missouri and Michigan “by improving inspections to identify potential safety issues and standardise safe operating procedures at its facilities…!”
Reports say the much anticipated Climate Action can save lives, cash and create jobs
India stands to reap more green jobs, slash deaths from air pollution and save money from avoided fuel imports should the country embrace an ambitious climate action plan.
India’s contribution towards the global Paris climate agreement, known as an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), could be revealed on Wednesday and is expected to take the form of commitment to reduce the carbon intensity of the entire economy.
According to a new study by NewClimate Institute, which is part of a series and was commissioned by Climate Action Network and the Global Call for Climate Action, if India’s contribution is only in line with current policies, the country will gain no extra benefits.
Save at least USD 23 billion each year in reduced fossil fuel imports.
Prevent in the order of 140,000 premature deaths each year from air pollution.
Create 80,000 additional green jobs in renewable energy by 2030.
Furthermore, if India received money from richer countries, it could scale up its climate action plans, helping to boost global collective efforts to keep warming below 2degC and harnessing more benefits for its people.
Sanjay Vashist, CANSA Director, said it was clear that it is in India’s national interest to lodge a bold climate action plan towards the Paris agreement which is due to be agreed this December.
“The more India does on climate, the more lives will be saved, the more money will be in its coffers and the more decent jobs will be created. If India is supported by rich countries to act in line with its full potential, then it can continue to build on its emerging plan to secure a sustainable development pathway for the country that lifts its most vulnerable out of poverty,” Vashist said.
Srinivas Krishnaswamy CEO, of Vasudha Foundation. Photo credit: c20turkey.org
Another new report from Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), called Ensuring Sustainable Growth for India in a Fair Global Climate Agreement, shows that if India was to do its fair share of the international effort required to keep global warming within the internationally-agreed 2degC threshold, then it would reduce its emissions intensity by 47% by 2030, reaping even more of these benefits for its people, according to Srinivas Krishnaswamy CEO, of Vasudha Foundation, a contributor to the briefing.
“But for that to happen, we have recommended in the report that India should clarify and quantify its requirements for international support to ensure that inclusive growth can occur within climate constraints,” Krishnaswamy said.
“India should therefore put forward scenario-based INDCs that consider different levels of international support and also explain how such support is consistent with equitable global cooperation in an ambitious climate transition. India should provide clear information and the conditions relating to its ‘conditional’ offers, so as to ensure that the offers are matched with finance, clean technology and capacity building – and are therefore achievable.”
The NewClimate Institute study shows that if India accelerated action in line with a trajectory towards 100% renewable energy by 2050 (in line with keeping global warming below 2°C and possibly even 1.5°C), it would:
Save at least USD174 billion annually in reduced fossil fuel imports additional to INDC reductions; a total saving of at least USD197 billion compared to current action.
Prevent in the order of 1.2 million premature deaths each year from air pollution additional to the INDC, totalling 1.3 million less deaths annually compared to current action.
Create approximately 600,000 jobs in the domestic renewable energy sector additional to the INDC scenario, totalling approximately 680,000 more jobs than in the current policies scenario.
With fewer than 100 Sumatran Rhinos surviving in the wild, the species will likely become extinct unless the Indonesian Government urgently implements the Sumatran Rhino recovery plan, warns the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the world celebrates World Rhino Day. The remaining 100 Sumatran Rhinos represent less than half of the population size estimated during the last IUCN Red List assessment of the species in 2008.
Ratu, a Sumatran rhino. Photo credit: animalfactguide.com
Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, the Sumatran Rhino is now presumed extinct in the wild in Malaysia, as announced last month in the journal Oryx. Over the last 50-100 years, the Sumatran Rhino has become extinct in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. According to the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Asian Rhino Specialist Group, the Sumatran Rhino is now only found in a few sites in Sumatra, and only a handful of individuals are believed to survive in Kalimantan, Borneo.
“Malaysia was once regarded as one of the last strongholds for Sumatran Rhinos, thus losing them from this country presents a major blow to the survival prospects of the species,” says Simon Stuart Chair of IUCN’s SSC. “With the ongoing poaching crisis, escalating population decline and destruction of suitable habitat, extinction of the Sumatran Rhino in the near future is becoming increasingly likely. The Indonesian Government urgently needs to develop intensive protection zones with significantly enhanced security enforcement in all sites where Sumatran Rhinos still occur.”
The initial catastrophic population decline in Sumatran Rhinos was primarily driven by poaching for use of horns in traditional medicine, coupled with continued habitat loss and infrastructure development, which has led to fragmentation of key forest habitats of the species. Today, the species’ populations are small and isolated, which lowers their breeding rate, adding to the ongoing threat from poaching. Unable to breed regularly, isolated females are at risk of developing tumours in their reproductive tracts leading to infertility and further exacerbating the decline.
Urgent measures for saving the Sumatran Rhino were agreed in October 2013 at the Asian Rhino Range States Meeting in Indonesia, and have since been used to develop a new recovery plan for the species. The Indonesian Government now needs to allocate funding for the implementation of the plan, and to ensure that a system is in place to make urgent, rapid and bold decisions as the plan is implemented, according to IUCN.
Alongside developing intensive protection zones and consolidating isolated animals into larger populations, managed breeding is one of several key strategies needed to save the species. As part of the global effort to save the Sumatran Rhino, a young male named Harapan, born at the Cincinnati Zoo, will join five other rhinos at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Sumatra’s Way Kambas National Park next month.
“It is hoped Harapan’s relocation will further accelerate conservation breeding of the species in captivity,” says Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, Chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group. “But the long-term future of the species will ultimately be decided by the actions of the Indonesian Government and civil society. We need effective collaboration between government agencies and conservation institutions, allocation of significant funds by the Indonesian Government and international donors, as well as strengthened support from the public.”
The Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the most threatened of all rhino species due to its rapid rate of decline. It is also the smallest and the hairiest species and the only Asian rhino species with two horns.
Director-General of the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, has warned that ‘frontline’ states in the North should expect more flooding before the end of the year.
A flooded neighbourhood in Kaduna. Photo credit: saharareporters.com
The frontline states, according to the NEMA boss, include Kaduna, Kebbi, Adamawa, Niger, Kogi and Jigawa states as well as other states mentioned in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s prediction.
The NEMA boss said so far 63 Local Government Areas in the North had been ravaged by flood.
“NIMET seasonal prediction indicated that about 10 local government areas were affected by this flood in Kaduna State, about 16 local governments in Jigawa, about 17 local governments in Kebbi, almost 20 local governments in Adamawa State and other states that were mentioned in NIMET prediction.”
He said that with the release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon, flooding was imminent in the northern parts of the country.
He noted that the only solution to avert future occurrence was for Nigerians to avoid building houses in flood-prone areas.
“You recall in 2012, we had a similar incident, even more devastating than what we are witnessing now, that was when Cameroon released water from Lagdo Dam.
“It is a routine maintenance that they carry out when their dams are about to over flow, so they release water annually.
Just days ago, a massive flood reportedly displaced no fewer than 30,000 people, submerged about 2,000 house and killed one person in Kaduna State.
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Ezekiel Baba-Karik, described the disaster as the worst in the history of the state.
About 10 local government areas of the state were said to have been affected by the heavy down pour which started on Sunday and spread to the early hours of Monday.
Areas affected by the flood within Kaduna metropolis include Barnawa, Tudun-wada, Kigo Road, Karatudu, Kabala Constain, Anguwan Rimi, Kudendan, Rafin Guza, Badiko, Hayin Mallam Mani and Gonin Gora, among several others. Most of places affected are settlements around the river bank.
Several roads were also submerged by the flood, making it difficult for emergency workers to access the affected areas. A part of the road connecting to the residence of former Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo at Ungwan-Rimi GRA was submerged.
Although the residence of the former vice president was not affected, his neighbours whose houses are close to the Kaduna river bank were not spared as their homes were submerged.
A light bridge along Aliyu Makama road, Barnawa which links the area to the city centre was completely submerged by the flood, forcing motorists and tricycle riders to search for alternative route.
Spokesman of SEMA, Mallam Abubakar Zakari Adamu, said the disaster was monumental, saying however that he was not in a position to give a detailed assessment of the destruction.
He said that rescue agencies, including the Red Cross, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were working round the clock to come to the victims.
He, however, confirmed the death of one person.
“You know so many settlements, mostly around the river bank were affected and we have to share ourselves into groups in order to assist those affected.
“At the moment, I am not in a position to tell you all the details concerning the destructions until we compare notes with the various rescue groups,” Adamu said.
He lamented that despite repeated public enlightenment campaign urging people to avoid building houses by river banks, such warnings were ignored.
The state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, had already visited some of the affected areas.
“We keep saying that early warning must be matched with early actions, but that has never been done. So, we should expect more flood. More states, especially the frontline states, will be flooded. The lasting solution is that people must desist from building their houses in flood-prone areas.
“They should not build near natural waterways and green zones.”
The Nigerian government will on Friday, 25th September unveil the country’s final status report on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Participants at the multi-stakeholder forum on MDGs …in Abuja
A statement issued by the Media Consultant to the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Desmond Utomwen, stated that the Nigeria MDGs end-point report would be unveiled at the side-event hosted by Nigeria on Health, HIV/AIDS and Strengthening the Implementation of the SDGs during the General Assembly.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who will also be addressing the UN General Assembly for the first time since he was sworn in May; the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon; Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma; Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nigeria Prof. Joy Ogwu; Assistant Secretary General and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Post-2015 Planning, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed; Global Director, United Nations Millennium Campaign, Mitchell Toomey; and other world leaders are expected to be special guests at the event.
The MDGs end-point report chronicled the gains recorded in the implementation of the 15-year development framework as well as challenges and gaps requiring attentions in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will be adopted by world leaders at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly as the replacement for the MDGs.
According to the statement, the Director/Acting Secretary of Programme, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Mr Ogenyi Ochapa, while speaking at the multi-stakeholders’ forum on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Abuja last Friday, revealed: “OSSAP-MDGs with the support of our development partners has produced the Nigeria 2015 MDGs End-point Report to document the various MDGs key milestones and achievements, notable policy drivers of successes, main challenges and key lessons learnt at both the National and Sub-National levels. This report is one of the documents that we will be circulating at the UN General Assembly.”
Ogenyi, who noted that Nigeria recorded appreciable progress in the implementation of the MDGs, added that the 17 goals and 169 targets of the SDGs are designed to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs.
“It is indeed gratifying to note that Nigeria has recorded significant progress in the achievement of the MDGs particularly in the area of universal primary enrolment, gender parity in education, reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDs, maternal and child mortality as well as prevalence of hunger.”
The successor framework, SDGs are intended to end extreme poverty, transform lives, improve the planet and promote socio-economic development and prosperity. The Goals are designed to complete the unfinished business of the MDGs and address the economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainable development.
Permit me to react to a news item published in the recent edition of EnviroNews under its Human Settlement section. The news item was titled: “Tough Hurdles on the Way for Aspiring NITP Fellows.”
Dr Femi Olomola, President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP)
First, this writer wants to commend the initiative being currently taken by the present leadership of NITP and the elders in the profession to embark on a sweeping reform within the Institute, in order to polish its public image, improve efficiency of its members and to up job creation/marketability for the practitioners in the profession. Nothing could be more gratifying that some thinkers in the profession are beginning to realise that, in NITP, all is not well. A typical example is the issue of conferment of FELLOW on its members which, in the main, has cheapened the exalted position. Therefore, the earlier the requirement is made more stringent to ensure the quality of membership, the better.
However, the present move is good and bad news. Good news in the sense that to become a Fellow of the Institute henceforth is no more an all comers’ affairs or business as usual. It is bad news because the revelation is a self-indictment that past administrations of the Institute were weak with the compliance of the established rules in determining who is qualified to be a Fellow. If one may ask, were these criteria not in existence before? If not all of them, the key ones are similar to the ones just released. And if we juxtapose these criteria to some of the conferment made on some members not in the distant past, one begins to question the rationale behind such conferment knowing the background of the recipients and what level of contribution or value such individuals have added to the profession. With due respect, and not being judgmental, some of the so-called “Fellows” had it TOO EASY to qualify! Therefore, in essence, the Committee of College of Fellows who screened the applicants cannot be exonerated from blame for not being diligent enough in the performance their duties. The committee fell short of being stickler to the rules.
Be that as it may, methinks that the NITP is plagued with so many fundamental and lingering problems deserving urgent attention. And until we find solutions to them, our visibility and acceptance by the general public and governments at all levels in Nigeria as a desirable/ important profession, would not move beyond the status quo. Here are the home truths:
NITP publication released in 2014 titled “THE STATE OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING IN NIGERIA”, put together by a few egg-heads in the profession, aptly and brilliantly captured/catalogued many of the problems both in their lingering and emerging format. These problems range from weak legal foundation, constitutional crisis, near-absence of institutional machinery, non-compliance with rules and regulations of the profession, professional indiscipline, ineffective regulatory body, poor public perception to contemporary issues in planning.
Here are snippets from the publication excerpted verbatim for readers’ attention:
On Constitutional status of Urban and Regional Planning in Nigeria
“Under the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Town Planning or Urban and Regional Planning is a residual matter, in which the Federal Government has no legislative powers except in respect of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)……Just because URP is not on the concurrent legislative list…the Supreme Court, in 2013, had to rule….that the Federal Government could not make national URP law for Nigeria and that it should restrict its legislative powers to the FCT.”(page 44).
Albeit there is a consensus of opinion on the need to put planning in the concurrent legislative list of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so that the Federal Government could be involved in planning and provide the leadership role that would boost the “national priority rating of URP” in the scheme of national development, the NITP has not put up a strong lobbying at the National Assembly to seek for the proposed constitutional amendment, over two decades after the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court. This on the part of the Institute is a major set-back.
There is unassailable reason for planning to be tripartite governmental functions if feelers from other climes with similar federal structure are considered. In the United States of America, Canada, Sweden and Malaysia where federal system of government is being practiced, there are assigned roles to the Central (Federal) Government thereby widening the horizon and making the planning process mutually and beneficially participatory, not localised. Therefore, it is incumbent on the NITP to make its presence known in the circle of lobbyists at the National Assembly in order to precipitate the much- desired constitutional amendment. The apolitical stance of the NITP over the years is counterproductive because politics and planning are like Siamese twins. If we fail to woo the support of our legislators, the amendment being sought to make planning a concurrent legislative function by all levels of government in Nigeria would remain a pipe dream.
On the necessity for the adoption of State URP Laws Nationwide
“The situation on ground today is that some 50% of Nigerian states do not have current state URP laws. Many are operating with obsolete first-generation laws, while others have no basic URP laws at all.” (page 51).
If the NITP has the knowledge of this fact from its own record, the Institute would need to roll up its sleeves and embark on a national tour to appeal to those non-compliant states to enact their laws. This should be both the concern of the State Chapters and the National body of the Institute if truly; the two entities are the mouthpieces of the profession. Without such planning law in the states to guide physical development of towns and cities, conducive environment for living, working and recreation would continue to elude the citizenry much as it is evident in our present state of urbanism, where amorphous developments have become the norm in our towns and cities.
As an umbrella association with a regulatory body, the Institute has all it takes to exert compliance even if it is by legal means as a last resort, where persuasion fails. Again, a lot of politicking has to be done to curry the support of the state legislators to jump-start the process of enacting the law that would regulate urban and regional planning.
On the implementation of the provisions of URP Laws
Given the fact that some states have subsisting URP Laws and such laws prescribed for the establishment of institutions and agencies that would facilitate smooth and efficient function of URP administration, the contrary, as contained in the NITP publication was “the apparent unwillingness on the part of some states to go beyond the passage of URP laws to the actual establishment of institutions and agencies provided for in the laws….” (page 51).
This is one of the challenges on the menu of reforms the NITP has to contend with and address squarely. Of what use is any law when its provisions are not implemented by the authority? The NITP’s role in this aspect is to formally inform the state governments concerned about this advertent/inadvertent (?) omission and request that the statutory institutions/agencies are set up. The limitations of our colleagues in the public sector to push such agenda are well known, because he who pays the piper dictates the tune. There is very little they can do beyond memo writing, but when the NITP intervenes, it carries a lot of weight. The tendency is that Government would be receptive to the advice of the Institute and more often do the needful. In addition to this humble suggestion, the leadership of the Institute assisted by a few delegates can pay a visit to the Governor of each state where there is default to make the observation known and counsel the state executive on what should be done. Such move is of necessity now more than ever before.
On TOPREC/discipline/public perception of Town Planners
“….the performance of the TOPREC can be described as fair but, certainly, not outstanding. In the areas of planning education, control of practice and discipline of Town Planners, much more is expected of the regulatory body.” (page 51).
The weakness of the regulatory body is more apparent in the area of maintenance of appropriate conduct, discipline and order within the profession. “The establishment Act of the planning profession has stipulated what is expected from planners. But how well are the Nigerian planners fulfilling the professional bargain?” (page 188). It is an open secret that some unscrupulous members of the profession are not good conduct-compliant. As the “sheriff” of the profession, the TOPREC has failed to strictly enforce its disciplinary power against those members whose conduct are found wanting. If discipline is lacking in any organization, the resultant effect is lack of integrity and bad public image such organization is bound to suffer. The negative public perception of the town planning profession in Nigeria can be turned around if TOPREC reforms and purges itself of past docility and have the courage to wield the big stick against members who subject the profession to public opprobrium by their unprofessional conduct. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is an exemplary study in the way the conducts of its members are scrutinized. The Association is quick to sanction its members for any proven professional misdeeds even to the point of being disrobed. The TOPREC can follow suit.
In conclusion
The sum total of this piece is that the town planning profession is faced with so many challenges, which admittedly, are to the knowledge of the NITP. The ones hereby expounded deserve urgent attention and resolution because they have been lingering for too long to the point of being our “albatross” against progress.
The constitutional amendment to include planning on the concurrent legislative list is major and very key, in order to pave the way for the enactment of a new URP law that would address the mistakes in the extant URP law of 1992. The issue of reform about the TOPREC is also of significance. If members are not compelled to abide by the rules and regulations of the profession, and sanctioned whenever they misbehave, Town Planners’ public image will continue to be battered.
Luckily enough, the NITP publication under reference has come up with series of recommendations for the way forward at improving urban and regional planning as a desirable profession in Nigeria in terms of practice, integrity, education, training, law review, administrative restructuring for effective urban management and the recognition of physical planning as a critical element of all national development planning efforts amongst other germane recommendations.
No one leadership of the NITP has the capacity to resolve all of these challenges and or implement the recommendations in one fell swoop during short term tenure, but efforts should be made by any out-going administration of the Institute to put them as the part of the “unfinished business” in the hand-over note to the in-coming administration to follow-up.
To this writer, the NITP has set an AGENDA for itself based on the check-list of recommendations/solutions proffered. The Institute does not need to re-invent the wheels, but should demonstrate the political will to walk the talk.
A gathering of experts on Friday, September 18, 2015 in Abuja endorsed a draft copy of Nigeria’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), which is under preparation.
L-R: Chioma Amudi (Department of Climate Change), James Chidi Okeuhie, Prof Olukayode Oladipo, Iain Morrow and Hans Velrome, during the national stakeholders consultative and validation workshop in Abuja, on Friday, September 18, 2015
This emerged after a daylong national stakeholders consultative and validation workshop whereby stakeholders were not only updated on the level of progress made so far on the preparation of the INDC, but likewise made necessary inputs into the document that improved on the existing draft.
A final draft is supposed to emerge on Monday, September 21 after the team preparing the document went back to the drawing board on Saturday and Sunday to incorporate the inputs made on Friday. This document will be presented to government officials for final endorsement before being sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) towards beating the September 30 deadline set by the UN climate body.
Contributions were made to the document by a cross section of experts including the academia, private sector players, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). At the end of the workshop, participants had better understanding of the development process of the INDC.
The opening remark was delivered by Dr Samuel Adejuwon, Director of the Department of Climate Change on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Nana Fatima Mede. The event was moderated by Mr. Peter Tarfa, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Change.
About two months after it hosted a Project Initiation Workshop on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 in Abuja, Nigeria then commissioned the British environmental consulting firm of Ricardo-AEA to produce the INDCs, a document that lists actions countries intend to take under a new global agreement that will emerge in December at the COP 21 in Paris, France.
Four Nigerian scientists – two consultants and two officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department of Climate Change (DCC) – worked with officials of Ricardo-AEA (three of them) to execute the project. The Ricardo-AEA team comprises Hans Verolme (team leader and renowned climate policy expert), Iain Morrow (mitigation expert) and Chris Dodwell (UNFCCC and INDC expert). The Nigerians include Prof Olukayode Oladipo (nation’s leading climate expert), James Chidi Okeuhie (climate expert), Bayo Adekoje (DCC) and Chioma Amudi (DCC).
At another gathering, Verolme on Monday, June 29, 2015 in Abuja listed tasks to be carried out to include, besides an Inception programme, Stocktaking that features literature review and data gathering to produce a baseline report; Mitigation Analysis that involves projects of future emissions, identification of mitigation potential, long-list of possible actions and costing of options and co-benefits, to produce a mitigation potential report; as well as INDC Mitigation Contribution, that entails technical support to government decision making process, to produce brief paper on narrative and options analysis.
According to him, there would likewise be Consultation on Draft INDC, comprising drafting of outline INDC along with outreach to other ministries and stakeholders, to deliver an outline draft INDC and a consultation workshop; and Capacity Building that will be carried out in parallel with other tasks by presentation of analytical approaches during in-country missions, to produce final report on priority capacity need.
Describing the 2015 INDCs as a first step that may fall short of the global climate goal, Verolme stated that scope of an INDC would vary depending on national circumstances and the depth will differ depending on data available. According to him, the sources of emission in the country are: gas flaring, land use change, deforestation, transport, agriculture, waste, as well as industrial and energy processes.
He hinted that the contents of the final product would feature high points like: National Context, Mitigation (Contribution, Information, Fair and Ambitious?), Adaptation, Planning Process and Means of Implementation.
Unlike acclaimed unproductive previous climate talks, negotiators and world leaders are optimistic that the Paris climate conference is bound to be a success.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres. Photo credit: eaem.co.uk
From scientific studies, more intensified now than before, heat waves, drought, desertification, earthquake, sea level rise and landslides are various adverse effects stemming from unabating global warming.
A research by American Meteorological Society reveals that there is high tendencies that global temperature will rise by 3.5 to 7.4 degree Celsius in less than 100 years from now. This should be of great concern for earth inhabitants.
Recent debates in some quarters on effectiveness of long and short term goals have generated conflicting mixed perceptions. A flashback to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reveals that MDGs was erected on 15 years long term goal, no concise short term mechanism was put in place to checkmate level of progress made. No wonder, its woeful performance.
Towards the success of the long term agreement, short term goals should be a barometric gauge. Long term goal is unarguably the journey’s final destination; having a tint of foresight while, short term goal is the yardstick. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. Long term goal without checkmating mechanisms is bound to fail while, at the long run, adoption of only short term goals have been tested not to be efficient for climate change mitigation and adaptation, blended radical road map is all it entails for fruition. Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) inclusion of Feasible short term goals incorporated with committed long term target from all odds will generate a positive outcome.
Kyoto Protocol has been perceived to set emission reductions targets for developed countries while neglecting developing countries. It has been criticised to be “elitism” in structure. For Paris conference not to fail, it must be all encompassing in contrast to Kyoto Protocol, no country ought to be left out. Without folding our arms, this is a collective task we needed to swiftly address because, if we refused to act, it might backfire and this could be dangerous.
In shedding lights on the urgency for global decisive climate action, International Energy Agency (IED) recently envisaged that “current pledges will have a positive impact on future energy trends but will fall short of the major course correction required to meet the 2 degree Celsius goal”. One is then tempted to ask, Is it that the current pledges won’t have any impact towards protecting the ozone layer? Why will it fall short having taken Co2 reduction steps? That is to tell us the level of emergency required in resuscitating our planet from further deterioration. In essence, IEA’s view is a clarion call for nations of the World to step up their commitments and sincerity towards coming up with concise radical climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches.
This further highlighted why it is expedient for world leaders to ensure workability of the conference resolutions and stick to the plans. While sticking to the plans, periodic review of progress made by nations every five years should be encouraged.
In phasing out fossil fuels and migrating to renewable energy sources, knowing fully well that clean energy is somehow expensive, most especially, financing clean efficient energy projects in developing countries could be clogs in the progress wheel of clean energy total migration. Without clear finance stance, the pledges might not move beyond words of mouth. Finance methods to be adopted in catapulting INDCs into reality shouldn’t be vague, it should be crystal clear and feasible and be reviewed from time to time.
