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Again, worry over African vultures imminent extinction

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Again, worry over African vultures imminent extinction

Six of Africa’s 11 vulture species – the continent’s largest and most recognisable birds of prey – are now at a higher risk of extinction, according to the latest assessment of birds for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, carried out by BirdLife International – an IUCN Red List partner.

Dr Julius Arinaitwe, BirdLife International’s Africa Programme Director. Photo credit: aplori.org
Dr Julius Arinaitwe, BirdLife International’s Africa Programme Director. Photo credit: aplori.org

The main causes of the drop in African vulture populations are thought to be indiscriminate poisonings, where the birds are drawn to poisoned baits, use of vulture body parts in traditional medicine, and deliberate targeting by poachers, as the presence of vultures can alert authorities to illegally killed big game carcasses.

Dr Julius Arinaitwe, BirdLife International’s Africa Programme Director, said: “As well as robbing the African skies of one of their most iconic and spectacular groups of birds, the rapid decline of the continent’s vultures has profound consequences for its people – as vultures help stop the spread of diseases by cleaning up rotting carcasses.”

“However, now we are becoming aware of the sheer scale of the declines involved, there is still just enough time for conservationists to work with law-makers, faith-based organisations, government agencies and local people, to make sure there is a future for these magnificent scavengers.”

Worldwide, 40 more bird species are now classified as having a higher risk of extinction in the 2015 Red List. Besides the vultures, these include many wading shorebirds, and other iconic species like Helmeted Hornbill, Swift Parrot, Atlantic Puffin, and European Turtle-dove.

Conversely, 23 species of birds have been downgraded to lower threat categories. In some cases, this reflects a better understanding of how they are faring, but some species have undergone remarkable recoveries as a result of conservation action, including Seychelles Warbler and Chatham Petrel.

“Vultures and other birds play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems,” said Dr Simon Stuart, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. “Their decline can have serious knock-on effects on other species and the many benefits provided by nature. While it is encouraging to see some positive outcomes of conservation action, this update is an important wake-up call, showing that urgent efforts need to be taken to protect these species.”

The IUCN Red List is regarded as the world’s most comprehensive information source on the conservation status of plant and animal species, and BirdLife International is the official authority for birds.

Lagos water boss resigns, activists call for probe

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Lagos water boss resigns, activists call for probe

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for playing a pivotal role in spurring controversial former Group Managing Director of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), Shayo Holloway, to resign his post. The group urged the governor to go beyond merely accepting the resignation of Holloway by probing the management of the agency since 1999.

Shayo Holloway, former managing director of the LSWC. Photo credit: theeagleonline.com.ng
Shayo Holloway, former managing director of the LSWC. Photo credit: theeagleonline.com.ng

According to ERA/FoEN, Holloway quit the LSWC on Friday 16 October 2015 following a strongly-worded query issued by the office of the Head of Service demanding he explain the parlous state of water infrastructure in all parts of Lagos even after receiving huge sums in the last 16 years.

Holloway became head of LSWC in 1999. The agency, apart from budgetary allocations, has attracted loans from the World Bank and international donor agencies to fund water supply expansion schemes such as the Iju, Adiyan, and Ishasi Waterworks, as well as expansion of distribution networks. These loans, running into billions of naira, have reportedly not translated into improved water supply for residents. Over 18 million Lagos residents – about 90 percent – still lack daily access to clean and safe water, exposing citizens to water-borne diseases like cholera.

ERA/FoEN and partners – Corporate Accountability International, Public Services International (PSI), the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) and a coalition of civil society advocates including Dr. Joe Odumakin, Priscilla Achakpa, and Auwal Rafsanjani, had written to Ambode on 9 October 2015 demanding that he publicly reject the public-private partnership-model (PPP) water privatisation scheme that Holloway was promoting, on the grounds of proven failures across the globe.

Former governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness Rilwanu Akiolu, also received similar letters from the groups, asking that they side with the ordinary citizens of Lagos in rejecting the PPP.

In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN described Holloway’s ouster as “a welcome development” which should send a clear message to the World Bank and promoters of PPP-model water privatisation schemes that Lagos citizens will defend their rights to a free gift of nature which water represents.

ERA/FoEN Deputy Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “We commend Governor Ambode for taking this first step to deliver universal access to water for Lagosians, and the obvious next step is to reject the PPP water privatisation scheme Holloway has been promoting once and for all. Holloway’s resignation will only make sense to Lagos residents if

Media executives commit to tackle marine pollution

Michael Simire
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Media executives commit to tackle marine pollution

A team of environmental journalists who participated in the Abidjan Convention (ABC) workshop that focused on Marine Litter has resolved to step up the fight against marine pollution which is increasingly becoming a major threat to African and global aquatic ecosystems.

Marine litter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Marine litter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

At the close of a three-day forum at the Ivorian capital city, the journalists in a three-point declaration committed individually and collectively to continue to disseminate and share information pertaining to the marine and coastal environment in the Abidjan Convention area and to the Abidjan Convention in particular, including problem of marine litter.

They also resolved to share knowledge, expertise and ideas with one another on a regular basis to further this individual and collective commitment and to encourage a wider dissemination of information.

“We commit to engaging ourselves with local, national and international partners to encourage dissemination of the information pertaining to the marine and coastal environment in the Abidjan Convention area and to the Abidjan Convention in particular, including marine litter,” they declared, adding: “We will work together to encourage better positive decision making”.

Participants at the workshop with officials of the Abidjan Convention
Participants at the workshop with officials of the Abidjan Convention

Sponsored by the Swedish government and hosted by ABC Secretariat of UNEP, the workshop was the second in a series that began in December 2013, conducted by Canadian environmental journalist and communications consultant, David Israelson, with the assistance, support and participation of the Secretariat.

A field trip to the fishing habour in Abidjan during which Mr. Anatolek K. Koussi, Head of the Environmental Department, conducted the journalists around the port, formed part of the tanning workshop.

According to him, the Port Authority of Abidjan is intensifying efforts towards addressing marine littering in the port area, as the problem becomes a major concern for the port authorities.

Abou Bamba, Regional Coordinator, Abidjan Convention/UNEP (left) with Olubusiyi Sarr, Assistant Coordinator for Communications, Partnerships and Fundraising Division of Environmental Policy Implementation, Abidjan Convention/UNEP
Abou Bamba, Regional Coordinator, Abidjan Convention/UNEP (left), with Olubusiyi Sarr, Assistant Coordinator for Communications,
Partnerships and Fundraising
Division of Environmental Policy Implementation, Abidjan Convention/UNEP

Litter debris of plastics and among other types of waste comes from all parts of the districts and sediment at the ports during high tide. Port Autonomy D`Abidjan is doing its best within its institutional mandate to manage the uncontrolled flooding waste, Koussi told the visiting team of journalists. The port authorities are doing their best to stem the tide in terms of solid and liquid waste management. Plans are far afoot, Kouassi disclosed, to establish a liquid waste processing and recycling facility in the port to address the discharge of waste oil from ships.

The construction of a container terminal and an enclave within the port for private companies engaged in processing and other fishing industry related ventures are also to be carried out under a port expansion project.

Nnimmo Bassey: How pollution has stolen our mothers

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Nnimmo Bassey: How pollution has stolen our mothers

Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), at the recent workshop (in Bori, Ogoni, Rivers State, Nigeria) on “Building Community Resilience towards the Implementation of the UNEP Report” says that women must be fully involved in monitoring the process and be watchdogs over the environment, especially the clean-up of Ogoniland

Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
Nnimmo Bassey, Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)

A Garden of Hope was planted at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Peace Centre, the premises of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, in July 2015. Present at that notable occasion was Vandana Shiva who is an esteemed Fellow of HOMEF’s Sustainability Academy, also the President of MOSOP, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, among other respected leaders. It was a gathering of Ogoni women, deliberating on strategies to protect their seeds in a hostile environment and to stand as ecological defenders. Now, before Vandana Shiva spoke, we had an interactive session during which one of the Ladies present said she had to tell us why there were no old women amongst them. It was a question on our minds, a question we had all wanted to ask, so her offer was most welcome. She simply stated, “Pollution has stolen our mothers.”

That was a pregnant statement, a great metaphor of the reality of the impact of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland. This single statement explains the carnival of funerals of young persons in these parts, as Comrade Celestine Akpobari often describes it. Apparently pollution has not only stolen the mothers, but also the prospects of regeneration for many, add to these also that it has been said that incidents of ladies experiencing ‘menopause’ well before the age of forty is on the increase in Ogoniland.

If this the environmental situation of Ogoniland, then, Were Ken Saro-Wiwa and MOSOP right when they began intense campaigns from early 1990s for the clean-up of Ogoniland? Were the Ogoni people right to raise so many questions?

The Assessment of the Environment of Ogoniland as carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) handed to the Federal Government on 4 August 2011 was an answer to the many questions that Ogoni people had been asking. Today we have the word of the President that the clean-up of Ogoniland will be fast tracked. As we speak, it will soon be two months since that promise was made and it will be unwise for us to not utilise the hiatus and prepare for the implementation of the answer. Someone once said that the “Unquestioned answers are more dangerous than unanswered questions.”

We are not gathered to question the UNEP Report, but we will interrogate our readiness to engage with the processes and institutions being set up to bring our answers into effect. First, we will assure ourselves that the implementation of the UNEP report is a lifeline that must be unreservedly grabbed. Anything to slow or abort the process should be seen as an attempt to keep the people trapped in the death-grip of hydrocarbon pollution. The pledge to fast track the clean-up is a clear answer as to whether the clean-up would ever happen. With two months gone with no concrete actions yet, we have reasons to raise new questions as to when the clean-up would take off in earnest.

Women must be fully involved in monitoring the process and be watchdogs over the environment. We recall that in August 2014 some of you agreed to be a part of the Ogoni Women as Ecological Defenders (OWED); well, now is the time to step up the network. Pollution must no longer be allowed to steal our mothers.

We will also use this training programme to review the answers and recommendations made by UNEP, we will share knowledge on environmental health monitoring and resolve to work together to ensure that the restoration of Ogoni environment, births the hope that the highly polluted environments elsewhere in the Niger Delta and all over Nigeria will be equally cleaned up.

In a few days the 10th of November will roll in. For lovers of environmental justice, it is the Day of Infamy and a Day of Rage. That will be the 20th anniversary of the martyrdom of iconic Ogoni leaders – Ken Saro‐Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Naute, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine. Besides these nine mena, other noble Ogoni leaders and peoples lost their lives in the continued struggle for a safe Ogoni environment. It has been a hard road to travel in the struggle against the power of capital in the shape of entrenched polluting oil companies.

A successful clean-up of the Ogoni environment will attest to the fact that the struggle for a clean environment is not a criminal desire, but a necessity, one that we must all demand and contribute to.

COP 21: Concern over France visa, fees in Nigeria

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COP 21: Concern over France visa, fees in Nigeria

As preparations for the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reach a feverish peak, prospective participants from Nigeria have been told in clear terms by the Embassy of France in (Abuja and Consulate in Lagos) Nigeria that visa issuance is only contingent upon the payment of visa consultancy and processing fees. This directive, according to observers, is a contravention of the principles of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Manuel Valls, France's Prime Minister. Photo credit: Christophe Ena/ AP
Manuel Valls, France’s Prime Minister. Photo credit: Christophe Ena/ AP

Participants from over 196 countries are expected to converge on Paris, France this December for crunch climate talks with a view to adopting a new global climate treaty capable of lowering global temperatures and halting further slides into dangerous thresholds of climate vulnerability.

An information note published on the conference organisers’ website reads: “For holders of an ordinary passport, obtaining a short-stay visa to France is subject to a fee of €60 payable in local currency, in addition to the fees charged in the relevant countries by the external service provider. Persons accredited by the United Nations to attend COP21/CMP11 are exonerated from these charges on presentation of their accreditation letter.”

Duly accredited participants from Nigeria including civil society leaders and journalists have condemned the directive by the French embassy in Nigeria and are calling for a policy reversal by the appropriate authorities.

Tina Armstrong Ogbonna, an accredited journalist to the conference, says: “This action by the French Embassy in Nigeria is a direct affront on the integrity of Nigerians and a baseless contravention of UNFCCC protocol governing issuance of visas to COP participants.

“We have attended UNFCCC conferences in several European countries with noone asking us for visa fees so why is France different?” she wondered.

Stephen Onuche, an accredited civil society observer to the conference, recalls: “This action by the French Embassy in Nigeria is pure extortion and manipulation of environmentally conscious Nigerians to achieve a pre-determined objective.

“I was asked to pay N4,500 (€20) as visa interview booking fee to VFS, a consulting firm approved by the embassy, and when I was eventually interviewed at the embassy premises in Abuja, the visa officer pointedly asked me to pay N13,500 (€60) to their cashier if I ever wanted to collect the visa.

“If the French Embassy in Nigeria is broke and in urgent need of funds, they should say so openly and not use UNFCCC conference hosting right as a smokescreen to fleece hapless Nigerians,” he added.

For another Nigerian journalist who prefers to remain anonymous for now, his experience with the French Consulate in Lagos and their accredited visa agents, VFS, leaves much to be desired.

He says: “After paying N20,420 (about €91) and waiting for several weeks, I was issued a visa that is valid from 12/10/2015 to 11/11/2015 even when my UNFCCC accreditation letter, flight ticket, and travel insurance reads 30th November to 16th December 2015!

“As it is now, the French Consulate has succeeded in issuing a visa that is useless to me. I wonder if my application documents were even looked at before the visa was issued,” he added.

Efforts to get the official position of the French Embassy failed as mails to George Vanin, the Embassy’s Head of Press and Communication, were never replied and neither were calls returned. Similar efforts to get the views of the Consul General in Lagos were fruitless as the Secretary switched off all communication lines with the consulate.

Upon investigation by ClimateReporters, it was discovered that €80 is the blanket fee the embassy charges all conference-related visa requests it receives at both Abuja and Lagos centres. A source at the embassy who craved anonymity revealed that the decision to extend this fee to all UNFCCC accredited participants from Nigeria is part of the embassy’s resolve to stamp out corruption from its visa issuance processes in Nigeria.

“You know, our former Consul General, François Sastourné and his deputy, were implicated in a visa racketeering scam which led to their replacement earlier this year so the Embassy is very wary of giving directives on no-visa fees for certain category of conference participants as this may be abused by embassy staff,” the source chipped in.

Over the years, Nigeria’s participation in international meetings has come under global spotlight for varying reasons ranging from having the largest official delegations at UN conferences to reserving the most expensive hotels for official government delegates.

It will be recalled also that many Nigerian CSO delegates and journalists accredited to participate in the UNFCCC 19th Conference of Parties (COP 19) which held in Warsaw, Poland were denied visas by the Polish Embassy in Nigeria for reasons, many termed as ridiculous and racist-inclined.

By Ezekiel Akor (ClimateReporters)

World Polio Day: Nigeria has brought Africa closer to being certified polio-free

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World Polio Day: Nigeria has brought Africa closer to being certified polio-free

Nigeria’s remarkable achievement has brought the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified polio-free, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday, October 23 on the eve of the World Polio Day.

Polio immunisation. Photo credit: comminit.com
Polio immunisation. Photo credit: comminit.com

Just three years ago, Nigeria was the reservoir of more than half of all polio cases in the world. This year, for the first time in history, Nigeria succeeded in interrupting transmission of wild poliovirus and, last month, it was removed from the list of polio endemic countries.

The UN organisation made these submissions in a press statement, even as it emphasised that never before in the history of polio have so few children in so few countries contracted the crippling virus.

“But we cannot rest until the number of cases is zero,” insists UNICEF.

“Progress to end polio is real and dramatic, with now just two countries in the world where the wild poliovirus has never been interrupted: Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Peter Crowley, head of the Polio Unit at UNICEF. “But – and it’s a big but – until all children everywhere are consistently and routinely immunised against polio, the threat remains. We cannot let down our guard; we have to keep going until there is not a single child anywhere who remains unvaccinated.”

Peter Crowley, head of the Polio Unit at UNICEF. Photo credit: en.mercopress.com
Peter Crowley, head of the Polio Unit at UNICEF. Photo credit: en.mercopress.com

In India, where thousands of children once suffered from polio-induced paralysis each year, there have been no cases in four years.  Globally there have been just 51 cases of wild polio virus since the beginning of 2015, compared with 242 wild polio cases for 2014.

These successes, according to Crowley, are a result of political will and government leadership in affected countries; the strong mobilisation and engagement of communities; the courage and commitment of front-line workers; and the combined, coordinated efforts of the partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation, Rotary International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF.

As part of its contribution to this Initiative, UNICEF delivered 1.7 billion doses of vaccine in 2014 and supported the training of tens of thousands of front-line workers in communities from Karachi in Pakistan to Kano State in Nigeria, helping to build trust in the vaccine among parents and communities. Other success factors have been the integration of additional life-saving interventions for children such as routine immunisation, nutrition, handwashing with soap, and breastfeeding, into polio campaigns, particularly in the most under-served and high-risk areas.

Despite this progress, recent vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks in countries like Lao-PDR, Ukraine, Guinea and Madagascar have underscored the risks that many countries continue to face due to low routine immunisation coverage. These outbreaks serve as a reminder of the vital need for intensified efforts to strengthen routine immunisation systems and address disparities in children’s access to basic health services. In Ukraine, for example, fewer than 14 per cent of children are immunised against polio.

“We aim to bring a global halt to polio transmission by this time next year, but the only way to do this is for countries with low vaccination dates to re-double their efforts to reach every child, wherever they are and no matter how hard this may be,” said Crowley.

Bonn: Ministers urged to drive ambition, fairness as Paris approaches

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Bonn: Ministers urged to drive ambition, fairness as Paris approaches

At the close of the last negotiating session in Bonn, Germany on Friday, October 23 before ministers, heads of state, and negotiators meet in Paris to finalise what should be a comprehensive, ambitious, and universal climate agreement, parties are leaving with a clearer idea of the outline of the deal.

Nigerian delegation at the Bonn meeting: Prof. Jide Alo (left), Dr Peter Tarfa and Prof Olukayode Oladipo
Nigerian delegation at the Bonn meeting: Prof. Jide Alo (left), Dr Peter Tarfa and Prof Olukayode Oladipo

After a week of careful negotiating, there was concordance reached on some options, while discussion on other issues was taken as far as possible without the involvement of ministers and heads of state. During this session, parties took ownership of the text, building out their bloc positions and deepening a shared understanding on some contentious topics.

Ministers will begin to examine the text at the pre-COP, taking place on November 8-10 in Paris, before the discussion moves to COP21 on November 30. Support for ambitious climate action has never been higher, and leaders from the business, faith, national security, health, and justice communities around the world will assemble in Paris to display the full breadth of the movement.

“Everyone wants to play their cards late. But not everyone can have the ace of spades. This process is too important to be a high risk poker game. They need to put down their cards, and play together as a team,” says Martin Kaiser of Greenpeace.

Tasneem Essop of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), states: “Let us not underestimate what is at stake here. Impacts are already hitting home, affecting the world’s most vulnerable people and ecosystems first and foremost. That is why a Paris agreement must feature solutions to address the loss and damage caused by mounting climate impacts, affecting people and places from Manila to California.

“We know that finance is left to the last moments of negotiations and used as a bargaining chip. But governments need to know that this last moment is now. They now only have just six weeks to figure that out. We need to be clear about the scale, the predictability and additionality of the financial support needed to help countries cut emissions and adapt to the devastating impacts of climate change.”

However, Alix Mazounie of the RAC France believes that the French presidency will need to play a critical role.

His words: “Until the very last minute of the very last night of the Paris COP, they will be the gate-keepers of ambition and fairness. A success in Paris is not only about signing a universal deal, but about signing an ambitious universal deal. And while some countries may have chosen to keep us out of the room here in Bonn, they won’t be able to avoid us in Paris.

“We will be massively taking to the streets on November 28th and 29th – not just in Paris, but in cities all over the world. With our calls for climate action, we will make our voices heard throughout the talks. At the close of the COP, we will take to the streets of Paris again, reminding the leaders that we will not stop demanding progress and holding them accountable.”

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said that the draft text includes additional options that reflect the concerns of all countries. “We now have a Party-owned text that is balanced and complete. The challenge for governments is to bring it down to a much more concise and coherent form for adoption in Paris.”

French Climate Change Ambassador Laurence Tubiana said: “We have a manageable text for further work in Paris. While much work remains, the text is a good basis for negotiations and negotiations need to start from the first day of the conference.”

Both Ms. Figueres and Ms. Tubiana agreed that the political process between now and the beginning of the Paris Summit will be central to the success of the meeting.

A Pre-COP Ministerial meeting will take place in the French capital in early November to further address the high-level political issues relating to the draft agreement.

The G20 Heads of State will meet in Turkey in mid-November, followed by the Heads of State meeting of the Commonwealth in Malta just before the Paris Summit opens.

Naoko Ishii reappointed head of Global Environment Facility

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Naoko Ishii reappointed head of Global Environment Facility
Naoko Ishii, CEO of GEF
Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson

Ms. Naoko Ishii was on Thursday in Washington DC appointed for a second four-year term as the CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The decision to reappoint Ms. Ishii, a Japanese national, was taken by the GEF’s 32-member Council, representing all of the GEFs 183 member countries.

“This decision followed careful consultations among all GEF constituencies,” said Madam Anyaa Vohiri, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia and Co-Chair of the 49th GEF council meeting taking place in Washington DC. “The Council emphasised Ms. Ishii’s strong leadership in advancing a reform agenda for GEF-6, preparing the GEF2020 strategy, delivering a record replenishment, as well as her dedication to improving the GEF partnership.”

“I am honoured and humbled by the trust shown in me by all GEF’s member countries,” said Ishii. “Our GEF2020 Strategy recognises that Earth is being pushed to its limits, and that an integrated approach is needed to respond to the immense challenges before us. I am convinced that going forward, the GEF can play a key role in supporting countries to make the transformation that is necessary to pursue their development aspirations without jeopardising the global environment.”

“I warmly welcome the re-appointment of Ms. Ishii as the GEF CEO,” said Ms. Wakhungu, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Kenya. “The GEF is an important partner for Kenya. I applaud Ms. Ishii’s efforts to drive strengthen the GEF partnership, and for ensuring that the GEF’s support is fully aligned with our national priorities. I look forward to continuing our strong engagement with the GEF.”

Minister of Finance for Mexico, Luis Videgaray Caso, who last year hosted the GEF Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, congratulated Ms. Ishii, noting: “As a founding member of the GEF, and as a country that finds in the GEF a very strategic partner, Mexico appreciates and recognises Ms. Ishii’s work as the CEO of the GEF. Her efforts have been crucial to achieve a successful sixth replenishment of the Facility in 2014, as well as to ensure an effective allocation of its resources to fight global environmental challenges,” he said.

Ms. Ishii’s reappointment covers the period through July 2020. According to GEF policy, the CEO and Chairperson can serve a maximum of two terms.

Bonn climate talks put spotlight on finance, ambition

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Bonn climate talks put spotlight on finance, ambition

As the Bonn UN climate negotiations gradually comes to an end before talks close in the final intersessional before the Paris talks in December, negotiators were on Thursday making mixed progress on the key issues of the international agreement.

Sven Harmeling of CARE International. Photo credit: econews.com.au
Sven Harmeling of CARE International. Photo credit: econews.com.au

Some success has been reported in the spinoffs and informal meeting groups for mitigation and transparency, while issues like loss and damage and finance have proven much harder to solve before the text passes to the ministers. Countries from all ends of the political spectrum have been working to come up with compromises to bridge the gaps.

The G77 issued a statement to the press, stemming from deep frustration over the profound silence on the plan for post-2020 finance. The G77 highlighted the poverty and hardships still facing many of its members, and emphasized that developing countries need to be able to immediately begin addressing the impacts of climate change.

“With only a little over 24 hours left in the session, pressure on negotiators is increasing. And while progress across the issues is mixed, there’s good reason to be hopeful that countries will come up with a better, more ambitious and substantive draft Paris agreement by the end of the day on Friday,” says Sven Harmeling of CARE, a member of the Climate Action Network (CAN) International.

Harjeet Singh of ActionAid contends: “If your house goes up in flames, the first thing you do is put the fire out.  Developing countries are already fighting the fires of climate change and so are demanding strategies and money to deal with its impact. For rich nations who have the money, technology and skills, the devastation of climate change is not a pressing issue.

“The current climate talks are reflecting the contrasting order of priority of issues between developed and developing nations.  Rich nations need to recognise the crisis is here and now. The money to prepare for and deal with climate impacts must be at the centre of the climate deal in Paris.”

Louisa Casson of E3G submits: “As it becomes clearer that national action plans move us a considerable way forward but won’t be enough alone to uphold governments’ obligation to keep temperature rise well below 2˚C, momentum has been building for an ‘ambition mechanism’ to review and scale up our climate action to bridge the gap.

“In the past month alone, we’ve seen this idea endorsed by US President Barack Obama, the EU and Latin American countries – not to mention city mayors, business leaders and former world leaders. But to do its job this mechanism needs to review and require strengthening of national plans every five years, starting in 2018, and work with a broad scope on issues beyond just mitigation.”

Adesina, Eke call for responsible online journalism

Michael Simire
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Adesina, Eke call for responsible online journalism

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and the Chairman of Zinox Group, Stan Leo Eke, have emphasised the need for responsible online journalism in the country.

L-R: Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr Femi Adesina; former Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Mr Malachy Agbo; and Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, at the formal launching of GOCOP, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos 22/10/2015.
L-R: Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr Femi Adesina; former Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola; President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Mr Malachy Agbo; and Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, at the formal launching of GOCOP, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island in Lagos 22/10/2015.

Adesina and Eke spoke on Thursday at the launch of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), a body formed by professional journalists with not less than 10 years’ experience.

Adesina said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari knows the importance of online journalism hence it is passionate about the standardisation of its practice.

He said in a speech he titled: “Let your light shine,” that the nation cannot do without online publishing despite the realisation that it “can lift up or pull down an administration”.

He said the change that was witnessed in the country in the last elections had a chunk of the support from online publishing.

Adesina however said it has also been realised that online today has the good, the bad and ugly.

He referred to the arraignment of three bloggers for their decision to “bad or ugly”.

He said for this reason, practitioners now need to correct the lapses noticed among online publishers by continuously doing peer reviews.

He said owing to the challenges with online news platforms, people still do not trust them.

He said those who make use of online news platforms, according to research, take in the information provided but still wait till the following day for the “traditional media to validate it.

“That is the challenge the online media must overcome.”

Adesina said among other challenges are concocted stories and the use of foul language, adding: “People believe operating online gives them the liberty to use uncouth language.

“Do peer review.

“Be ready to defend any falsehood you write.

“Those who see online publishing as licence to do what is not right should be ready to pay for it.

“This association should able to do a separation.

“Bad coin tends to drive good coin out of circulation.

“It is important an association like this should thrive, prosper and do peer review.”

Adesina said publishing is not adversarial always, adding: “Criticism good for any government.

“This is our country.

“The President’s image managers will be willing to work with the association.”

Eke, who was the Guest Speaker, said in this age and time, no one can avoid online media.

He said he told those who cared to listen 29 years ago when he launched desktop publishing that it was either you are in or out, but yet a lot of people still do not understand that online publishing and, by extension business, has come to stay.

Eke said the future wealth of the country lies online.

He said with the distress in the economy, Nigerians should not be blind to the future wealth.

He said there was the need to alter the equation fast.

Eke said a lot of people took exception to his comment during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan that the failure of the government to pay attention to online publications was going to cost them the election.

He said the greatest fear was that if the Jonathan government returned to power, he may not be allowed to live peacefully in the country again, adding: “A lot of people forget that creating wealth is not about being in a particular location but what you have in your head.”

He said the administration forgot they rode on the power of the online media to come into power and they paid for it, adding: “President Muhammadu Buhari might be analogue, but he used the online to get elected.”

Eke said he has also been a victim of false reports by online publishers and bloggers, hence he advocated quality practice by practitioners.

He urged the Buhari administration to pay attention to the education sector not minding what it will cost and also work with major telecommunications service providers to provide Nigerians free internet service.

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