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REDD+: Stakeholders seek sustainable livelihoods initiatives

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REDD+: Stakeholders seek sustainable livelihoods initiatives

The community-based projects (CBR+) component of the Nigeria UN-REDD+ Readiness Programme, among other focal areas, shall design livelihoods initiatives that reduce poverty and support improved forest management. Similarly, the programme shall establish safeguards to ensure that improved livelihoods does no harm to the environment.

Participants at the Forum
Participants at the Forum

This forms one of the numerous resolutions at the second meeting of the Cross River State (CRS) REDD+ Stakeholders’ Forum that held May 7-8, 2015 in Calabar, the CRS capital. The Forum was inaugurated last December as the ultimate platform to coordinate stakeholder participation and contribution to the programme implementation.

REDD, meaning Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, implies an effort to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.

Participants at the May 2015 REDD+ Forum, which sought to consolidate broad-based stakeholder engagement and contribute to the development of a REDD+ strategy, also agreed that there should be deliberate policy review to address the phenomenal forest policy disconnect between Federal and State Forestry institutions. They identified redefining functions as a critical gap to redress.

“There should be deliberate policy to both reduce and manage the lease of forest land for agricultural expansion. CRS and the REDD+ programme should facilitate a state-wide land use plan and local community land use plans to guide decisions around land use,” the gathering resolved, adding that forest valuation is fundamental to shaping REDD+ implementation, and that such valuation should consider both standing forests and the value of regeneration.

While stressing that stakeholder engagement strategy should strongly consider accountability within stakeholders to enable the supply of and demand for information, the delegated agreed that the REDD+ process should closely engage with stakeholders and develop agreements or relevant documents that clearly protect the rights and access of forest dependent communities to their forests.

The Forum likewise resolved thus:

“REDD+ implementation must develop and enforce strategy to empower forest dependent communities to provide consent freely based on adequate previous information. The FPIC principle should be effectively operated, with the consciousness that consultation should not replace consent.

“The CRS REDD+ Forum considers the CRS REDD+ Technical Committee as the principal medium for the facilitation stakeholders’ technical input in the REDD+ programme. The Technical Committee shall take responsibility for the coordination of all sub-committees in the programme. The Terms of Reference for the Technical Committee as developed will guide their technical contribution to the programme and accountability to stakeholders.

“Part of measures to address the problem of deforestation is capacity building for forest dependent communities to monitor and report forest change.

“The REDD+ programme will apply Knowledge Management as an essential means to share and capture lessons among stakeholders to strengthen capacity and improve knowledge about REDD+.

“REDD+ implementation should enable community organising such that representatives of stakeholders are held accountable and are able to report back to their communities.

“The REDD+ programme should effectively engage with institutional heads and REDD+ desk officers in relevant Government MDAs to ensure information and participation is strengthened.

“The recommendations from the Participatory Government Assessment (PGA) report should guide the development of safeguards that will help improve forest governance in CRS.”

Thematic areas of the CBR+ were listed to include:

  • Sustainable Forest Management/Biodiversity conservation;
  • Capacity Development to engage in climate change mitigation processes, including REDD+;
  • Sustainable Livelihoods; and,
  • Renewable Energy.

Hitherto, the Programme, which has CRS as a pilot, recorded achievements such as:

  • Finalising Nigeria National CBR+ Plan;
  • Producing draft call for concept note;
  • Reviewing CRS CBR+ Committee operations and membership; and,
  • Developing plan to initiate pilot/demonstration projects.

According to Odigha Odigha, chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC), on completion of the Readiness phases, the Investment and Performance phases of the REDD+ process will be implemented.

Europeans vote to phase out amalgam use

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Europeans vote to phase out amalgam use

A somewhat cheering news to pro amalgam-phase-out campaigners emerged at the weekend from Europe as a public consultation process resulted in the rejection of the use of the product.

EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo credit: www.christainsinpakistan.com
EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo credit: www.christainsinpakistan.com

Dental amalgam is a tooth filling material that is approximately 50% mercury, which is believed to be a highly polluting neurotoxin. Nations around the world are working to phase out amalgam use, against the backdrop of the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at protecting human health and environment from the adverse effects of mercury. Neurotoxins are substances that are poisonous or distructive to nerve tissue.

The European Union (EU), which is a signatory to the Convention, had asked the general public to comment on how to fulfil its treaty obligations. The European Commission launched an online public consultation that asked EU citizens: “Should we phase down amalgam use…or should we phase out amalgam use?”

Following the close of the poll and consequently the counting of the votes, 3,162 out of the 3,586 voters (representing 88% of the respondents) voted to phase out amalgam.

“That’s a lot of participation for a public consultation in the EU,” remarked Charles Brown, who is President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry.

He commended Europeans for the development, even as he lamented that even though the United States had signed the mercury treaty, it was yet to conduct a public opinion poll on the issue.

His words: “Congratulations to all our European friends who voted and to everyone around the world who helped get out the vote!

“Over the past four years, Consumers for Dental Choice has worked closely with our European allies to put in place the building blocks that led to this vote:

  • The scientific backing: The EU governments’ scientific committees agree that amalgam in the environment can pose a risk while mercury-free fillings are safe.
  • The policy edge: The European Commission hired an independent consultant to examine all the policy options for dealing with amalgam. After an intense study, a round of public hearings, and substantial public input, that independent consultant urged the EU to “ban the use of mercury in dentistry.”
  • The public support: The consultant, the governments, and the scientists had their turn. Then the matter was put before the citizenry… and Europeans overwhelmingly want to phase out amalgam use!

“We’ve still got a lot of hard work ahead in the EU to make sure that the government responds to the voice of the people. But all options other than phasing out amalgam are slowly exiting the stage.

“As the EU moves forward toward mercury-free dentistry, the United States government is no doubt taking note… and seeing itself fall behind.  If the United States intends to regain the lead on mercury issues, now is the time to act.”

Brown is also National Counsel, Consumers for Dental Choice.

West Africa commences preparations for new climate treaty

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West Africa commences preparations for new climate treaty

Ahead of the December 2015 Paris climate conference where 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are expected to sign a binding agreement with legal force, West Africa may have taken the lead in preparing its negotiators and critical stakeholders for the all-important conference.

Abidjan, Ivory Coast ...venue of the conference. Photo credit: africa-pictures.blogspot.com
Abidjan, Ivory Coast …venue of the conference. Photo credit: africa-pictures.blogspot.com

The preparatory workshop, which held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire from the 7th to the 9th of May 2015, had participants drawn from sub-regional and national authorities, intergovernmental organisations, civil society, indigenous peoples and the private sector.

Organised under the sub-regional auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the meeting attempted to comprehensively review the draft text of the new agreement with a view to demystifying the economic and technical issues involved in the negotiations as well unpack the geo-political implications for the sub-region.

“In addition to identifying common positions to be defended by Africa and more particularly West Africa at the forthcoming meetings in Bonn and Paris, this workshop evolved a strategy that will deliver a better deal for West Africa come December 2015,” said Bougonou Djeri-Alassani of the Environment Directorate of ECOWAS Commission.

Beyond strengthening the respective capacities of West African Negotiators, the workshop also assessed past negotiation sessions and chart a new course that recognises the sub-region’s peculiarities and vulnerabilities.

“The thrust of our negotiations must reflect West African priorities which include adaptation, mitigation, food security and increased climate resilience,” Medane Lecrome of CILSS added.

Speaking on behalf of the West African civil society at the workshop, Rev Tolbert Jallah of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) commended the organisers of the workshop for recognising the civil society as credible partners in the build-up to the Paris conference. He however warned that the battle for a fair, equitable climate deal for Africa is far from being won as “pitfalls and technical landmines have been effectively planted in the draft text to derail the process.”

“This recognition should be laced with opportunities that will unleash the full strength of the African civil society on the COP process,” Rev Jallah added, pointing out that 2015 is a crucial year for international climate change negotiations.

Since 1992, parties have come together under the UNFCCC to negotiate and formulate international climate policies that are then implemented nationally. The policies are meant to keep greenhouse gas emissions in check so that its impacts on the environment and people’s lives are minimal. However, over the years, the state of the climate has gotten worse and its impacts are felt throughout the world.

The meeting in Paris in De­cember this year is supposed to produce a legally binding agreement to keep greenhouse gasses in check, help developing countries cope better and to ensure adequate financial and technical assistance.

‘Africa must prepare for possible alteration of climate negotiating text’

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‘Africa must prepare for possible alteration of climate negotiating text’

There is every likelihood that the negotiating text for a new climate change agreement, already circulated among Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will be changed in the final moments of the 2015 Paris climate conference.

Seyni Nafo. spokesperson of the Africa Group of Negotiators. Photo credit: journaldumali.com
Seyni Nafo. spokesperson of the Africa Group of Negotiators. Photo credit: journaldumali.com

Leading members of the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN) made this known at the weekend in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at the Preparatory Workshop for the Paris climate summit organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA) and the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (SILS).

Reviewing the legal aspects of the negotiating text, Prof. Seth Osafo urged Africa to be “focused and be ready to push a common position irrespective of what may come up in Paris.”

“With the negotiating text likely to change, Africa must begin to identify allies and other groupings like the G77 to advance their common interests as the developed countries would take advantage of differences and divisions among developing countries,” Prof Osafo added.

In the same wavelength of caution, Seyni Nafo, spokesperson of the African Group of Negotiators, enjoined all stakeholders in Africa to begin “early preparations and deepen their capacity to absorb shocks and overcome technical pitfalls as the road to Paris gathers momentum.”

Rev Tolbert Jallah of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) towed similar line and called for “a workable Plan B for Africa that will harness African civil society’s capacity to drum up popular support for common African position while performing its naming and shaming function.”

It will be recalled that the secretariat of the UNFCCC communicated the negotiating text for a new climate change agreement to governments in all six official UN languages on the 19th of March 2015.

This was done in fulfilment of formal legal and procedural requirements to allow countries to adopt a legal instrument under the UNFCCC.

Governments are set to agree a global climate change agreement in Paris, in December, which will come into effect in 2020. As part of the agreement, every country is expected to contribute now and into the future, based on their national circumstances, to prevent global warming rising above 2 degrees Celsius and to adapt societies to existing and future climate change.

The negotiating text covers the substantive content of the new agreement including mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, capacity building, and transparency of action and support.

 

Next steps in climate negotiations

2015 will see continued, intense negotiations towards the Paris climate change agreement. Formal negotiations will continue on the basis of the negotiating text at the next UN climate change meeting in Bonn from 1 to 11 June.

“The Bonn meeting will be a key opportunity for countries to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to come to an early resolution of the outstanding issues and to seek common ground on unresolved issues,” said Ms.  Christiana Figueres, who heads the Bonn, Germany-based UNFCCC.

Further sessions during which countries will have the opportunity to converge on and resolve issues in advance of the Paris conference have been scheduled in Bonn, from 31 August to 4 September and from 19 to 23 October 2015.

Additionally, ministerial-level meetings throughout the year will include climate change on their agenda and contribute to convergence on the key political choices.

These include the Major Economies Forum, with up to four sessions tentatively scheduled this year: the Petersburg Climate Dialogue (17 to 19 May), and upcoming G7 and G20 meetings.

EU accused of promoting recycling of toxic chemicals

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EU accused of promoting recycling of toxic chemicals

The European Union (EU) has been accused of pushing dangerous cleanup standards for three toxic flame retardant chemicals widely used in building insulation, upholstery and electronics (HBCD, PentaBDE, and OctaBDE). The allegation emerged Friday May 8, 2015 at the onging UN meeting of chemicals treaties in Geneva, Switzerland.

pdbe_poster_recycle_symbol_v2_0_2015-coverAccording to the claim, endorsed by Bjorn Beeler of IPEN, Leslie Adogame of SRADev Nigeria and Jindrich Petrlik of Arnika Association, all three toxic chemicals are listed in the Stockholm Convention for global elimination. They are ubiquitous in the environment globally and can disrupt human hormone systems, creating potential adverse effects on the development of the nervous system and children’s IQ.

Additionally, African countries expressed deep concern regarding the EU proposal to recycle products containing toxic flame retardants into new products such as children’s toys, food containers and soft furnishings.

“We do not want toxic chemicals recycled into toys for African children, particularly considering the present vulnerability of children in Nigeria to ongoing toxic dump, and we do not think EU children should be playing with them either,” said Leslie Adogame, SRADev Nigeria. “The EU already sends us ewaste and now it seems they want to increase our toxic burden.”

According to him, the EU proposal will allow toxic recycled products to be used by EU consumers, and then exported to developing countries as waste, transferring the toxic burden from richer countries to poor countries where the capacity to deal with contaminated waste is limited andwhere they will potentially addto health problems and hamper poverty reduction.

Ironically, the waste cleanup limit for PCBs and other substances already listed in the treaty is 20 times safer than the current EU proposal for flame retardants, despite the fact that they are all similarly toxic. Expert advisors to the EU noted that, under the EU proposal, none of the current PentaBDE wastes would qualify for cleanup. The EU appears to be designing a standard to avoid cleanup actions on the world’s most toxic chemicals.

Jindrich Petrlik from Arnika Association said, “As an EU-based public interest NGO we find it shameful to see the EU violating the integrity of the Stockholm Convention, and putting economic interests before human health and the environment. This is poisoning the circular economy.”

Video: Challenges of a 10-year-old girl with Polio

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Video: Challenges of a 10-year-old girl with Polio

There has been no new case of polio virus in Nigeria since the last one was reported in July 2014.

But even as the country is making progress towards eradicating the disease, those crippled by the virus will have to deal with the challenges for life.

Afghanistan becomes 179th party to Stockholm Convention

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Afghanistan becomes 179th party to Stockholm Convention

Afghanistan on Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland became the latest Party to the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are toxic to humans and wildlife. The Asian nation is the 179th.

COP 7 President Johanna Lissinger Peitz
COP 7 President Johanna Lissinger Peitz. Photo credit: iisd.ca

In implementing the Convention, which entered into force May 17th 2004, governments will take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment.

At the Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 7) to the Stockholm Convention holding in the Swiss capital, COP President Johanna Lissinger Peitz formally welcomed Afghanistan, even as the gathering deliberated on numerous issues. In plenary, the COP sought to address matters related to implementation of the convention, including the listing of chemicals in Annex A, B or C, and measures to reduce or eliminate releases from intentional production and use.

Contact groups also met throughout the day to address issues including technical assistance and financial resources; technical matters; listing of chemicals; budget; RC non-compliance; and cooperation and coordination.

On implementing the convention for instance, the Secretariat introduced the documents, noting that the POPRC recommended that the COP consider listing chlorinated naphthalenes (CNs), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its salts and esters.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports on its cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on endocrine disrupting chemicals and suggested that endocrine disruption be added to the POPs screening criteria.
The African Group, GRULAC (Latin American and Caribbean Group), Belarus, New Zealand, Pakistan, Mexico, Thailand, Norway, Australia, Canada, the Cook Islands, Serbia, Georgia and Panama supported the POPRC’s recommendations. India opposed listing any of the chemicals. The Russian Federation opposed listing CNs.

The Republic of Korea, the EU and Switzerland preferred no exemptions for PCP. Oman requested a five-year exemption for some uses of HCBD. China said it is open to the recommendations but expressed concerns about the benefits of listing CNs and HCBD in Annex C and, with Thailand and GRULAC, noted the need for financial and technical assistance to meet obligations arising from new listings. 
IPEN supported listing all three chemicals, underscoring the adverse health effects of PCP, including contamination of soils and groundwater, and called for listing it in Annex A without exemptions. The Inuit Circumpolar Council underscored specific challenges faced by Arctic indigenous peoples. The US described actions it has taken to reduce PCP.

Delegates agreed to establish a contact group to discuss listing all three chemicals, with David Kapindula (Zambia) and Björn Hansen (EU) as Co-Chairs.

Essentially, the Stockholm Convention focuses on eliminating or reducing releases of 12 POPs, the so-called “Dirty Dozen“, setting up a system for tackling additional chemicals identified as unacceptably hazardous.

Palm oil firm’s expansion in Borneo frozen over RSPO standards

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Palm oil firm’s expansion in Borneo frozen over RSPO standards

Palm oil conglomerate ordered to halt expansion of operations following multiple violations of RSPO standards

Palm oil plantation in Kalimantan. Photo credit: greenpeace.org
Palm oil plantation in Kalimantan. Photo credit: greenpeace.org

The Complaints Panel of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has upheld the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) in its complaint against Golden Agri Resources, which was seeking to expand 18 of its operations in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, the third largest island in the world.

After concluding that it has ‘reasonable grounds’ to conclude that the company is in violation of several RSPO norms, the latest ‘determination’ by the Panel notes: “The Panel hereby prohibits GAR from acquiring or developing any new areas until this complaint has been dealt with to the satisfaction of the Complaints Panel.”

Repeated field surveys by FPP with local partner, LinkAR-Borneo, show that the company has sluggishly responded, after the NGOs had repeatedly raised concerns first with the company and then the RSPO. The NGOs found that the company had filed to expand its operations after it had taken land without proper consent, had not completed required High Conservation Value assessments and was of questionable legality.

The Complaints Panel rules that: “GAR must also take remedial steps to correct any shortcomings in its land acquisition process with the affected communities… and insists that GAR must honor its commitment to allocate 20 % of the land for the smallholders as it has promised to do…”

Agus Sutomo Executive Director of Pontianak-based LinkAR Borneo says: “We need the Government to take note of this decision. Chaotic law enforcement and handing out permits for oil palm plantations on indigenous peoples’ lands without even informing them in advance is bad for people, bad for forests and bad for Indonesia.”

In past years NGOs have expressed growing dismay that the RSPO was failing to enforce its standards and turning a blind eye to multiple violations. 

“We hope this decision will now persuade GAR/SMART that it has to renegotiate with communities where it has taken over their lands without their informed consent,” says Marcus Colchester, Senior Policy Advisor of the Forest Peoples Programme. “We are greatly encouraged that the RSPO is upholding its standard. We need to eliminate all land-grabbing from the RSPO-endorsed supply chain.”

PAVE, Swedish Embassy launch Stockholm Junior Water Prize

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PAVE, Swedish Embassy launch Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Entries are now open under the 2015 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) in Nigeria for students aged between 15 and 20 years of age in public and private secondary schools throughout the country. They will close on 31st May, 2015.

Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Svante Kilander (left); Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, Dr Olusanya Bamgboye (middle); and PAVE programme manager, Temiloluwa Ogunniyi ...at the launch
Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Svante Kilander (left); Executive Director, National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, Dr Olusanya Bamgboye (middle); and PAVE programme manager, Temiloluwa Ogunniyi …at the launch

This disclosure was made recently in Abuja by officials of the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) during the official launch of the SJWP-Nigeria, which will hold yearly courtesy of PAVE and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria.

The PAVE programme manager, Temiloluwa Ogunniyi, while thanking the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Svante Kilander, and the Swedish Embassy for hosting the event, underscored the SJWP’s importance.

His words: “The SJWP is more than just a competition; it is also a major event that has a long-term human and environmental impact while demonstrating a strong commitment to using the innovative and creative power of the youths to address one of the world’s most urgent issues – the growing water crisis. The idea is a joint global effort to save the world from the looming water crisis.”

Recently, PAVE signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in Sweden as the National Organiser in Nigeria for the SJWP for the period 2015-2017.

“We are collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources through the technical partnership of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna for project evaluation. Among the judging criteria includes Relevance, Creative ability, Methodology, Subject Knowledge, Practical skills and Report and Presentation,” disclosed Ogunniyi, who represented the PAVE president, Anthony Akpan.

PAVE’s responsibility under the agreement includes: to organise each year starting 2015 a national Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition in Nigeria (SJWP-Nigeria); to finance the national competition through the engagement of sponsors; and to select students to represent the winning project in the International Final in Stockholm.

Other responsibilities of the organisation include: to pay for the finalist travelling and accompany them to the International Final in Stockholm; to appoint a National Jury; and to inform SIWI about members of the National Jury.

“In the context of financing the national competition through the engagements of sponsors, we call on public and private corporate organisations and philanthropic individuals to partner with us as sponsors,” declared Ogunniyi.

According to him, for 18 years, SJWP has congregated the world’s most imaginative young minds for an outstanding competition in the capital of Sweden, with the aim of encouraging their continued interest in water and sustainability issues.

He added: “Each year, thousands of participants in over 30 countries all around the globe join national competitions in hopes of earning the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during the World Water Week in Stockholm.

“The national and international competitions are open to young people between the ages of 15 and 20 who have conducted water-related projects of proven environmental, scientific, social or technological significance. The projects range from local or regional to national or global topics.

“The winner of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize receives a USD 15,000 award, a blue crystal prize sculpture, a diploma as well as the stay in Stockholm. H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.

“Finalists from the participating countries are invited to Stockholm for five consecutive days where they actively take part in the global conference through a variety of activities. Inside the World Water Week conference venue, a poster exhibition of all student projects will give the finalists an opportunity to discuss their projects with the wide range of conference attendees, including researchers, politicians and media. Each of the finalists is further interviewed by a jury of international experts, who decide on the winner announced at the prize ceremony.

“During their time in Stockholm, the winners of the national competitions get the opportunity to meet and learn from the present leaders of the global water community, and get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to receive the international prize during an exciting award ceremony. The students also make life-long friendships with international compatriots who share a passion for water and science.”

PAVE is a Lagos-based non-profit, non-political and non-governmental organisation established with the aim of promoting sustainable development through research, documentation, policy dialogues, workshops, advocacy and consultancy services.

It deals with development issues in their environmental and socio-economic aspects with emphasis on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) targets regarding water and sanitation and other related human settlement issues including Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate change and Clean Energy promotion.

Paris 2015: Nigeria initiates preparation of climate action plan

Michael Simire
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Paris 2015: Nigeria initiates preparation of climate action plan

Nigeria formally commenced the preparation of its climate action plan, tagged Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 in Abuja when a host of stakeholders brainstormed all day long.

Left to Right: Aniefon Akpabio of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Bennett Agube of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof Emmanuel Olukayode Oladipo (Member, National Committee for COP 21), Ambassador Martins Uhomorbhi (Co-chair, National Committee for COP 21), Mrs L. Braide (Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment), Dr Samuel Adejuwon (Director, Department of Climate Change, FME), Muyiwa Odele (representing Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, the UNDP Country Director) and Ifeanyi Nnodim of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET)… at the Stakeholders Technical Workshop on the Development of Nigeria’s INDCs, in Abuja on Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Left to Right: Aniefon Akpabio of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Bennett Agube of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Prof Emmanuel Olukayode Oladipo (Member, National Committee for COP 21), Ambassador Martins Uhomorbhi (Co-chair, National Committee for COP 21), Mrs L. Braide (Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment), Dr Samuel Adejuwon (Director, Department of Climate Change, FME), Muyiwa Odele (representing Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, the UNDP Country Director) and Ifeanyi Nnodim of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET)… at the Stakeholders Technical Workshop on the Development of Nigeria’s INDCs, in Abuja on Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The INDCs is a requirement to be submitted by all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a major component of the climate change treaty to be adopted in Paris, France later in the year.

Nigeria’s INDCs, just like those of other nations, are to be communicated well in advance of the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC to be held in December in Paris. A number of nations have already submitted theirs, including Gabon, making it the first African country to do so.

But Nigeria set the ball rolling last week at a day-long project initiation workshop, where Mrs Nana Fatima Mede, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, reaffirmed the need to set up processes and procedural approaches of estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for developing the INDCs documents as an uncompromising priority for Nigeria. To this end, she pointed out, the Ministry through the Department of Climate Change (DCC) is committed to ensuring its commitment to the UNFCCC.

Addressing the participants, she stressed: “As technicians participating in this endeavour, your undivided cooperation is required in developing this national document. Provision of data and information and your participation in the whole process of development of the document will make the product a national document containing national contribution and related concerns and interest.”

While commending the “unflinching support of the UNDP in the ministry’s activities and specifically for financial support towards development of the INDCs,” the perm sec noted that participants’ contributions would go a long way in moving the nation’s effort towards achieving the objectives of the UNFCCC.

Dr Pa Lamin Beyai, the UNDP Country Director, told participants (comprising civil society organisations, NGOs, academia, media, grassroots organisations, private sector players and MDAs) that their presence “is not only crucial but is the major building block in a series of steps towards developing an all-inclusive and realistic INDCs for Nigeria.”

According to him, the UNDP is counting on the stakeholders’ collective experiences and knowledge in identifying:

  1. Unique national circumstances, capacities and capabilities which affect the INDCs process;
  2. Existing initiatives and mechanisms under the UNFCCC that can contribute to the formulations of INDCs;
  3. Opportunities for linkages/alignment with existing national development priorities; and,
  4. Key sectors to be prioritised.

He said: “The UNDP, within its framework of partnership with the DCC, has been providing support aimed at promoting informed national actions on climate change towards sustainable development. Our support is to assist Nigeria in meeting its obligations towards UNFCCC thorough the preparation and submission of its INDCs and to strengthen national capacities for integrating environmental and energy concerns into development plans at all levels.

“Knowing fully well that national GHG inventories are a critical starting place for preparing the INDCs, it is noteworthy that the entire process would benefit immensely from national capacities developed with UNDP’s support during the preparation of the First and Second National Communications to UNFCCC. Coincidentally this would set the tone for the preparation of the Third National Communications.”

In a presentation titled: “Relevance of Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDCs) in the Global Climate Change Framework: Nigeria Readiness,” Dr Samuel Jare Adejuwon, Director in the DCC, declared that the INDCs would largely determine whether the world achieves an ambitious 2015 agreement and is put on a path towards a low carbon, climate-resilient future.

He pointed out however that the climate action plan should reflect diversity of national circumstances while recognising varying capacities and capabilities.

“While national priorities will determine contribution types and scope, it is Important to secure a political mandate with clear goals, timeline and defined roles and responsibilities. It should be linked to development plans, be fair, equitable and transparent. INDCs link climate change to other national priorities such as sustainable development and poverty reduction,” said Nigeria’s climate chief.

Adejuwon added that, apart from the initiation workshop, other steps to be taken for the INDCs preparation include:

  • Training of selected experts on INDC (GHG inventory and mitigation experts);
  • Collection, analysis of information (data collection and analysis) and preparation of draft INDC through consultancy;
  • Peer review of draft INDC;
  • Stakeholders validation meeting;
  • Presentation at the Federal Executive Council and FEC approval;
  • Communication to COP through the UNFCCC Secretariat; and,
  • Publication and dissemination of the document.

In conclusion, Adejuwon submitted: “A well-designed INDCs will signal to the world that the country is doing its part to combat climate change and limit future climate risks. Countries should follow a transparent process when preparing their INDCs in order to build trust and accountability with domestic and international stakeholders.

“A good INDC should be ambitious, leading to transformation in carbon-intensive sectors and industry. A good INDC must be transparent so that stakeholders can track progress and ensue countries meet their stated goals. A good INDC must be equitable so that each country does its fair share to address climate change. All these must be taken into consideration while developing Nigeria’s INDCs.”

Similarly, Peter Tarfa, Adejuwon’s deputy, while exploring options for designing an INDC, stated that INDCs can be framed either in terms of means or desired outcomes.

He said: “A Party could commit to implementing specific emissions-reduction actions, such as policies or mitigation actions like advancing a feed-in tariff for renewable energy technologies, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, or converting to no-tillage agricultural practices.

“Alternatively, a Party could commit to a certain outcome or result – for example, reducing emissions to a specific level (a greenhouse gas outcome) or generating a certain percentage of renewable energy or increasing energy efficiency to a certain level (both non-greenhouse gas outcomes). The variety of domestic situations each country faces in reducing emissions will drive a wide diversity of INDCs, ranging from emissions targets to energy targets to actions in particular sectors.”

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