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Edo, Kaduna, Rivers stakeholders trained on climate action for Nigeria’s net-zero commitment

Michael Simire
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Edo, Kaduna, Rivers stakeholders trained on climate action for Nigeria’s net-zero commitment

In the bid to develop achievable net zero action plans for local governments and localise the country’s net zero commitment, Connected Advocacy, a non-governmental organisation, recently hosted capacity building workshops for stakeholders in Edo, Kaduna and Rivers states.

Connected Advocacy
Participants at the Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State, Connected Advocacy training workshop

In Egor Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State, the event emphasised the nature of climate change, its social, economic, and public health impacts, and highlighted the background causes and risks posed by the phenomenon. It also addressed the pressing questions of how to localise the achievement of carbon neutrality, the effects of emissions on communities, and strategies for local government offices to scale up their actions.

The training, which is part of the “Raising Awareness About Net-zero in Nigeria Project” being implemented by Connected Advocacy, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) and Centre for 21st Century Issues, outlined comprehensive strategies for local government action to combat climate change to include: Identifying Key Emission Points, Minimising Emissions Across Sectors, Collaborating with Key Stakeholders, Implementing Jointly Agreed Strategies and Evaluating Progress.

In a call to action, Connected Advocacy urged all officials present to act decisively, emphasising the importance of developing robust policies, fostering collaborations, and taking concrete actions because, as they reiterated, climate change is real, and its impacts are already being felt.

At Sabon Gari LGA in Kaduna State, the Executive Director, Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, gave a presentation on climate change and why it is a threatening issue for Sabon Gari.

Orekha, who said that the goal of the workshop is to localise the country’s net zero commitment by devising achievable decarbonisation plans that are implementable locally, elaborated on Nigeria’s net-zero pledge, explaining climate action plans and policies.

He underlined energy poverty as a pressing challenge in the northern part of the country, adding that people at the grassroots must deploy renewable energy to not only penetrate rural communities without access to the national grid, but to also contribute to global carbon mitigation effort.

Participants at the workshop identified key challenges such as plastic bag use, firewood burning, and the need for regulation and enforcement. They also explored innovative ideas and best practices for emission reduction.

The engagement session marked the beginning of a collaborative process to develop an LGA-specific climate action plan, which will outline mitigation and adaptation strategies, as well as community engagement and capacity building initiatives.

“By developing and implementing climate action plans, LGAs can play a significant role in reducing emissions, building resilience, and creating a more sustainable future for all Nigerians,” submitted Orekha.

At Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State, Ms. Evelyn Williams, the facilitator, explained the principles of effective climate action planning, integrating mitigation and adaptation strategies. She discussed the steps to develop an action plan, using emissions inventory, emission reduction goals, implementation strategies, and monitoring and reporting.

She emphasised the critical role of environmental impact assessment in identifying potential environmental impacts and developing strategies to mitigate them.

According to Connected Advocacy, the training enhanced the understanding of council staff on climate change, emissions reduction, and Nigeria’s net-zero commitment, even as participants gained insights into developing tailored climate action plans and aligning policies with national and international climate commitments.

The training recommended that:

  • Ahoada East LGA should establish a climate change desk to coordinate climate-related activities and develop a climate action plan.
  • The LGA should demand environmental impact assessment reports from investors and companies operating in the area.
  • CAYED should provide technical support to the LGA in developing its climate action plan.

Prince Orekha in his closing remarks implored participants to embrace the opportunity and develop a plan or pathway for the LGA towards emission reduction, aligning with Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.

Concrete roads pave way for carbon credits, says Works minister

Michael Simire
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Concrete roads pave way for carbon credits, says Works minister

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, says building roads using concrete will lead to carbon credits and align with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts in tackling climate change effects.

Dave Umahi
Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, during the inspection tour

Umahi said this on Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Lagos while inspecting works on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and other road projects on the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Dangote Tax Credit Route, and Eleko, among other axes.

He said, “There is huge carbon credit on all these roads. We are going to put solar lights.

“All these roads we are building with concrete because there is low emission by reason of the traction of vehicles on these concrete roads. Asphalt gives a lot of heat and troubles our environment.

“It shows that Mr President is a champion of climate change effects mitigation, and I am happy with what Mr President is doing.

“The president is going to be working with us to see how we can claim a lot of carbon credits by reason of this innovation.”

The Umahi emphasised that the lights on the Third Mainland Bridge would be completely removed and replaced with solar-powered lights.

He said, “We will put CCTV and we will put solar lights and save energy.”

Umahi commended Hitech Construction Company Ltd. for carrying out the road construction well.

“I want any other company that can challenge Hitech in terms of quality, in terms of equipment, in terms of being amenable to our changes, to challenge it,” Umahi said.

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Ecosystem loss: Environmental experts call for attitudinal change

Michael Simire
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Ecosystem loss: Environmental experts call for attitudinal change

Environmental experts have called for attitudinal change and sustainable practices among Nigerians to curb ecosystem loss.

Balarabe Lawal
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment

The experts, who said this in separate interviews on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Lagos, also noted that all hands must be on deck to tackle human-induced environmental damage that affects the ecosystem.

Mr Taiwo Adewole, an environmental consultant, said that the human-induced environmental damage had far-reaching consequences for the ecosystem, biodiversity, and climate change.

Adewole emphasised that there was the need for sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

“We can clearly see the various human-induced environmental damage such as the climate change and ecosystem loss.

“Deforestation is one of the human-induced environmental damage.

“Another one is clearing forests for agriculture, urbanisation, and logging, leading to loss of biodiversity and increased greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

He added that another human induced damage was pollution, releasing harmful substances into the environment, such as plastics, chemicals, and industrial waste, which contaminate air, water, and soil.

“Land degradation is also a human activity that damages soil quality, reduces fertility, and alters ecosystems.

“Burning fossil fuels and other human activities that release large amounts of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and altered ecosystems.

“We must switch from linear to circular economy, from fossil fuel to renewable sources,” he said.

He added that the people also needed to be educated and sensitise on environmental issues.

“We need to integrate environmental education into school curricula and public awareness campaigns to promote sustainability and eco-friendly practices,” he said.

A climate change enthusiast, Mr Emmanuel Emechete, said that some implementations could help curb human induced environmental damage.

Emechete said that creating and enforcing environmental policies would help individuals and businesses to practice sustainability in their daily lives and businesses.

“Without a policy or law, many would take the cheapest or most available practice or method and get away with it.

“For example, illegal waste disposal, deforestation, bush burning, gas flaring among others,” he said, adding that encouraging and pushing for sustainable behavioural change and practices could also curb human-induced environmental damage.

Emechete added that the necessary infrastructure should be in place to avoid illegal disposal of waste.

“If the government establish policies saying no illegal disposal of waste, then they must provide for people to do it the proper way.

“The same thing is applicable to organisations, if organisation wants its employees to work sustainably, they must also encourage this with infrastructure and systems to make it’s possible.

“Individuals, government, families and communities must be aware of environmental issues.

“Everyone must be aware of the policies implemented to curb and mitigate environment issues.

“They must be taught on how to mitigate this event and about the policies, law or guidelines for sustainable environment practices,” he said.

He added that everyone needed to work together to curb these anthropogenic activities.

“Private and public sector, government, Families, religious bodies, among others can do more if we work together.

“With data driven research, we can find out the source of the problems and what to do to fix It.

“We can look at trends and proffer a solution based on projected predictions. We can know what has happened, why it has happened and predicted what will happen and what to do to change it.

“For example, the reason we know that the climate is changing is because we have models that help us make research of it happening to the earth’s temperature,” he said.

By Henry Oladele

Seasonal Climate Predictions: HEDA, NiMet tutor Nigerian farmers, extension workers

Michael Simire
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Seasonal Climate Predictions: HEDA, NiMet tutor Nigerian farmers, extension workers

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), in partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and supported by Oxfam through the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project, has launched an extensive workshop series to educate small-scale Nigerian farmers, extension workers, and staff of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP) across 10 states.

HEDA-NiMet SCP
Participants at one of the training workshops

The workshop series, which was held in Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Ekiti, and Osun states, provided essential training on climate predictions and crop weather calendars to over 500 participants.

Sulaimon Arigbabu, the Executive Secretary of HEDA, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to work with NiMet and our partner Oxfam under the AACJ project to deliver this critical training. We have engaged participants from all local governments across the ten states to ensure widespread dissemination of this valuable information.”

He added, “The primary objective of the workshop was to equip small-scale farmers, extension workers, and ADP staff with crucial information for the upcoming farming season. Participants benefited from training on utilising downscaled Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) and Crop Weather Calendars.”

Significantly, the growing seasons for each state are as follows: Nasarawa: April 30 to October 27 (203 days); Kwara: April 30 to October 25 (180 days); Oyo: April 10 to November 29 (231 days); Benue: April 24 to November 1 (189 days); and Osun: April 10 to November 30 (233 days).

The predicted growing season in Niger State is from May 9 to November 8 (184 days); Ogun State is March 31 to December 1 (249 days); for Plateau, it is from May 19 to November 9 (186 days); Adamawa State’s length of the growing season is from April 21 to November 1 (193 days); and for Ekiti State, it is between April 13 and November 27 (227 days).

Arigbabu stated, “By providing access to climate predictions and crop weather calendars, we hope to improve agricultural practices and enhance the well-being of farming communities across the country.”

The workshops, organised by HEDA and NiMet, are said to reflect a longstanding collaboration aimed at ensuring farmers have access to NiMet’s seasonal climate predictions and crop weather calendars.

“This initiative strengthens the agricultural sector and supports farming communities through improved climate prediction and planning resources,” added Arigbabu.

SRADev, SON sensitise stakeholders on essence of lead-free paint production

Michael Simire
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SRADev, SON sensitise stakeholders on essence of lead-free paint production

Following the outcomes of the Technical Committee meeting on issues relating to lead tolerance in paints, quality, and labelling requirements in line with the global standards, the Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria) in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has taken the initiative to disseminate information related to the requirements.

SRADev
Participants at the one-day Awareness Programme on Lead-free Paints, in Lagos

In his submission at the one-day Awareness Programme on Friday, June 14, 2024, in Lagos, Dr. Leslie Adogame, the Executive Director of SRADev Nigeria, noted that lead, ingredients or derivatives are not basically produced in Nigeria, but are imported. However, paint manufacturers have found them useful for aggregation and making paints.

He said: “Lead is dangerous to humans, especially children and we have continued to use it despite its adverse effect on our health. There has been a national campaign since 2009 globally for elimination of lead in paint.”

According to Dr. Adogame, “this event is a climax of a series of national activities, which we have been facilitating as civil society. What we have basically been doing is to help midwife a national process that will lead to a total elimination of lead in paint from Nigeria.

“What this event basically has done is a climax because we have supported the government to a point that National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has crafted regulations to regulate lead in the environment in paint. That regulation has been gazetted just precisely in January. We had to move to the next stage of getting support from our sponsors to say standards have been a bit obsolete, you know, since 2017 and it needs to be upgraded because the standard don’t even talk about how paints manufactured in Nigeria should be labelled. We mean mandatory kind of labelling so that any user of paint will know that okay, this paint I shouldn’t buy that.

“I can tell you authoritatively that the Technical Committee meeting that’s going on has adopted and agreed that all the marking instructions on all paints made in Nigeria now will carry no added lead, so it’s a big win in the sense that we can now say anybody going to the paint market from once this standard is finally approved by Council should go out to look for a paint that is marked no added lead, that means no intentionally added lead. It means that that paint is within 90 parts per million.

“So, we are using a tripartite approach, working with the Ministry of Environment, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and this event is just an awareness to harmonise all these different regulations and standards that are coming up so that Nigerian stakeholders understand the importance on how to be able to imbibe them.

“The focus entirely is the SMEs who are the major culprits, they are the ones who adulterate paints, they are the ones who use sub-standard additives and all that, so we brought them together to raise an awareness to say there is a regulation now, there is a standard now that says 90 parts per million; so very soon buyers of paint should look out for no added lead in paint before you buy.”

Yujin Han, Programme Manager, Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP), noted that the awareness raising workshop followed the Technical Committee’s review of the standard on lead paint, according to standard regulation the International accepted limit is 90 parts per million for lead paint production.

She said: “LEEP works with both the government to ensure that there’s regulation and that the regulation is being enforced and then we also work with manufacturers and our work with manufacturers helps connect them with lead free raw materials to ensure that they’re able to reformulate and what we do know is that it’s entirely possible to make lead free paint along same lines of the quality that customers expect.

“Just like we have done in countries such as Pakistan and Malawi, among others, our work in Nigeria has been going on since last year and we’ve been partnering the SRADev Nigeria who has been an incredible local NGO, and so the work that we’re doing currently has included gazetting, helps supporting Nigeria in gazetting the regulation and then also supporting the Technical Committee members to review the standard and so we see that lead paint regulation and standards are an effective way of getting lead paint off the market.”

Mrs. Theresa Ojomo, Head of Regional Operations, SON, emphasised that the basic requirement for paint production must not be more than 90 parts per million. According to her “labelling is also very important for all products”.

She said a six-month timeframe has already been given to paint manufacturers to exhaust the already imported materials into the country and, by January 2025, the Federal Government will not allow any lead paint in the country and by then the SON will have the constitutional rights to arrest, apprehend and prosecute any erring manufacturer that’s found wanting.

Mr. Adebolu Babatunde, Chairman, Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA), opined: “Of course, lead get into paints via two materials, these are the lead and the very bright pigment called crumbs and for lead I think there is a clear substitute for lead driers and that has been in use in the industry for more than 15 years. But for the pigments that produces bright colour we have to change from those containing crumbs that bring lead to the organic type but there are challenges which have been highlighted, it is left for paint manufacturers to move to the alternative and that is the awareness that have been passed on to the public via this programme today.”

As regards the January 2025 deadline given by SON on the enforcement, Mr. Babatunde, who also doubled as the Chairman, Technical Committee Chairman for Manufacturers, said: “When we get to the bridge we will cross it, we are in Nigeria, and we know there are a lot of considerations that have to be in place. First, we have to exhaust the materials already imported into the country after which we consider moving into the alternative options, though the alternative is here already but not in the volume the paint market is used to.”

Dignitaries at the event include Professor (Mrs.) Kehinde Olayinka, Chairman Technical Committee; Mr. Jude Maduka, Executive Director, Paint Manufacturers Association (PMA); and Dr. Gilbert Adie from University of Ibadan (joined remotely); along with representatives from Federal Ministry of Industry Trade, and Investment (FMITI), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), among other stakeholders.

By Ajibola Adedoye

SB60: Discussions failed to reflect urgency of climate crisis – Least Developed Countries

Michael Simire
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SB60: Discussions failed to reflect urgency of climate crisis – Least Developed Countries

Following two weeks of climate negotiations setting the course for COP29 in November 2024, the Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, Evans Njewa, has expressed concern over the fact that deliberations in certain circles failed to reflect the urgency of the crisis at hand.

Evans Njewa
Chair of the Least Developed Countries, Evans Njewa

“We are deeply concerned that the discussions in some areas did not reflect the urgency of the crisis we face. It is vital that climate action accelerates in this critical decade to keep 1.5°C in reach. But across many areas, discussions were stalled,” he said.

Njewa said the world hoped to make more progress towards the new goal on climate finance, adding that there is currently a huge gap between support needed for climate action and finance provided.

“The new goal must match the needs of our countries to mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts, and address loss and damage,” he stated.

Njewa added: Addressing loss and damage is a key pillar of the Paris Agreement; its costs cannot be left out of the new goal. The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund was a great breakthrough in dealing with this issue, but it needs to be capitalised to be useful. As we have made clear, the new goal must, at a minimum, include loss and damage response alongside mitigation and adaptation as respective sub-goals.

“The least developed countries have emitted the least, but we find ourselves on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Economic costs are overwhelming our governments, undermining hard-won development gains, and perpetuating cycles of poverty and vulnerability. These special circumstances of our countries must be recognised in the international community’s response to climate change.”

With world leaders meeting at the G7 summit on Friday in Italy, Mr Njewa said, “We need to be seeing more from the G7 because they have both the responsibility and the capability to do more. This forum is an opportunity to demonstrate accelerated action to reduce emissions, phase out fossil fuels and increase climate finance in line with their commitments.”

World Sea Turtle Day: Plight of sea turtles, the ancient mariners

Michael Simire
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World Sea Turtle Day: Plight of sea turtles, the ancient mariners

World Sea Turtle Day, celebrated annually on June 16, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of sea turtles and the urgent need for their conservation. This special day highlights the importance of protecting these ancient mariners, which play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Through education, community involvement, and conservation efforts, World Sea Turtle Day aims to inspire people around the globe to take action in preserving these magnificent creatures and their habitats, ensuring their survival for future generations.

Sea Turtle
Sea turtle

Imagine creatures that have graced our oceans for over 100 million years – that’s the incredible story of sea turtles! These gentle giants have witnessed the rise and fall of dinosaurs, swam alongside prehistoric sharks, and continue to navigate the vast blue expanse today. But their future hangs in the balance, making conservation efforts crucial for their survival.

A Family of Seven:

The sea turtle family isn’t a small one! There are seven recognised species, each with unique characteristics and habitats:

  • Leatherback: The undisputed giant, the leatherback turtle is the largest living sea turtle and the fourth-largest reptile on Earth! Their streamlined, black bodies can reach a staggering 7 feet in length and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Unlike other sea turtles, they have a leathery, flexible shell instead of a hard, bony one.
  • Green Turtle: Easily recognised by their greenish-black carapace (upper shell) and grazing habits, green turtles are found in tropical and subtropical waters. They’re the only herbivores among sea turtles, feasting on seagrasses and algae.
  • Loggerhead Turtle: Known for their large heads with powerful jaws, loggerheads are omnivores that enjoy a varied diet of shellfish, crabs, jellyfish, and even fish. Their reddish-brown shells often have distinctive yellow markings.
  • Hawksbill Turtle: These critically endangered beauties are named for their pointed beak, perfect for prying prey like sponges and sea squirts from coral reefs. Their stunning shells are prized for tortoiseshell products, making them a target for illegal hunting.
  • Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle: The smallest of the bunch, Kemp’s ridleys are named after Richard Kemp, who discovered a major nesting site in Mexico. Sadly, they are also the most critically endangered sea turtle species.
  • Olive Ridley Sea Turtle: Olive ridleys are known for their mass nesting events, where thousands of females gather on beaches to lay their eggs. Their olive-green coloured carapace and flippers make them easily identifiable.
  • Flatback Sea Turtle: Found primarily in the waters off Australia, flatback turtles have a streamlined, flattened shell that allows them to navigate shallow waters and reefs with ease. They are the least studied of all sea turtle species.

A Life on the Move

Sea turtles are incredible travellers. They spend most of their lives roaming vast distances in the ocean, navigating using Earth’s magnetic field and the position of the sun and stars. Females return to the same beaches where they hatched decades earlier to lay their eggs, a remarkable feat of memory and instinct.

After a long journey, female sea turtles haul themselves onto beaches at night to lay their eggs. They dig a hole in the sand with their powerful flippers and lay anywhere from 50 to 200 eggs before burying them and returning to the sea. The eggs incubate for several weeks under the warm sun. Hatchlings, tiny and vulnerable, erupt from the sand driven by a primal instinct to reach the water. Sadly, many fall prey to predators like crabs and birds on this perilous journey.

Threats and Conservation Efforts:

Sea turtles face a multitude of threats. Here’s a breakdown of the major threats faced by sea turtles:

Habitat Loss: Coastal development for homes, hotels, and resorts destroys nesting beaches, which are crucial for female turtles to lay their eggs. This loss of suitable nesting grounds directly impacts their ability to reproduce.

Bycatch: Sea turtles often get accidentally caught in fishing gear, like nets and longlines, set for other species. This bycatch can drown or injure the turtles, impacting their survival rates.

Pollution: Our oceans are becoming increasingly polluted with plastic debris, chemical runoff, and oil spills. Sea turtles can ingest plastic, mistaking it for food, leading to blockages and starvation. Pollution can also harm their health and disrupt their delicate ecosystems.

Climate Change: Rising sea levels due to climate change threaten nesting beaches by eroding them. Additionally, warming ocean temperatures can disrupt sex ratios in hatchlings, leading to an imbalance in future populations.

Egg Poaching: In some areas, sea turtle eggs are considered a delicacy and are illegally harvested from nests. This directly reduces the number of hatchlings that reach adulthood.

Predation: While natural predators like crabs and birds take their toll on hatchlings, human activities can exacerbate this issue. Artificial lights on beaches disorient hatchlings, making them easier prey, and invasive species introduced by humans can also become predators.

However, there is hope! Conservation efforts are underway to protect these magnificent creatures. Here are some key initiatives:

  • Protecting Nesting Beaches: Organisations and volunteers work tirelessly to protect nesting beaches, limiting human disturbance and creating safe havens for nesting females and their eggs.
  • Reducing Bycatch: Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) are being used on fishing gear, allowing turtles to escape unharmed.
  • Raising Awareness: Educational programmes and outreach efforts are helping people understand the plight of sea turtles and how they can help.

Rehabilitation and Release: Injured or sick sea turtles are being cared for in rehabilitation centres before being released back into the wild.

Sea turtles are remarkable creatures with a rich history and vital ecological roles. Despite facing numerous threats, ongoing conservation efforts offer hope for their future. By protecting sea turtles and their habitats, we not only safeguard these ancient mariners but also the health of our oceans.

As individuals, we can contribute to their conservation by reducing plastic use, supporting sustainable fishing practices, and spreading awareness about the importance of sea turtles. Together, we can ensure that these magnificent animals continue to thrive for generations to come.

By Assaf Levy, BioDB

COP16: Recognising land rights, key to conserving biodiversity in Latin America – Afro-descendants

Michael Simire
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COP16: Recognising land rights, key to conserving biodiversity in Latin America – Afro-descendants

Ahead of the COP16 UN Biodiversity Conference, 25+ Afro-descendant organisations have announced recommendations to prioritise land rights of communities contributing to conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Afro-descendants
Colombia and the U.S held the first Binational Summit of Afro-descendant Leaders, under the theme “Connecting the African Diaspora”. Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A declaration released at a press briefing highlights significant overlap between lands claimed by Afro-descendant Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean and biodiversity hotspots; call for the inclusion of the term Afro-descendants in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

At the briefing held on Friday, June 14, the Coalition of Territorial and Environmental Rights for Afro-descendant Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbeans, in alliance with Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), Proceso De Comunidades Negras (PCN), Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas (CONAQ), and various Afro-descendant organisations released a series of evidence-based recommendations that will call on organisers of the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference to include full respect for the rights and contributions of Afro-descendant communities at the global event that will open on October 21 in Cali, Colombia.

The demands are as follows:

  • We demand the inclusion of the term Afrodescendants in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), among other international instruments, mechanisms, bodies and protocols.
  • We request the inclusion of the full and objective participation of Afro-descendant Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean in the institutional arrangement for the new program of work of the 8J group and related provisions, incorporating an element number 9 related to Afro-descendant peoples’ issues.
  • We demand to constitute ourselves as CAUCUS of Afrodescendant Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
  • We demand compliance with the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), which proposes concrete measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance throughout the world.
  • We urge states, donors and/or cooperating partners to develop flexible mechanisms for direct funding to Afro-descendant Peoples in their territories within existing funds.
  • We demand the right to historical reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement that occurred in the Americas, expressed as a set of special measures of environmental and ethno-racial justice.
  • We demand to generate processes of economic sustainability for women of Afro-descendant peoples, their families and communities, with direct funding for access to land, empowerment, security and the reduction/elimination of multiple forms of violence.
  • We demand that our Afro-descendant children, adolescents and youth enjoy ancestral/traditional territories free of violence and all types of contamination; that they have access to quality and relevant education, recreation, health, and sports, guaranteeing the transmission of ancestral knowledge, uses and customs.
  • We urge states and organisations to build efficient mechanisms for the implementation of the collective and individual rights of Afro-descendant peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • We demand special mechanisms for the protection, management of Afro-descendant ancestral/traditional territories, conservation, adaptation and mitigation to climate change, disaster risk, biodiversity conservation, protection of ancestral knowledge and preservation of water sources; based on our worldview.
  • We demand the recognition of Afro-descendant ancestral/traditional territories, titled or not, as efficient mechanisms for biodiversity conservation, adaptation and mitigation to climate change, therefore, it is necessary to guarantee access, use, enjoyment, titling, sanitation and expansion of these territories.
  • We demand that governments guarantee special mechanisms for the protection and access to individual and collective justice for Afro-descendant territorial and environmental defenders and leaders as integral elements of their action plans to ensure biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • We demand that the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) focus on local governments that support and promote the strengthening and implementation of national, university and public health systems, ensuring health policies for the equity of people of African descent in access to health services and the preservation of knowledge and practices of ancestral and traditional medicine of the peoples of African descent, from a perspective of health sovereignty and decolonisation of health.
  • We demand that the States carry out national evaluations on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent of the United Nations, especially in relation to territories, biodiversity and climate change.
  • We demand that these recommendations be accepted and included in the draft declarations on the rights of Afro-descendant Peoples, communities and persons of African descent that are being discussed in the United Nations and Inter-American systems, promoting participation in these processes and the right to prior consultation in accordance with ILO Convention 169.

“In none of the international instruments of the COP16 UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 or the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference are the Afro-descendant People included. Neither the term local communities nor Indigenous Peoples identifies or includes us, that is why we have set ourselves the task with the Ministry of Environment of Colombia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the category of Afro-descendant Peoples is inserted in the COP16. We ask Brazil to accompany Colombia in this petition, which is an enormous tool to establish a plan to safeguard and protect the territories, rights and knowledge of the Afrodescendant Peoples,” says Francia Marquez, Colombian vice-president.

“There should be greater involvement of Afro-descendants Peoples in the climate change discussions. The lack of systematic and comprehensive data on ancestral lands [of Afro-descendant Peoples] renders invisible their important contributions to biodiversity protection and their efforts to address the impacts of climate change. These recommendations are a fundamental step in Afro-descendant Peoples being central in climate change talks,” says José Luis Rengifo, PCN director and spokesperson of the Coalition of Territorial and Environmental Rights for Afro-descendant Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbeans.

“There are more than 1,271 protected areas within or adjacent to the territories of Afro-descendant Peoples, 77% of which have reduced natural transformation, which demonstrates the enormous contribution of these communities in protecting areas of high ecosystem value. Brazil is a significant country, as 67% of these areas are located in certified municipalities with the presence of Quilombola Peoples without collective title,” says Omaira Bolaños, Latin American Program Director at RRI.

“We know that the law is only an instrument, land titling is only a step, which does not cover all the vulnerabilities of the communities. Land regulation must include a policy framework that focuses on reducing these vulnerabilities,” says Ronaldo dos Santos of Brazil’s Ministry of Racial Equality.

“It is critical that in these spaces the category of “local communities” is used to include the Afro-descendant Peoples that have a territoriality and different forms of organisation,” says José Absalón Suarez of PCN.

“Apologies followed by a full stop is not enough. We need apologies followed by a comma and see what comes next, what are the measures that are going to be taken,” says Barbara Reynolds, from the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

G7 Leaders set renewable energy target but fail to deliver on climate – Campaigners

Michael Simire
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G7 Leaders set renewable energy target but fail to deliver on climate – Campaigners

The G7 Leaders in their communique issued on Friday, June 14, 2024, reiterated previous commitments on the energy transition decisions of COP28, but revealed no further progress to deliver climate finance.

G7 Leaders
G7 Leaders

The G7 leaders committed to be “leading contributors”, but without concrete pledges to back up this claim.

Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director of Global Policy and Campaigns, said: “It’s extremely disappointing that G7 leaders have failed to advance the kind of climate agenda we need by providing additional climate finance and an ambitious new finance goal ahead of the upcoming COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan in November. They have once again demonstrated they don’t care enough to go beyond lip service on climate finance. Only speaking of being ‘leading contributors’ is not enough.

“The G7 leaders had the responsibility to put something meaningful on the table but failed. It is imperative that leaders in the Global North take responsibility for the climate crisis through granting significant finance to the Global South for renewables development, adaptation, and loss and damage. Unlocking finance is essential, time is ticking, and the world is watching.

Leaders reaffirmed a commitment to the COP28 renewable energy target, and a new clean energy initiative with African states. However current government climate goals reveal a 3000-gigawatt renewable ambition gap by 2030, which is insufficient to replace fossil fuels at the scale and speed necessary to keep staying at 1.5 degrees within reach.

“The G7s 2035 coal phase out commitment is an insufficient step in the right direction. It is inadequate when it comes to meeting the historic responsibility of the wealthiest nations and biggest historical emitters and falls short of what science commands,” added Sieber.

2024 has been dubbed the “year of climate finance” to build on progress made in Dubai at COP28. Campaign organisations such as 350.org are hoping that world leaders’ summits such as G7 as leaders of the wealthiest nations and biggest historic emitters would lead the way by putting climate finance firmly on the table.

Kate Blagojevic, 350.org, Germany, said: “This very difficult week for the German Chancellor ends in the supposed ‘engines’ of the world stalling on delivering meaningful climate action at this meeting. Scholz failed to make the kind of commitments in renewable energy or energy efficiency that are needed to limit global heating and bring down energy bills in Germany. Importantly, the leaders failed to put the kind of money on the table that could both provide finance to repair climate damage and deliver affordable, renewable energy to people in the Global South. Finance could be found if the leaders agree to a global wealth tax on the ultra-wealthy. This is the kind of dynamic climate leadership needed to deliver hope and change rather than more hot air from global meetings.”

Fanny Petitbon, 350.org France: “G7 leaders proved once more how disconnected they are from the reality of the climate emergency. President Macron, who last year hosted in Paris the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact to create a “public finance shock” for development and climate action, and a few months later made severe cuts to Overseas Development Assistance, yet again didn’t live up to his promises.

“At Apulia, he failed to pledge any new and additional money to support the most vulnerable countries in boosting their energy transition, through real solutions and not dangerous distractions, and in facing climate impacts. This is a huge, missed opportunity given the uncertainty around the French political landscape in three weeks from now, and its potential devastating consequences on climate ambition domestically and globally.”

Tommy Vickerstaff, 350.org UK: “Sunak’s position on climate has been consistently, dangerously weak. As the G7 countries collectively flounder, the UK’s failure to act and spend at the scale needed to tackle the climate crisis is clearer than ever. The UK needs to give a firm, honest commitment to finance a rapid transition to renewables domestically and globally. Instead of the general public, it is the ultra-rich – billionaires and fossil fuel companies – who should be footing that bill, and whoever leads the next government has to make that happen.”

Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan: “One year after Japan showed a total lack of climate leadership at the G7 Hiroshima summit, PM Kishida failed to repair his reputation this year again. In the summit, Kishida mentioned the seriousness of climate disasters in Africa and the needs of climate finance. At the same time Kishida promised to support a fossil gas project in Mozambique.

“Japan’s international public finance is notorious for still supporting fossil projects overseas and for its predatory lending practices, such as burden of loans and conditions to contract with Japanese industries. It’s time for Japan to redirect its full financial support to fair, safe, and affordable renewable energy and energy conservation. Domestically, Kishida must change the fossil-addicted and nuclear-dependent policies in the reviewing process of the Basic Energy Plan to achieve the coal phaseout commitment.”

Candice Fortin, 350.org US: “Yet another meeting ends without real commitments to revert the situation rich countries like the US put us in. As COP29 approaches and the world deals with worsening climate impacts, we can’t afford to waste more time. If the US wants to pride itself on being a ‘world leader’, it needs to show how it will pay its climate debt to climate vulnerable countries that bear the most significant climate impacts without the necessary funds for adaptation.

“When we talk about financing renewable energy, we are talking about more than just arbitrary numbers in the billions and trillions. We’re talking about the bridge that will take us from a world facing climate chaos coupled with extreme inequality, to one in which communities around the world have access to renewable, affordable energy.”

Atiya Jaffar, 350.org Canada: “It’s frustrating to see this crucial G7 meeting end with no new commitments to help poorer countries make the shift to renewable energy. Canada is the only G7 member whose emissions have risen since 1990, largely due to ever-expanding tar sands production, and the Trudeau government must take real climate leadership now. We’ll keep building pressure on Trudeau to end Canada’s reliance on fossil fuels and tax big oil’s excess profits to fund a fair transition to renewable energy at home and around the world.”

By Michael Simire

Cholera outbreak: Biosafety agency urges Nigerians to exercise caution

Michael Simire
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Cholera outbreak: Biosafety agency urges Nigerians to exercise caution

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is calling on the public to exercise caution over the recent cholera outbreak in some states across Nigeria.

Dr Agnes Asagbra
Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General, NBMA

In a statement made available to EnviroNews on Friday, June 14, 2024, the Director General of NBMA, Dr Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, said Nigerians must exercise caution as the nation records 30 deaths, and 1,141 suspected cases from the disease.

“As we approach the festive period of the Salah celebrations, it is of utmost importance that we collectively prioritize the health and safety of our communities,” she said.

Cholera, a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or water, has been reported in Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa, and Lagos states.

Dr Asagbra said NBMA, in collaboration with health authorities, is actively monitoring the situation and implementing measures to contain the spread of the disease.

She also called on Nigerians to imbibe various hygiene practices such as “boiling drinking water or using certified water purification methods, washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating or preparing food, and after using the toilet, cooking food thoroughly and consuming it while hot, avoiding raw foods such as fruits and vegetables unless they can be peeled or washed with safe water and keeping the environment clean while disposing of waste properly to prevent contamination.”

“NBMA urges all Nigerians to be vigilant and adhere to these hygiene practices to protect themselves and their loved ones from cholera. We also encourage community leaders and health workers to disseminate this information and assist in educating the public about preventive measures.”

She called on Nigerians to be alert and report any case of cholera to the nearest hospital. “If you or anyone you know exhibits symptoms of cholera, which include severe diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting, seek urgent medical attention at the nearest hospital. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.”

NBMA boss said the organisation is committed to safeguarding the health of the Nigerian people, adding: “Together, we can overcome this challenge and ensure a safe and healthy celebration for all.”

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