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BATN Foundation donates 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole to Enugu community

Access to clean water is a fundamental basic human need, yet many remote communities continue to struggle with securing this vital resource.

BATN Foundation
The 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole donated by BATN Foundation

Based on the foregoing, the BATN Foundation built and commissioned a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole infrastructure to provide clean potable water in Ndeabor, Aninri LGA, Enugu State.

At the flag-off event, Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BATN Foundation, announced that they stood at the brink of commissioning the life-changing borehole facility.

He emphasised the critical role that access to clean water plays in the overall well-being of a community, noting that it is not merely about quenching thirst but also about empowering individuals, promoting health, and fostering economic growth.

The facility is equipped with four solar panels, a robust 2.2Hp water pump, and two 10,000-litre storage tanks, demonstrating the Foundation’s dedication to environmental sustainability and community well-being.

The General Manager opined: “BATN Foundation is harnessing the power of the sun which ensures a consistent supply of clean water, promoting improved health, economic growth, community empowerment and sustainable development.

“This landmark initiative provides a reliable source of clean water, marking a significant milestone in the community’s journey towards sustainable development. “This project stands as a testament to our dedication to sustainable initiatives that positively impact the lives of rural communities.

“The project reflects the power of collaboration between the Foundation, government bodies, and the community” however extended heartfelt gratitude to the Enugu State’s Commissioner of Water Resources and the Permanent Secretary for their unwavering support. The roles played by community leaders and residents were also celebrated, highlighting the patience and cooperation that were vital to the project’s success.”

He also appreciated Eco-lead Imperial Engineering and Global Resources Limited, the implementing partners, “whose tireless efforts ensured the project was completed to the highest standards. Their dedication and expertise were instrumental in bringing this vision to life,” he said.

“This solar-powered borehole project is a testament to the Foundation’s mission to create sustainable and impactful solutions that address the needs of rural communities,” he added.

The BATN Foundation, while reaffirming its commitment to the socio-economic and agricultural development of smallholder farmers and women in Enugu State, also announced upcoming water project in Gwadabawa, Sokoto State.

By Ajibola Adedoye

Air travel disrupted in Europe as climate campaigners block runways

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Airports across Europe faced disruption on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, as civil resistance groups blocked runways and departure gates in what looked like a coordinated stunt.

Climate campaigners
Climate campaigners

Activists stopped air traffic at airports in Cologne and Oslo, blocked security gates in Helsinki, and blocked main roads outside airports in Zurich and Geneva. Meanwhile activists were intercepted at Heathrow in the UK and Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain.

Flights resumed after long delays and cancellations that began when campaigners cut through a fence at Germany’s Cologne-Bonn Airport at 5am and glued themselves to the runway.

A runway was breached in Norway and security gates were blocked in Finland as the campaigners declared an ‘international uprising’ to end the use of fossil fuels.

Activists at London Heathrow and Barcelona’s El Prat Airport were intercepted by police before they could disrupt air traffic.

Climate campaigners
Runway was breached during the campaign

The protests took place under the slogan “Oil Kills”, in a rebranded alliance between groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Britain’s Just Stop Oil and Germany’s Last Generation.

Organisers warned Wednesday’s action was “just the start” as they seek an end to coal, oil and gas extraction by 2030 under a legally binding climate change treaty.

They said campaigners had received “training in non-violence” and would take “all possible steps” not to threaten airport safety.

The protest began at 5am when intruders with bicycles and skateboards cut through chain-link fence at Cologne-Bonn and stuck themselves to a runway.

“Airports such as this are a place of injustice. We are here demanding that governments sign a fossil fuel treaty,” said Malte Nierobisch, 21, one of five protesters at Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany.

The German airport said flights had resumed but disruptions and cancellations “are to be expected during the course of the day” after a hole was cut in a perimeter fence.

Climate campaigners
The climate action led to the cancellation of flights

Three people breached another fence in Oslo shortly before 6am and sat down next to the runway. Nine people blocked the security area at Helsinki, holding up a banner reading “fossil fuels are killing us”.

Roads were blocked on the way to Zurich and Geneva’s airports in Switzerland, disrupting passengers as they entered the departures and arrivals terminals. Five people were arrested.

Rita Straub, a 74-year-old activist in Switzerland, said she was “ashamed of the state of the world I am leaving to my great nieces and nephews”.

In Barcelona, five people were intercepted by police while taking action at El Prat Airport, with fines handed out on the spot, campaigners said.

London’s Metropolitan Police said Heathrow’s operations were running as normal after nine people were arrested. “These arrests have prevented significant disruption to the airport and the travelling public,” it said.

More airport protests are expected this weekend, Dutch activists said. Oil Kills campaigners said airports were targeted as a “key pillar of the global fossil fuel economy”.

“By taking non-violent direct action at airports, we are disrupting business as usual on an international scale that can’t be ignored,” said the group, which calls itself an “international uprising to end oil by 2030″.

The protests come days after Germany’s government proposed two-year prison sentences for people convicted of disrupting air traffic.

A sentence of up to five years would be possible in cases where intruders force their way into an airport with banned objects such as a knife or toxic substance.

Activists have previously shut down Berlin’s main airport, and the Last Generation is planning a new “wave of protests” this autumn.

Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, had accused people gluing themselves to runways of putting others at risk and causing delays to tens of thousands of travellers.

In Britain, a group of Just Stop Oil protesters were sentenced to four to five years in prison last week after conspiring to block traffic on London’s ring road motorway.

A judge said the “exemplary sentences” were a necessary deterrent because activists appeared to believe that the criminal law “really doesn’t matter”.

“The plain fact is that each of you has some time ago crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic,” the judge said.

While not involved in the organisation, nor responsible for any of the actions that took place at the airports on Wednesday, the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative says it stands in solidarity with citizen’s rights to carry out peaceful demonstrations of protest.

“It is critical that governments listen to these demands and act swiftly to end fossil fuel expansion and support a global transition away from coal, oil and gas.

“These activists are far from the first to call for governments to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a proposal spearheaded by 13 nation-states on four continents, and endorsed by over 3,500 organisations and institutions including the World Health Organisation, the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.

“Previous treaty proposals to ban nuclear weapons or phase out landmines have become a reality after a diverse global movement advocate for governments to take action, and we hope to see people from all walks of life join the call for countries to complement the Paris Agreement by negotiating an international treaty to phase out oil, gas and coal production in a fast and equitable manner,” submitted the group.

Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, stated: “History will see the people who have been taking part in these protests as heroes not criminals. If our governments were taking the necessary action to stop expansion of oil, gas and coal and manage a fair phase out of fossil fuels to keep citizens safe, people wouldn’t need to do these protests. Instead of jailing citizens who are fighting for a liveable future, governments should be prosecuting oil companies and committing to work towards a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Alexandre Naulot, Head of Europe Advocacy and Campaigns for Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, said: “Self-declared climate leaders like Canada, the United-States and Norway have no plans to phase out their fossil fuel extraction, and in the UK, it is only the brand-new government that has just committed to ending new oil and gas licences. In fact, many wealthy countries are more likely to expand their oil and gas production than wind it down. In the context of this failure of political leadership, citizens are increasingly frustrated and will continue to push their governments to do more.

“Meanwhile on the other side of the world, thirteen nation-states from the Global South are already seeking to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. These brave, peaceful actions demonstrate that the growing global demand for climate justice is only going to escalate. We urge all governments to listen to their citizens and join the global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Civil resistance groups involved with the international uprising include activists Letzte Generation in Germany, Folk Mot FossilMakta in Norway, Extinction Rebellion Finland, Futuro Vegetal in Spain, Just Stop Oil in the UK, Drop Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Act Now-Liberate in Switzerland, Last Generation Canada, Extinction Rebellion Netherlands, Extinction Rebellion Boston and Scientists Rebellion in the United States.

CORBON blames building collapses on preventable human errors

The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) has identified the lack of systemic enforcement and standard regulations as the root cause of the country’s frequent building collapses.

Samson Opaluwah
Dr. Samson Opaluwah

According to the group, this has led to the use of unqualified staff, inferior materials, disdain for proper construction standards, non-compliance with planning approvals, and failure to follow professional best practices.

In the first half of the year, there have been over a dozen documented incidents, three of which have happened in the last week alone. These building collapses were reported: on July 14, 2024, a one-story structure collapsed in Osogbo, Osun State; on July 13, 2024, a two-story residential apartment collapsed in Kubwa, Abuja; and on July 12, 2024, Saints Academy collapsed in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State.

Others include the three-story building at Plot 32, Udensi Housing Estate, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, which collapsed on June 18, 2024; the five-story Dennis Memorial Grammar School building in Onitsha, Anambra State, which collapsed on June 12, 2024; and the three-story building collapse in Obingwa, Ukwa West, Abia State, which occurred on June 8, 2024. The Unity House Building in Garki, Abuja, was another.

Dr. Samson Opaluwah, the chairman of CORBON, expressed his organisation’s displeasure over the recent spate of activities in the construction industry that continue to endanger investment security, injure citizens in a variety of ways, and claim several innocent lives.

Opaluwah, who criticised the conduct in a press circular dated Wednesday, July 17, 2024, stated that the frequent incidents of building collapses serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for tighter enforcement and the enactment of relevant legislation to regulate the construction sector.

He went on to explain that the Council’s position on the state of affairs is based on its research, study of numerous reports, and review of available records of cases of building collapse across the country from 1970 to date. It was observed that this problem has continued to encourage quackery among active participants in the building construction process, as well as the proliferation of substandard building materials in the sector.

“The Council is deeply saddened by the series of building- collapses that have occurred in Nigeria, especially considering the fact that most of them are from preventable, man-made errors,” he said.

To avoid the future recurrence of these tragedies, he advocated for non-destructive testing to be performed on buildings where there is no proof that standards were followed during construction or where unauthorised alterations have been made.

CORBON, the builder hinted, is looking forward to working closely with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to develop imaginative ways of dealing with substandard building materials in the market. It is also committed to working with governments at all levels, regulatory agencies, professional bodies, and the public to prevent future building collapses.

This, he elaborated, validates their belief that by taking proactive measures and ensuring adherence to the national and state building regulations, such tragedies can be avoided.

“CORBON calls for immediate action and the enforcement of past recommendations on building collapses,” Opaluwah said, “to ensure the safety of Nigerians and the diligent prosecution of people who have been found culpable by various investigative bodies to serve as deterrents to potential offenders and maintain the integrity of our built environment.”

Building collapse: When shelters become death traps

Shelter is one of the basic necessities of man. Shelter was meant to provide protection for man against stronger primates in the jungle, and a cover against elements. The cave served that purpose.

Ebute-Metta
Scene of a collapsed build at Ebute-Metta in Lagos

It has evolved to serve man in various areas. Today, it serves as a place of worship, work, education, recreation, sports, entertainment and business, among others.

The more the need for shelter the more it is designed to fit those needs. The desire to minimise land use, celebrate aesthetics and elegance led to building taller structures.

Today, high rise buildings dot the landscape all over the world. In Nigeria and in many developing countries, what is meant to solve man’s special need has become a source of nightmare to many families.

Many families have lost their loved ones in building collapse in various parts of the country.

Those who survive it are left with physical and or mental scare. Businesses are ruined and several billions of naira lost in these unfortunate incidents.

A report by The Brookings Institution showed that, between 1974 and 2019, more than 211 buildings collapsed in various parts of the country, with more than half of the incident occurring in Lagos State.

According to the Think Tank, between 2000 and 2021, Lagos State recorded 167 incidents with 78.4 per cent being residential buildings and 12.8 per cent commercial building while the remaining 8.8 per cent were institutional buildings.

The incidents displaced no fewer than 6,000 households with an estimated loss of $3.2 trillion worth of property.

The recent gale of building collapse calls for urgent attention from stakeholders to address the challenge.

On July 13, four persons were rescued from the rubble of a collapsed two-storey building in Kubwa area of Abuja, according to Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, Acting Director FCT Federal Emergency Management Department.

Earlier, on July 10, seven persons were pulled out of the rubbles of a collapsed another two-storey building at Mushin area of Lagos State on Wednesday.

Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), was quoted by the media as saying that those rescued consisted of three females and four males.

In Kano State, on April 26 three persons died following the collapse of a three-storey building in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government Area of the state, according to Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, Kano Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency.

On June 17, 2011, three persons died as a building under construction at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, caved in. Five construction workers were rescued and taken to the intensive care unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.

Yet on July 13, the city of Jos, Plateau was thrown into mourning following the collapse of Saint Academy, Jos school building. No fewer than 22 persons, mostly students died, and 154 others injured, according to official account.

The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) says the country has recorded 41 building collapse in the last 17 months.

Observers wonder why what is supposed to be a place of safety should be become a death trap. Questions are raised as to how it should be reduced to the barest minimum.

Mr Paul Erubami, the Chief Executive Officer, Max-Migold, a physical property management firms, says effective facility management sector can stem the tide of building collapse in Nigeria.

“It starts with knowledge; it starts with skills, and these are how to put the right processes in place,” Erubami said.

Prof. Samson Duna, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), attributed building collapse to use of substandard materials, among others.

According to Duna, 80 per cent of building collapse happens during rainy season due to some natural causes and because the materials were substandard it gives in.

He, therefore, recommended training and retraining of engineers and professionals in the construction sector should attend refresher course to refresh their knowledge.

He said the government and professional bodies should sensitise the general public on the steps to follow when embarking on building projects.

“All professional bodies should strengthen its arm of monitoring, to ensure they function effectively during project supervision.

“The professionals must be involved in monitoring and evaluation of building projects and funds for the supervision should be incorporated in the cost of the project,” Duna said.

The Nigerian Association of Technologists Engineering (NATE) blames the challenge on the failure to keep to the ethics and codes of building, cutting corners in terms of the required materials are the main causes of building collapse.

Mr Dominic Udoatan, the national president of the association, however, expressed hope in the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) determination to work on the issue through closed monitoring.

He said it was important that only professionals were saddled with the responsibility of erecting buildings.

The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) also points accusing fingers at COREN.

President of the institution, Dr Kehinde Osifala, said that non-regulation of the practice by COREN was at the root of incessant collapse of buildings and structures in Nigeria with many quacks operating freely.

He pledged the institution’s readiness to partner with COREN to flush out quacks from the building industry and save the nation from the agony of building collapse.

Then Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mahmuda Mamman, gave COREN a marching order.

“I urge you to strategise and hatch out a plan to stop this menace of building collapse. There should be no more cases of building collapse and this lousy situation be brought to a stop,” he said.

He also directed the conduct of thorough checks, registrations, and mandatory monitoring of construction activities to ensure Nigerians live in well-built, solid buildings without any fear of building collapse, no matter the weather.

Mr Sadiq Abubakar, industry regulator, COREN, said for instance, there were complexities involved in prosecuting cases of building collapse and called for the involvement of trained investigators and regulatory reforms.

“Once you go to a tribunal, you need diligent steps to gather evidence. Building collapse has different causes, and without proper sampling and investigation, it becomes challenging to prosecute,” he said.

The COREN president said another challenge to effective supervision was economic. He said the issue of substandard materials and construction practices could be caused by economic pressures such as the rising cost of cement.

“There is a direct correlation between the price of cement and building collapses. When costs rise, clients often cut corners, leading to compromised building integrity,” he told newsmen.

Abubakar suggests the training and certification of professional investigators in the construction sector to enhance prosecution of suspects in building collapse.

He also canvassed decentralising investigation panels and tribunals to ensure timely and effective responses to building collapses.

“We must train investigators who are qualified, competent, and can even go to other countries to investigate. This we don’t have now, but we’re working towards that,” he said.

“We have identified gaps in the regulatory and legal framework and are packaging amendments to address these issues.

“There is the need for collaborative efforts among all actors in the building environment, including architects, builders, and surveyors. We must work as a team to ensure compliance and accountability,” he said.

By Uche Anunne, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Multilevel Climate Action: Importance of subnational climate policies, action plans

Nigeria is ranked among the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts according to multiple reports and indices. With an estimated population of 230 million people inhabiting 923,769 square kilometres, it is impossible to address Nigeria’s climate change challenges from a single central government. This presents an opportunity for multilevel approaches whilst aggregated subnational climate change action becomes imperative.

Balarabe Lawal
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment

Indeed, the visible gaps between federal-level climate action and subnational climate action hugely impacts on Nigeria’s efforts at addressing climate change. While there are several policies at the federal level, the impacts of these policies are not been felt across the country due to the disconnect between the national actions and the subnational. This failure at holistic action is a nagging problem which underscores the importance of subnational action in complementing the national actions.

As a federating State, Nigeria’s governance system is structured such that efforts from the subnational must combine and feed into federal efforts, for a holistic goal towards achieving national targets. It follows then that with climate change being mostly felt at the subnational, genuine efforts at addressing climate impacts must include strategic and well-intentioned subnational actions to effectively achieve national and international goals.

By leveraging on State-level polices and action plans, Nigeria’s subnational can effectively address climate change from the community-level up, and this cannot be overemphasised. As it stands, none of Nigeria’s national climate change goals can be attained without corresponding efforts and actions by the States and Local Governments.

It is therefore imperative that urgent attention must be shifted to subnational climate change governance especially the important roles of climate change policies and action plans at the subnational levels towards the attainment of the short- and long-term climate change goals and sustainable development aspirations of the country at large. Therefore, these visible gaps created by lack of effective climate action is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.

In essence, with differing impacts of climate change in the constituent 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) which make up Nigeria’s subnational; States and LGAs are better positioned to identify necessary actions, which they must undertake to address climate change within their respective geographical locations. These actions which should be adaptive in nature can then be complemented by mitigation actions which will further feed into national greenhouse gases emissions reduction plans in order to forestall future climate change impacts. One effective way of achieving this is through the development and implementation of climate change policies and action plans.

In a bold move to galvanise climate awareness and encourage greater climate action at the subnational, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, undertook the first-ever rating and ranking of the climate governance performance of the 36 States of Nigeria. The ranking of climate governance performance of Nigerian states was based on five themes: i) Climate change institutional arrangements and administrative structure, ii) Climate policy and action plan, iii) Climate budget and finance, iv) Climate change project Implementation and monitoring and v) Online visibility with reference to climate action.

The report identifies key climate change governance criteria, reveals a gap in subnational climate change policies and action plans amongst Nigeria States, and ultimately provides key elements for an effective climate change governance system for Nigeria’s subnational. This effort is critical to boosting climate action in the country, meeting the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, address salient developmental issues, and ultimately drive towards Nigeria’s 2060 net zero ambitions which is hinged on green growth.

On Thursday, July 25, 2024, key stakeholders on climate change in Nigeria, ranging from State Governors, Ministers, Heads of Climate Change Councils and Departments, Environment and Climate Change Commissioners, members of the academia, civil society, community and youth groups, women and persons living with disabilities, the media, will converge on the Abuja Continental Hotel to share ideas, recognise top performers  review and evaluate, for the first time, the nature of climate change governance in Nigeria’s subnational during the High-Level event. This event, once launched, becomes an annual evaluation metrics aimed at bolstering subnational actions for the good of the country.

By Nnaemeka Oruh, Senior Policy Analyst, Society for Planet and Prosperity, @_Oruhnc

Bayelsa ambassadorship scheme builds youth capacity in climate change, advocacy skills

Connected Advocacy, with support from LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Future Funds, commenced the Bayelsa Climate Ambassadors programme with a one-day capacity development workshop on youth community consultation, climate change education and local leadership for resilience in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

Bayelsa Climate Ambassadors programme
Participants at the Bayelsa Climate Ambassadors programme

Themed “The Solution is Indigenous, building local youth capacity to tackle climate crisis in our communities”, the workshop focused on youth community organisation, the imperative for climate change education, strategic advocacy and team building for results.

The event aimed to empower the shortlisted Ambassadors with the knowledge and skills necessary to address climate change and promote sustainable practices within their communities.

In his opening remarks, Mr Jeremiah Daganawho, Director of Climate Change, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, charged the Ambassadors to be worthy representative of their communities. He encouraged them to go back with the knowledge they will gain here to empower their communities that climate change concern affects all and no one should be left behind. Messages highlighted the critical role of local leadership and youth involvement in climate action, reinforcing the importance of the day’s discussions.

Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy and convener of the event, attempted an overview of the session, explaining the objectives and the importance of grassroots engagement in climate action.

The moderator, Mr Henry Adike Coker Joseph, field officer in SACA and Communication and Brand Officer of the project, introduced the Monitor and Evaluator of the Bayelsa Climate Ambassador who is the Executive Director of SACA, setting the stage for an informative and engaging session with responses from the ambassadors. He later took them through the various monitoring and evaluation sessions.

Dr. Ayodele Oyedeji from institute of Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Watershed, Niger Delta University, spoke on the concept and science of climate change and global warning. He provided a foundation for participants, emphasising the importance of understanding climate science to develop effective local solutions.

This was followed by a pre-test to gauge participants’ initial knowledge of climate-related issues, which helped tailor the subsequent sessions.

Wakedai Davidson Ere of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment who was represented by Mr Charles Iriakuma Ayebaesin, scientific officer, Department of Climate Change, gave an extensive discussion around climate change and how it affects local communities, sharing light on vulnerability, methodology to ensure environmental sustainability with local solutions. He also highlighted relevant works within the Niger Delta region and why everyone needs to be onboard.

Anayio Augustine Ngode, another facilitator, focused on community organisation using the smart advocacy model, covering the essentials of advocacy: what it entails, where it should be applied, and how to execute it effectively. This session equipped ambassadors with crucial advocacy skills, enabling them to promote climate action in their communities.

The ambassadors were divided into six thematic working groups, with each group focused on a specific climate-related issue:  Just Transition/100% Renewable Energy, Deforestation/Food Systems, Environmental Pollution/IOC Divestment, Open Defecation, Plastic Pollution/Marine Litters, as well as Disaster Risk/Loss and Damage Financing.

The ambassadors identified issues, root causes, opportunities, immediate solutions, long-term solutions, and methods to ensure the sustainability of their proposed solutions. They also discussed the role of ambassadors in implementing these solutions and planned to return to their communities to further identify, create awareness and advocate to address these issues.

The Bayelsa Climate Ambassadorship Programme, according to the promoters, increased participants’ understanding of climate change, provided them with essential advocacy skills, and inspired them to take proactive steps toward sustainability in their communities.

The event, they added, underscored the importance of indigenous solutions and local leadership in addressing global climate challenges, setting the stage for continued grassroots climate action in Bayelsa State.

IPCC meets to consider detailed timeline for reports in seventh assessment cycle

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will meet for its 61st Plenary Session from July 27 to August 2, 2024, in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, where delegates of 195 member governments will discuss important matters related to production of IPCC reports during the seventh assessment cycle which began last July with the election of the new Chair and new IPCC Bureau members.

Jim Skea
Jim Skea, IPCC Chair

This is the second plenary meeting of the current cycle.

Among other issues, the Panel will consider the strategic planning schedule which will define a detailed production timeline for all the IPCC reports planned for the seventh cycle and the draft outlines of the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and the Methodology Report on Short-Lived Climate Forcers. Based on the Panel’s earlier decision, these two reports are scheduled for release in 2027. The Panel’s busy agenda will also include discussions about the lessons learned from the sixth assessment cycle.

The 61st Plenary Session of the IPCC will be ceremoniously opened at 10.00 a.m. local time in Sofia on Saturday, July 27, at the Grand Hotel Millenium Sofia.

Delegates representing IPCC member governments and observer organisations will be addressed by the IPCC Chair, Jim Skea; the President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Abdulla Al Mandous; the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema; Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water, Petar Dimitrov; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nevyana Miteva; and the Mayor of Sofia, Vassil Terziev.

The opening will also include special video messages from the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Simon Stiell, and the Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Ko Barrett.

Except for the opening segment, IPCC Plenary Sessions are closed meetings.

CSOs oppose Lagos’ planned waste-to-energy plant

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A group of civil society organisations (CSOs), operating under the aegis of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA Nigeria), has urged the Lagos State Government to halt its proposed plan to construct a waste-to-energy incinerator plant and adopt sustainable waste management practices instead.

Waste-to-energy plant
L-R: John Akpan, President, Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE); Benson Dotun Fasanya, Executive Director, Centre for Earth Works (CfEW); Weyinmi Okotie, Key Managing Campaigner, GAIA Africa; Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev-Nigeria) and Philip Jakpor, Executive Director, Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), during the event in Lagos

GAIA Nigeria made the call during a press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Key Managing Convener at GAIA, Weyinmi Okotie, said the group is concerned about the May 28, 2024, announcement following the MoU signed with a Dutch company on the plan to build a waste-to-energy incinerator in Epe area of the state.

Okotie said: “Incinerators are facilities that treat waste by burning it. They come under many names such as Mass Burn Incinerators, Thermal Treatment Facilities, or so-called Waste to-Energy Plants, and involve processes such as combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, or plasma arc. But they all have the same claim (burning waste will make our waste problems disappear).

“Among the most aggressively promoted incinerators are waste-to-energy facilities. Not only do they claim to make waste disappear, but they also claim to produce energy during the process. But studies have shown that this premise is without scientific basis. The process of incineration merely transforms the waste into other forms of wastes, such as toxic ash and air and water pollution, which are harder to contain and usually more toxic than the original form of the waste. The term is also a misnomer – waste is a highly inefficient fuel, and these facilities are barely able to generate even a small amount of electricity.”

Okotie described GAIA as a global network of over 1,000 organisations fighting for a future free from waste pollution.

“We advocate for a shift away from incineration and towards a ‘zero waste’ approach. This means reducing waste at its source, composting organic materials, and maximising recycling. GAIA supports local efforts to implement these solutions and challenge policies that promote incineration. Our goal is a just and sustainable world where communities are empowered to manage waste responsibly and live in a healthy environment.

“In Nigeria, GAIA members are a total of 11 public interest NGOs/civil societies who are spread across the different cities in Nigeria but are here in Lagos today to solidrise with its Lagos members.”

They include Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), Sustainable Environment Development Initiative, and Community Development Advocacy Foundation.

Others are Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Green Knowledge Foundation, Centre for Earth Works (CfEW), Lekeh Development Foundation, Community Action Against Plastic Waste, Policy Alert, Young Farmers Network and Ecocykle.

Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADev and a member of GAIA Nigeria in his submission, said: “When we learned about the Lagos State Government’s plans to build a waste-to-energy municipal incinerator through an MoU signed with the Dutch company, recognising the significance and potential impact of such a project, we immediately sought to engage with the government to understand the situation better. Despite our efforts, it was challenging to obtain clear information or cooperation from the government.

“Projects of this magnitude should adopt a multi-stakeholder approach involving public entities, private sectors, community groups, and CSOs. Unfortunately, it appears that the government did not conduct any consultations, resulting in a project that lacks comprehensive support and sustainability.

“In response to the government’s lack of engagement, we developed and submitted a petition (signed by 146 Public Interest Organisations and 251 Individual Environmental Justice Advocates from 64 countries saying NO to the proposed Waste Incineration Facility in Lagos) on July 1, 2024, the Governor of Lagos State and the Lagos State Ministry of Environment. In our accompanying letter, we expressed our willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and expected an invitation from the government to discuss our concerns.

“However, three weeks have passed without any acknowledgement or response, as it where, it seems that the government is moving so fast with the initiative. As a result, we are left with no choice but to make it known to the world the environmental and health hazards associated with building a waste-to-energy incinerator and to advocate for more sustainable and inclusive waste management solutions.

“We are, however, imploring the state government not to adopt outdated technologies that are being phased out in the Global North. Implementing a waste-to-energy incinerator in Lagos contradicts the city’s aspiration to be a leader in sustainability and innovation, especially with its growing interest and recognition in climate change advocacy. If Lagos adopts this flawed approach, it sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of Nigeria and Africa.

“Moreover, a study by the University of Plymouth in 2012 found that a sea-level rise of just 3 to 9 feet (approximately 1 to 3 meters) would have catastrophic effects on human activities in Lagos, which has an average elevation of only 2 meters above sea level. Adopting waste-to-energy technology in such a vulnerable area poses significant environmental and public health risks. Lagos State should focus on sustainable waste management practices that do not threaten its future or that of its residents. So, we are encouraging Lagos State Government continue to be a part of the climate solution and not part of its own problem,” Adogame posited.

In his submission, Mr Benson Dotun Fasanya, representing CfEW listed some reasons why waste-to-energy incineration is considered a threat to sustainable development.

He said: “Waste-to-energy incineration is expensive and inefficient, emits toxic pollutants, contributes to climate change, undermines sustainable zero waste practices, takes away jobs, and is an environmental injustice.

Mr Akpan Anthony, the Founder/President, PAVE, reading the demands of the group at the news conference, urged the Lagos State Government to impose a moratorium on the building of any waste incineration plants and adopt a zero-waste approach.

“We strongly urge the Lagos State Government to prioritise the implementation of zero waste strategies such as reduction of waste generation, source segregation, recycling, composting, and reuse programmes.

“These approaches prioritise value retention and provide more environmentally friendly and economically efficient options as alternatives to incineration,” said the group.

The CSOs added that it was crucial to invest in research and development of waste management technologies and approaches to prioritise environmental protection, public health, and social equity.

They stressed that products and materials that were difficult to recycle should be phased out from the market and replaced by alternative materials or models of delivery.

The group urged the government to carryout broader consultation with the public and environmental CSOs.

“This comprehensive and transparent consultation process should involve the fenceline communities, environmental CSOs and waste management experts.

“There should be public engagement to accurately inform the public about the potential environmental, social, and health implications of the project on the surrounding communities in Epe and their ecosystems.

“This process should be inclusive and prioritise meaningful, equitable participation of all impacted right holders, upholding Free, Prior, and Informed Consent,” said the group.

The group called for incorporation of waste pickers, waste workers, and fenceline communities throughout the project lifecycle, starting from the development planning stage.

The CSOs urged all concerned citizens, environmental organisations, and stakeholders to join them in the critical fight for a cleaner and healthier Lagos.

“Together, we can make a difference and protect our environment for future generations,” the group said.

Lagos waste-to-energy plant
Lagos State government officials sign partnership with Dutch-owned Harvest Waste Consortium to build a waste-to-energy plant.

The Lagos State Government had hinted on plans to build waste-to-energy plants in Olusosun, Epe and Badagry dumpsites in different parts of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this at the waste-to-energy summit, “Driving Environmental Sustainability,” in Lagos.

By Ajibola Adedoye

NCDMB, UBEC explore opportunities for capacity building, support for basic education

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have agreed to collaborate towards upgrading basic education in the country and building capacities of young Nigerians towards meeting the needs of the ever-changing oil and gas industry and the linkages sectors.

NCDMB
L-R: Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, after the meeting between the chief executives at NCDMB’s Abuja liaison office. Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi. and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)

The partnership opportunities were explored on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, when the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, hosted his counterpart from UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, at the Board’s Abuja liaison office.

The leaders agreed to set up a joint committee that would finalise details of their agencies’ collaboration, with the overall goal of contributing meaningfully to the future of the Nigerian economy.

The kernel of the meeting attended by the top management of both organisations centred on how NCDMB could partner UBEC to upgrade some dilapidated primary and junior secondary schools dotted across the country, train teachers and upgrade critical facilities to meet the demands of the present age.

Conversations also hovered around making basic education work sustainably, developing digital resource centres and smart school systems as well as synergising efforts of stakeholders in the education sector for maximum impact.

Before this engagement, NCDMB had developed over 150 ICT centres in secondary schools across the country and upgraded select technical colleges as well as intervened in some universities as part of its institutional strengthening programme, supported by international and indigenous oil producing companies.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB announced the introduction of a bespoke capacity-building project tagged “Back to the Creeks/ Villages.” The initiative would seek to revamp dilapidated primary schools, especially in the creeks of the Niger Delta and other parts of the country, develop their infrastructure, teaching personnel and curriculum to world-class standards and make the interventions sustainable.

Ogbe revealed his passion for contributing to the development of remote parts of Nigeria and mentioned that he had started engaging some international oil producing companies. He hopes the oil companies will embrace the initiative and channel their human capacity development (HCD) budgets to the new programme for symbiotic benefits.

He underscored the strategic need to begin at the basic education level to develop capacities of young Nigerians, rather than intervening at the senior secondary or tertiary levels.

The Executive Secretary said the detailed strategy for the “Back to the Creeks/Villages” was still being fine-tuned and would soon be unveiled to industry stakeholders.

He assured the UBEC boss that NCDMB would partner with the agency, beginning with the training of teachers, harping that the success of the collaboration would attract other entities to partner with UBEC.

He emphasised the need to develop complete project scopes and to make every intervention sustainable. This can be achieved he explained, by deliberately getting the benefitting communities to take ownership of the projects.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of UBEC suggested that NCDMB should partner with the agency to develop, equip and operate Digital Resources Centres and Smart School Solutions in states of the federation.

The UBEC boss bemoaned the embarrassing state of basic educational institutions across the country and remarked that a nation that neglected the first level education had invariably embraced a bleak economic future and dysfunctional society.

He rued several challenges that impact the development of basic education in the country, such as insufficient budget, and lack of interest by some state governors. among other issues. He highlighted the need for collaboration with stakeholders, to leverage extra resources for the sub-sector.

In their contributions, the Director, Corporate Services, NCDMB, Dr. Ama Ikuru, commented that NCDMB’s interventions in schools and other centres of learning in the past 14 years were in furtherance of its mandate of building requisite capacities for the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.

Likewise, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, advised that the Board’s collaboration with UBEC must be guided by four pillars, notably needs assessment, sustainability plans, enablers for execution and identification of funding sources.

Global electricity demand set to rise strongly in 2024, 2025 – IEA

The world’s demand for electricity is rising at its fastest rate in years, driven by robust economic growth, intense heatwaves and increasing uptake of technologies that run on electricity such as EVs and heat pumps, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). At the same time, renewables continue their rapid ascent, with solar PV on course to set new records.

grid
The electricity grid. Photo credit: blogs.bard.edu

Global electricity demand is forecast to grow by around 4% in 2024, up from 2.5% in 2023, the IEA’s Electricity Mid-Year Update finds. The strong increase in global electricity consumption is set to continue into 2025, with growth around 4% again, according to the report.

Renewable sources of electricity are also set to expand rapidly this year and next, with their share of global electricity supply forecast to rise from 30% in 2023 to 35% in 2025. The amount of electricity generated by renewables worldwide in 2025 is forecast to eclipse the amount generated by coal for the first time. Solar PV alone is expected to meet roughly half of the growth in global electricity demand over 2024 and 2025.

Despite the sharp increases in renewables, global power generation from coal is unlikely to decline this year due to the strong growth in demand, especially in China and India, according to the report. As a result, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the global power sector are plateauing, with a slight increase in 2024 followed by a decline in 2025.

However, Chinese hydropower production recovered strongly in the first half of 2024 from its 2023 low. If this upward trend continues in the second half of the year, it could curb coal-fired power generation and result in a slight decline in global power sector emissions in 2024.

Demand for electricity in India is expected to surge by a massive 8% this year, driven by strong economic activity and powerful heatwaves. China is also set to see significant demand growth of more than 6%, as a result of robust activity in the services industries and industrial sectors, including the manufacturing of clean energy technologies.

Electricity demand in the United States is forecast to rebound this year by 3% amid steady economic growth, rising demand for cooling and an expanding data centre sector. By contrast, the European Union will see a more modest recovery in electricity demand, with growth forecast at 1.7%, following two consecutive years of contraction amid the impacts of the energy crisis.

In many parts of the world, increasing use of air-conditioning will remain a significant driver of electricity demand. Multiple regions faced intense heatwaves in the first half of 2024, which elevated demand and put electricity systems under strain, the report finds.

“It’s encouraging to see clean energy’s share of the electricity mix continuing to rise, but this needs to happen at a much faster rate to meet international energy and climate goals. At the same time, it’s crucial to expand and reinforce grids to provide citizens with secure and reliable electricity supply – and to implement higher energy efficiency standards to reduce the impacts of increased cooling demand on power systems.” said Keisuke Sadamori, IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security.

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the electricity demand of data centres is drawing increased attention, underscoring the need for more reliable data and better stocktaking measures.

To explore the opportunities and challenges ahead, the IEA has launched a major new initiative: Energy for AI & AI for Energy. As part of this initiative, the IEA will consult with governments, industry, researchers and civil society experts.

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