The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, destroyed 233 illegal refineries during “Operation Still Waters 3’’ in four states in 2023.
Illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta
The refineries were destroyed in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) the division, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, made the declaration on Monday, January 8, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the side-line of the 2023 West African Social Activities celebration of the army.
He said the division also arrested 1,112 suspected oil thieves during the special military exercise in the four states.
“In 2023, we successfully completed scheduled exercises with a lot of positive gains. Worthy of note is the field training exercise tagged ‘Exercise Still Waters 3’.
“The exercise has gone a long way in curtailing criminal activities and other heinous crimes in the 6 Division’s area of responsibility.
“Over the duration of the exercise, we were able to make 1,112 arrests; destroyed 233 illegal refineries, and seized 1,111,900 million litres of illegally refined petroleum products.
“Troops also impounded 72 trucks and other vehicles and recovered more than 356 arms and ammunitions during the period,’’ he said.
Abdussalam assured that the army would consolidate on its achievements in 2023 to enable the Federal Government to attain its set target for crude oil production in 2024.
According to him, the army can only meet expectations if troops remain dedicated, focussed, and committed in the discharge of their collective responsibilities.
“We must ensure zero tolerance for oil theft and activities that will affect peace and stability across the Niger Delta and the country as a whole.
“We will continue to contentiously perform our constitutional roles to defend democratic values.
“We will not rest, and we will continue to go after criminals who attack us until we get them and make them to pay a higher price for their crimes,’’ Abdussalam stressed.
The GOC also gave the assurance that the division would do whatever it took to ensure that crude oil output rose in 2024.
The appointment of Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister, Mukhtar Babayev, to preside over the upcoming UN climate change conference to be held in Baku from November 11 to 22, 2024, implies that, for the second year in a row, the global climate talks will be chaired by a man with ties to the oil industry.
Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister, Mukhtar Babayev
Babayev “has been named president-designate for the 29th session of the conference of the parties” (or COP29) in Baku, senior ministry official, Rashad Allahverdiyev, disclosed on Friday, January 5.
Babayev, 56, was formerly an executive at Azerbaijan’s national oil company SOCAR. He will soon take on the role previously held by Sultan Al Jaber – the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company – who chaired last year’s COP28.
Babayev’s appointment, who worked at SOCAR for 16 years, has sparked concern from civil society leaders and climate activists.
“It’s concerning to be once again having the world’s climate negotiations coordinated by a petrostate that has a big interest in oil and gas production. But the COP in Dubai resulted in an outcome more positive than many expected so let’s hope the same happens in Baku.
“It’s good to see an environment minister as President of the COP. The main concern is his lack of experience at previous COPs. He’s an unknown quantity without a track record in UN diplomacy. Hopefully, he’s a fast learner and can get up to speed quickly. He’s got a huge job to do. The focus of this year’s summit is on climate finance so he needs to start working on getting rich countries to deliver serious, long-term finance that will tackle the climate crisis,” said Mohamed Adow, Executive Director of Power Shift Africa.
“There’s a sense of déjà vu setting in – we now have a former oil executive from an authoritarian petrostate in charge of the world’s response to the crisis that fossil fuel firms created,” Alice Harrison, Fossil Fuels Campaign Leader at Global Witness, said in a statement.
“Azerbaijan appointing another lifelong oil man to lead … pushes us closer to the abyss,” Collin Rees of Oil Change International stated.
However, Climate Action Network International (CAN) – the world’s largest environmental NGO network – said on Friday that it “welcomes the announcement of Mukhtar Babayev as COP29 president”, according to AFP.
CAN Executive Director Tasneem Essop said Babayev should “strengthen the outcome of COP28 on transitioning away from fossil fuels”.
“Delivery of finance for this transition in developing countries” should be “a big priority for COP29”, she added.
Speaking in a similar vein, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke of the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), opined that “events in Dubai have shown that the COP process is bigger than individuals and that competent people can deliver a good cop process regardless of their current or previous profession”.
He added: “Al Jaber delivered UAE Consensus text that mentions transitioning away from fossil fuels for the first time in a COP text.
“I believe what is more important is that Africa and the rest of vulnerable countries should prepare and negotiate hard and effectively ahead and during COP to translate the several equity commitments in COP texts into practical and meaningful support from rich countries.”
On his part, Augustine Njamnshi, Chair of Political and Technical Affairs of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said: “The decision by Azerbaijan Government to name Mukhtar Babayev, former head of the nation’s oil company, SOCAR, as the COP29 President-Designate comes immediately after COP28 was presided at by another oil chief in the person of Sultan Al-Jaber.
“This is not however any surprise since the oil industry is now having a comfortable driver’s seat in climate change negotiations. We should however make a distinction between the present case and COP28 since Mukhtar is the current Minister of Environment of Azerbaijan. We therefore expect him to use his experience of the oil industry world and the environment protection world to make things happen positively in COP29.”
Sulaimon Arigbabu, Executive Secretary at HEDA Resource Centre, expressed mixed feelings about the development.
“My first reaction is to look at the performance of the President of COP28 and the things he achieved, and some might be tempted to say, perhaps it takes a thief to catch a thief. The COP28 president, though from the police industry, nonetheless was able to bring the fossil fuel exit to the table and even got a date for the same. Whether it is sincere or realistic is another kettle of fish.
“On the other hand, whereas one is not entirely surprised by the seeming growing involvement of the fossil fuel industry in the driver seat of the climate negotiations, this development is nonetheless perturbing and spells gloom for the efforts to save the planet by keeping global warming to below 1.5°C. The fossil fuel industry has never hidden their determination to protect their interest for as long as they possibly could.
“The Russia invasion of Ukraine has also exposed the vulnerability of Europe and, indeed, their entire world to any upset in global oil supply. Post Glasgow, many struggling those of Africa who have deposits of fossil fuel have mostly decided to explore this resource in order to raise the money they require to build infrastructure much needed to grow their economies. In the light of the foregoing going, one may not blame the countries appointing their oil Tzars as COP President, rather, the concern should be about the processes that is taking COP to fossil fuel economies back-to-back. This is problematic and should be discouraged.”
Team lead, GIFSEP, and Africa Regional Coordinator, Citizens Climate International, Michael David Terungwa, says he does not have confidence that oil states and oil COP presidents will do everything in their power to make sure 1.5C is within reach.
“The big question is, Will Azerbaijan, one of the top 10 most oil-dependent economies, embrace the legal reality of the required systems transformation and help lead the world to a more detailed and actionable vision of climate-resilient development? The obvious answer is no.
“I see this as a well calculated plan by OPEC to take over the COP process and deliberately slow down just transition and fossil fuels phase out. Remember that COP28 had the record number of fossil fuel lobbyists and oil deals were struck using the COP process at COP28. The COP should not be an OPEC meeting while non-OPEC countries and CSOs would become observers.
“We CSOs and those who truly care about the planet have to tell ourselves the hard truth and quickly come out with a strategy to halt this…. else it’s a game that will take us to COP100.
“I think there should be guidance and the president of an oil company shouldn’t be the president of the COP. It’s a clear conflict of interest. The UNFCCC needs to set guidelines based on conflict-of-interest etc on who should host COP and who becomes the COP president.”
Olumide Idowu of ICCDI Africa fears that the appointment could overshadow the need to shift away from fossil fuels.
His words: “The COP President-Designate must prioritise Paris Agreement goals and promote bold climate action. All participating countries, including Azerbaijan, must act to make COP29 and climate change and sustainable development recommendations successful.
“In conclusion, Mukhtar Babayev’s appointment as COP29 President-Designate may raise eyebrows, but it also offers an opportunity to bridge the oil business with climate action. The ultimate significance of this judgement will rely on how it is used to speed significant change and a sustainable, low-carbon future.”
Israel Orekha of Connected Advocacy likens the appointment as “another way to slow down concrete climate action”.
“The more oil blocks and oil chiefs are leading the climate investment talk the more the fossil fuels sponsors are protected to slow the time for a true phase out.”
Gloria Bulus, a Climate Reality Leader and head of Bridge-That-Gap Initiative, said: “It is sad and hard to believe that the Azerbaijan government’s decision was based on merit or competence but rather, it looks like it was influenced by political and economic interests, as well as a lack of commitment to the Paris Agreement and its goals.
“With this decision, we cannot trust that the leaders of the fossil fuel industry will act in the best interest of the planet and its people. One cannot expect them to facilitate a fair and ambitious agreement that will accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy.
“It clearly shows that the voices and rights of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities that are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis will not be respected. This decision does not favour the resolution to transition away from fossil fuels. It presents a bad picture of the UN Climate Conference as an unserious forum for addressing the climate emergency, it presents it as a platform for greenwashing and lobbying by the fossil fuel industry.
“It also undermines the credibility and legitimacy of the process and erodes the trust and confidence of activists/advocates, civil society, indigenous peoples, youth, women, and others who are continuously demanding urgent climate action. The implications of this development mean we are likely to see a repeat of the disappointing outcomes of COP28 hosted by the oil-rich UAE.
“It means we are risking another missed opportunity to raise our collective ambition and align our actions with the 1.5°C limit. It means that we are jeopardising our chances of achieving the numerous climate change and sustainable development-related recommendations that will enable us to achieve climate justice and just recovery from the impacts of climate change.
“The Government of Azerbaijan will need to reconsider its decision and appoint a COP29 President-Designate who has no association with the fossil fuel industry, and who will be impartial, independent, and committed to climate justice. The government of Azerbaijan needs to be accountable and ensure that COP29 delivers on its mandate and expectations.”
The appointment of Mukhatar Babayev, a former head of Azerbaijan’s oil company SOCAR, as the COP29 President-Designate, raises several noteworthy considerations.
Ikenna-Donald Ofoegbu
With over 26 years promoting crude oil exploration and expansion, and four years as Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic, overseeing the regulation of the activities in the country relating to ecology, environmental protection and use of natural resources, not much on environment defence is on his list for experience or achievement until this normative appointment – that needs proving.
The consecutive appointments of oil industry leaders, first COP28 and now 29, to preside over UN Climate Summits does call for concern from all who are keen for a rapid reduction of harmful emission and restoration of natural carbon sink via ecological restoration, rather than more exploration, irresponsible emissions and then buying the rights to emit more. Such appointments could create doubts about the commitment of both COP organisers and national leaders to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
With the just concluded COP28 that somewhat seems like a trade fair where carbon is now being traded and emission reduction on the low tone, this move of course raises more worrying concern. It is proper for many to express concern over having a leader from the oil industry presiding over a global climate summit. With the unfortunate turn of global climate discussions and structures, we are right to be sceptical as to whether someone with a background in fossil fuels can genuinely advocate for and drive the necessary changes to combat climate change.
In many cases, this doubt would again be treated as business as usual – let make profit, focus on carbon (not climate) finance, carbon trading and allow emission to be on the all-time discretionary high. It is beginning to seem as if the climate dialogues are reducing to international political energy discussion – saving international tuffs, protecting companies and green washing, rather than saving our planets via cutting emissions and financing clean alternatives, protecting and reviving forest and protecting communities affected by climate change.
However, the fear, the appointment may also be viewed differently by other stakeholders who might see it as an opportunity for industry insiders to play a role in accelerating the transition to renewable energy. We cannot truly know the possible motivations for Azerbaijan’s decision to appoint Mukhatar Babayev as the COP29 president. The possibility can span from the need for a broader Industry representation; Azerbaijan, being a major oil-producing country, may believe that having someone with expertise in the oil sector can represent the nation’s interests effectively during climate negotiations. After all, the climate discussions and nations meeting commitments are all at the discretion of their interest, right?
Without evidence, just mere assumption – If Mr Babayev has experience in leading SOCAR through a transition towards cleaner energy sources, Azerbaijan may see this as an asset in contributing to global efforts to address climate change. This is us being playfully hopeful. Having an individual with industry experience in leadership roles could provide an opportunity for constructive dialogue between the fossil fuel industry and climate advocates, fostering collaboration on sustainable solutions.
Sadly, history has shown us that the big oil money nations and their companies used such climate dialogues to put a price on the environment and life on the planet. This is true when the economics of clean energy is yet to be at par with traditional energy; or the estimated stranded assets at a point in time from fossil investment, is just too huge to count losses – without a mechanism to absorb investment cost, diversify and required domestic needs.
On my personal opinion, which I prefer is perceived as a challenge for us all is this – I think the appointment will challenge the credibility of COP29, as it raises questions about the commitment of an oil industry leader to the urgency of climate action. It is crucial for the COP29 President-Designate to demonstrate transparency, commitment to the Paris Agreement goals, and a willingness to prioritise the global need for transitioning to renewable energy over narrow industry interests.
As a citizen also living in an oil dependent country, the challenge lies in striking a balance between acknowledging the economic realities of oil-dependent nations like Nigeria and Azerbaijan, and pushing for ambitious climate action that aligns with international climate goals. In conclusion, the implications of this development depend on how the COP29 President-Designate navigates his role, addresses potential conflicts of interest, and actively promoting meaningful climate action during his tenure.
It will be important to monitor his actions and decisions to determine the impact on the global efforts to combat climate change and achieve sustainable development goals. Nevertheless, the truth is his role will largely be defined by all of us in the industry, advocate and communities.
We must all re-define our climate goals and what the discussions out outcomes will be – we must speak louder and drive local national efforts to not only cut emissions but also protect and restore the environment in accountable and responsible way.
Ikenna-Donald Ofoegbu is of the Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF)
For some years we have seen vested interests grabbing the COP. This started through heavy sponsorship by fossil fuels companies, and metamorphosed into taking the driving seat, presiding over the COP a defiant way of showcasing climate denial.
Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey
With COP29 in Azerbaijan it will make three COPs in a row to be held in petrostates that have scant tolerance for human rights and dissent. We saw civil society being corralled and hemmed into marching within the COP premises at both Sharm El Sheikh and Dubai. That sort of insulation and blunting of the purpose of the Global Day of Action will inevitably occur again at COP29 because the COP has willingly constricted the possibility of full enjoyment of human rights and open and free expression dissent. The COPs have become carbon theatre for keeping carbon fossils on life support for as long as possible.
COP28 stumbled into an outcome that barely whispered the transitioning away from fossil fuels for energy. The celebrated Loss and Damage Fund couldn’t garner up to 2% of funds needed annually to tackle the harms occasioned by climate impacts. Will COP29 in Azerbaijan to be presided over by someone embedded in the fossil fuels sector engender real climate action?
No. With a fossil fuel big shot presiding over the COP there will be no agreement to phase out fossil fuels as leaders and the fossil fuel lobby think more about profit and care nothing about their actions incinerating the planet.
No, because the Article 6 game will continue in the pathways of promoting false solutions like carbon capture, utilisation/storage and diverse modes of geoengineering. Fossil gas will still be pushed as a transition fuel and carbon offset deals will elevate land grab in Africa and accompanying carbon colonialism.
Moreover, parties will continue to jump on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) treadmill, promoting weak voluntary emissions reduction, pursuing phantom net zero targets while the temperature levels shoot beyond 3 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
COP29 will be a slap on the face of youths, coming generations and vulnerable peoples due to the continue regress from real climate action.
Is there hope for the future? Yes. COP30 to be held in Brazil holds a glimmer of hope if grassroots movements forge a global alliance that can decisively affect the nature and pattern of negotiations and decision making. COP30 holds the possibility of being a radical version of the Peoples Summit on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth that was held in Cochabamba, Bolivia in 2010.
Nnimmo Bassey is Director, Health of Mother Health Foundation (HOMEF)
A lecturer at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Uli, Anambra State, Prof. Hyacinth Nwalieji, has urged government at all levels and stakeholders to tackle challenges of climate change and flooding to ensure sustainable agricultural productivity and food supply.
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University
Nwalieji made the call at the institution’s Fifth Okanga Aguleri Lecture on Saturday, January 6, 2024.
The lecture had the theme: “Climate Change and Flooding in Omabala Region: Adopting for Sustainable Agriculture Yields and Relevance in Global Food Availability Index”.
He said though agriculture was highly dependent on the climate, but the climate change could also have negative impact on crops, livestock, soil and water resources, rural communities and agricultural workers.
“More than 90 per cent of the population of the Omabala region in Anambra are engaged in agro-based activities.
“But over the years, adverse effects of climate change and annual flooding have continued to make these farmers and the people of Omabala region very vulnerable.
“The attendant devastation and destruction of their farmlands and sources of livelihood resulted in poor food supply due to unpredictable yields and produce,” he said.
Nwalieji called for the adoption of modernised or climate-smart agriculture in the face of climate change.
He said that climate-smart agriculture included investment in irrigation, improved seed production system, upgrading crop storage facilities, improved low-cost processing machinery and technology.
According to him, investments in greenhouse, improved livestock, farm mechanisation and development of rural infrastructure are also part of modernised agriculture.
He urged governments and stakeholders to make policies and investment to promote climate-smart agriculture.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odumegwu, called for collective efforts to protect the environment from further devastation caused by erosion and flooding.
Earlier in his address, Igwe Michael Idigo of Aguleri said the lecture was initiated as part of the “Ovala Aguleri” celebration to enrich the knowledge of the people on environment and issues affecting their lives.
Idigo said the lecture was also aimed at highlighting the need for attitudinal change toward the environment, the need for proper waste disposal as well as the need for adopting new agricultural system.
The Robert Azibaola Foundation has taken the campaign against deforestation and illegal logging to the grassroots in over 20 communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Robert Azibaola
Mr Robert Azibaola, Managing Director, Zeetin Engineering and an environmentalist, said on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Bayelsa that climate change must have grassroots support.
According to him, “it is from the grassroots that you build it up to a national platform, without that you are just waiting time because the people do not understand what you are talking about.
“They need to know and you need to give them practical examples and this grassroots orientation that I am doing is very important to me and gives me peace of mind to know that I have contributed my quota to environment conservation,” he said.
Azibaola also called for the re-inclusion of the tug-of-war into the Olympic games as a way to preach the message of climate change.
He said he was motivated to organise a tug-of-war game amongst Ogbia communities in Bayelsa to preach the message of climate change.
The tug-of- war game among Azibaola’s kinsmen was part of activities marking the final burial rites of his mother-in-law, Madam Ego Enesua, at Kolo Community at Ogbia in Bayelsa.
Speaking with journalists after the game, he said one of the essence of the game was also to foster unity among the people of the local government.
“I want to use these games to make practical, the climate change issue. I have spoken with the governor of Bayelsa and he is very happy with what I am trying to do.
“If I can partner with the state government on this kind of thing, maybe the climate change movement in Nigeria will also be domiciled in Bayelsa.
“Nobody has thought of this kind of thing that you can use games to attract people and talk to people and get people’s attention. People don’t just gather and allow you talk to them,” he said.
Azibaola explained that the activities were sponsored single handedly.
“There are people who are agitating for climate change based on how much they will get from international funding. I am not for that.
“If you are a human being, you must contribute your quota to nature and make sure before you die you should beat your chest and say I did my best to pull back the hands of time in respect to climate change,” he added.
He said that the tug-of-war was a completely new game in the state, saying that it may, in another five years, become a national event and the national event can be domiciled in Bayelsa State.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of the sum of $1,000 to Otuasega community, which won the maiden edition of the competition, while Kolo community and Opume came second and third respectively and went home with $500 and $US200.
As part of its effort to protect the environment from global plastic pollution, the Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF) has trained 100 underprivileged young people on how to reuse plastic garbage to produce eco-bricks.
Participants and beneficiaries of the Ecocykle training programme
The exercise, which took place in Angwan Gwandara, up market in Masaka, a district under Karu Local Government Area (LGA) in Nasarawa State, Nigeria’s north-central region, was also intended to help address the country’s unemployment problem, which data from the National Bureau of Statistics estimated at 4.2% in 2023.
According to EDF founder, Aliyu Sadiq, these two issues spurred his establishment to launch the Oya Recycling Project (ORP), a public awareness campaign aimed at empowering and sensitising disadvantaged youngsters living in slums.
“We hope to equip them with the skills needed to unlock their creativity, solve environmental problems affecting their communities, and also create jobs for themselves,” he stated.
The environmental rights campaigner continued by explaining that his firm conceptualised the project because it understands how important these skills are to solving the country’s environmental hitches and socioeconomic progress in an all-encompassing manner.
Sadiq expressed gratitude to all of her sponsors, particularly the Pollination Grant Project, and mentioned that the programme is expected to foster creativity, find and nurture local talent, and create a network of young people who would canvass for sustainable practices and ecologically conscious behaviour.
In her opinion, Nafisat Mohammed, the community volunteer in charge of the ORP at Angwan Manja, feels that the capacity-building activity had a significant impact because the beneficiaries can now engage in worthwhile businesses that will raise their standard of living.
“Through this training, they have learned how to recycle plastic waste and sand into useful items such as blocks,” she said.
A few of the community’s beneficiaries, which included craftsmen who participated in the exercise, praised the ingenuity of the procedure as they saw low-density polyethylene, also known as “pure water sachets,” recycled into eco-bricks.
“I am a mechanic, and I have learned here today that we can turn the plastics in our waste bins into something useful,” Abdulmajid Mohammed, one of the beneficiaries, noted.
Through this project, EDF has trained over 150 people in two communities and plans to empower over 1,000 marginalised Nigerians on sustainable waste management practices to promote public health, create green jobs, and reduce the threats of climate change to overall human survival.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, has been named as president-designate of the UNFCCC COP29 climate conference, scheduled to hold in 2024.
Mukhtar Babayev
Babayev previously headed Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, before being appointed minister in 2018.
He will be the second consecutive oil executive to head a COP conference, after United Arab Emirate’s Sultan Al-Jaber, the head of state oil company ADNOC, who chaired the conference last year.
Environmentalists frowned at Sultan Al-Jaber’s choice for the COP presidency, pointing to him having a conflict of interest as someone who ran the UAE’s national oil company.
However, he ultimately oversaw a breakthrough global agreement at the summit to transition away from fossil fuels, converting some sceptics into fans.
Baku’s presidency over the next COP conference was the result of “fraught negotiations,” it was gathered.
The decision has garnered criticism from some environmentalists, who worry about the presidency being granted to another oil and gas-reliant nation.
“The world will need more action to phase out fossil fuels at COP29 and, as a major oil producer, Azerbaijan will need to listen to its critics,” a source stated.
COP28 President, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, acknowledging cheers after COP28 reached an agreement
But, amid all that, there is reason for hope, say those on the frontlines of the effort to create a more sustainable world.
In 2023, countries came together in unprecedented ways to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. This environmental multilateralism led to landmark pacts to end chemical pollution and transition the world away from fossil fuels, among a host of other milestones, many of which were supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
As the calendar has turned to 2024, here is a closer look at the biggest environmental moments of the last year and what they mean for the future of the planet.
January: Study finds ozone layer “on track” for recovery
The ozone layer, which protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation, is on track to recover within the next four decades, revealed a report from several scientific organisations, including UNEP. The “Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion – 2022” found the planet’s sun shield could reach 1980 values over Antarctica by 2066 and over the Arctic by 2045.
Experts attributed the rebound to the Montreal Protocol, a planet-wide agreement adopted in 1987 to phase out many ozone-depleting chemicals. A 2016 amendment is also helping to rein in a series of powerful greenhouse gases and could avoid up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100, the report found.
February: Fight for climate justice gains steam
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that many advocates hailed as an important step in the campaign for climate justice.
Spearheaded by the cyclone-wracked nation of Vanuatu, the resolution asks the International Court of Justice for an opinion on whether countries have a legal duty to address climate change and what the legal consequences of climate inaction could be. Experts say the court’s opinion, which is pending, would not be legally binding but would carry moral authority and some legal weight.
The resolution came as a growing number of people around the world turned to courts to compel governments and businesses to act on climate change. A UNEP study, released later in the year, found climate-related lawsuits have more than doubled since 2017.
March: Nations band together to protect freshwater sources
UNEP and several partners launched the Freshwater Challenge, which aims to safeguard and revive 300,000km of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands around the world by 2030. That would make it the largest wetland and river restoration effort in history. Some 43 nations joined the push in 2023, including many at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), whose presidency cited the Freshwater Challenge as a key outcome of the summit.
Sources of freshwater are under increasing pressure from climate change, pollution and other stressors. One-third of the world’s wetlands have been lost over the past 50 years, while rivers and lakes are the most degraded ecosystems in the world.
April: World marks inaugural International Day of Zero Waste
Countries around the world celebrated the first International Day of Zero Waste, a global call for humanity to better manage waste and build more circular economies.
The day was led by UNEP and UN Habitat with support from Türkiye and featured an address from UN Secretary General António Guterres. “Humanity is treating our planet like a garbage dump,” he warned. “It’s time to fight back and launch a war on waste.”
More than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste is generated annually, of which 45 per cent is mismanaged. Up to 4 billion people lack access to controlled waste disposal facilities.
June: Creative solutions to plastic pollution abound at World Environment Day
UNEP-led World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, showcased to the world the scale of the plastic pollution crisis while highlighting a bevy of potential solutions. Several governments made firm commitments on the day, with host Côte d’Ivoire unveiling a new environmental code to fight plastic pollution and the Kyrgyz Republic announcing it will begin to transition away from some plastic products. The day grabbed the globe’s attention; it was the top-trending hashtag on Twitter and related content was seen more than 300 million times across social media.
June: Historic “high seas” treaty throws a lifeline to marine biodiversity
The United Nations formally adopted a pact that extends for the first time environmental protections to two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national jurisdictions.
The so-called “high seas treaty” offers an updated framework to The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that came into force in 1994. The world’s oceans, which play a vital role in everything from the global economy to regulating the climate, are labouring under climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“You have pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance,” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, told countries as the measure was adopted.
September: Global plastics instrument takes crucial step forward
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, hosted by UNEP, released a zero draft of a legally binding global instrument to end plastic pollution. The draft, which covers the full lifecycle of plastic, was reviewed during the third session (INC-3) in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023. The talks in Nairobi followed a second session in Paris, France in June 2023. The INC sessions mark a key step in the effort to finalise a planet-wide agreement by the end of 2024.
Every year, humanity produces around 430 million metric tonnes of plastic – about the same weight as 71 million African elephants – and much of that is contained in single-use products that quickly become waste, polluting land, sea and air.
September: Landmark chemicals accord takes aim at a range of toxic substances
The world agreed to the Global Framework on Chemicals, a historic deal to protect people and the environment from chemical pollution, which causes an estimated 2 million deaths a year. The agreement includes 28 targets which, among other things, call for the phasing out of highly hazardous pesticides and a crackdown on the trafficking of illegal chemicals.
The adoption of the new framework recognises pollution and waste as the global crisis that it is, putting it on par with climate change and nature loss, which already have frameworks in place. UNEP will manage a dedicated trust fund in support of the framework. Germany has committed 20 million euros to the fund, with France, The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland also contributing.
September: Africa Climate Week showcases home-grown solutions to climate crisis
UNEP and partners organized Africa Climate Week alongside the first Africa Climate Summit, which brought more than 10,000 people, including 20 heads of state, to Nairobi, Kenya. The gathering, which took place against the backdrop of some of the worst droughts and floods ever to hit the continent, emphasised that Africa can drive solutions to the climate crisis. It was also a chance for leaders to form a consensus around key issues ahead of COP28. “We aim to weave a single, resounding African voice that will carry the outcomes … to COP28 and beyond,” said Kenyan President William Ruto.
October: Global pact to end mercury pollution celebrates a decade in action
October marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Minamata Convention, a deal that has been hailed as a triumph of international diplomacy. Some 147 parties have ratified the agreement, which calls for countries to phase out mercury use in products, ban the opening of new mercury mines and limit the emission of mercury into the environment.
Every year, as much as 9,000 tonnes of mercury – a toxic substance often used in small-scale gold mining – are released into the atmosphere, in water and on land. As the Minamata Convention enters its second decade, experts are buoyed by the progress of recent years. The trade in mercury has slowed, manufacturers have begun finding alternatives to mercury in a range of products and public awareness about the dangers of mercury has grown.
October: UNEP announces the winners of its highest environmental award
UNEP announced the five winners of the 2023 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour.
This year’s awards honoured innovators and initiatives for their cutting-edge work in tackling plastic pollution. This followed the 2022 historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in Nairobi to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024.
A trio of UNEP-supported reports brought into sharp focus the scale of the climate crisis and offered policymakers a suite of potential solutions.
UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report found developing countries alone need to devote $215 billion to $387 billion a year to contend with extreme weather, rising seas and other climatic upheaval. Spending now is just a fraction of that.
Meanwhile, UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report revealed that based on current climate-related pledges by governments, the Earth is on pace to warm by between 2.5°C and 2.9°C this century, well above the goals of the Paris Agreement. To keep warming below 1.5°C, a key Paris target, the world will need to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2030.
As well, the Production Gap Report, produced by UNEP and partners, found states were planning to produce more than twice as much fossil fuel as would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
December: One year into the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The framework included concrete actions to halt and reverse the loss of nature, including protecting 30 per cent of the planet and restoring 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems.
To improve governance and accountability for nature, UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported 138 countries to align their national biodiversity policies, targets and monitoring frameworks with the GBF. This is a critical step to the agreement’s success.
December: COP28 deal aims to usher in the end of the fossil fuel era
On December 13, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) came to a close with a historic declaration as negotiators from nearly 200 Parties came together with a decision to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade with the overarching aim to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach while rapidly ramping up production of renewable energy.
While UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the deal “is not perfect” she expressed cautious optimism. “The world is no longer denying our harmful addiction to fossil fuels. We know what needs to be done.”
COP28 also saw the operationalising of the Loss and Damage Fund, which will help climate-vulnerable communities in developing countries cope with the effects of climate change.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has vowed to step up effective waste management and recycling efforts in 2024.
Muyiwa Gbadegesin
Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who made the commitment in a statement on Friday, January 5, 2024, in Lagos, noted that 2023 witnessed a determined approach to environmental transformation in Lagos State, spearheaded by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, with LAWMA playing a major role.
He said 2023 was an eventful year with respect to the environment and waste management.
“The Lagos State Government was able to do a reset.
“Among the notable initiatives to restore sanity to the environment was the clearance of illegal dump sites, street trading and closure of unsanitary markets, a collaborative effort with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC),” Gbadegesin said.
The LAWMA boss said that in line with the sustainability agenda of the state government, the authority would focus on recycling, especially plastic recycling and converting organic waste into compost and bio-gas in 2024.
The CEO said the authority would continue to promote waste sorting at source, as well as the buyback programme, where residents could make money from recyclables.
He said that LAWMA planned to collaborate with local government areas to enforce the state’s zero-tolerance policy on street trading.
He said the agency would continue to enforce environmental laws, urging residents to make a resolution in the new year to be responsible environmental stewards.
“This year, there will be no room for illegal street trading and all activities that promote indiscriminate waste disposal.
“We will be working closely with local government authorities and other stakeholders on this. I want to personally urge residents to turn a new leaf this year and take good care of their environment, health and hygiene,” he said.
He said the state government had a plan to empower waste disposal operators to acquire new trucks to support their operations across the metropolis.
He urged residents to shun indiscriminate waste dumping, secure covered bins for waste under the Adopt-a-bin Initiative and a flexible payment plan, while awaiting assigned PSP operators.
