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World Environment Day: PACE advocates stronger policies, SWS sensitises residents to zero plastic pollution, Nestlé embarks on nationwide clean-up

Michael Simire
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World Environment Day: PACE advocates stronger policies, SWS sensitises residents to zero plastic pollution, Nestlé embarks on nationwide clean-up

The Participatory Approach to Climate and Environmental Protection (PACE), a group, has called for stronger climate policies and greater public involvement toward mitigating the challenges of climate change.

Auwalu Hamza
Mr. Auwalu Hamza, the Kano State team lead of PACE

Mr. Auwalu Hamza, the Kano State team lead of the organisation, made the call on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Kano in an interview.

He was speaking in commemoration of the 2025 World Environment Day.

Hamza said although experts had continued to highlight the importance of the day, it remained a reminder that addressing climate change should not be left to government alone.

“Mitigating climate change is a collective responsibility.

“Government must play its part by enacting and enforcing sound policies and regulations, as well as building effective institutions,” he said.

According to Hamza, the private sector and individuals also have significant roles to play in tackling climate challenges.

“Individuals must take ownership of the issue because climate change directly affects their health, livelihoods and general well-being,” he added.

Hamza stressed the need to build resilient systems that would strengthen democratic institutions and promote inclusive economic growth.

He said that PACE, in collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), operates at the intersection of governance and climate, supporting Nigeria’s response to climate-related challenges.

Hamza explained that the day was a timely reminder of the shared responsibility in protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable future.

In a related development, a non-governmental organisation, Standup for Women Society (SWS), Rivers Chapter, has urged residents to strive for zero plastic pollution in the state.

The South-South Vice President, SWS, Mrs. Anne Anyaka, made the call during a sensitisation programme of the group to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day in Port Harcourt, on Monday, June 9, 2025.

Anyaka emphasised the importance of the theme of the day “Beat Plastic Pollution” citing proper waste disposal as a key to zero environmental pollution in the country.

She said the programme was aimed at educating drivers, passengers and hair stylists doing business at the Abali Indigenous Park on proper way of disposing waste without polluting the drainages, sea ways and ocean.

“Our aim is to educate women and park users on proper waste disposal methods, particularly non-biodegradable items like plastics.

“We are raising awareness on the negative impact of improper waste disposal on the environment, such as suffocating the fishes and other aquatic lives in the sea, and blocking of drainages.

“Research has it that we will have more plastic than fishes in our oceans by the year 2050; this news is not good at all because it means food insecurity and scarcity of aquatic habitats, and more casualties on sea transportation.

“We are sweeping and packing the waste into the waste disposal bags to show them how to dispose the plastic cans, nylon and waste artificial hair products without blocking our seas and drainages,” she said.

Anyaka said that the women were excited about the outreach, but noted their challenges which include lack of waste disposal cans or bags to park the waste.

“They have told us that they need permanent waste disposal cans.

“We will plan for the provision in our next outreach, but we are calling on the park management to provide alternative waste disposal bags for their use.

“We believe that this outreach will make positive impact in the lives of the citizens who use the park for business because cleanliness and environmental sustainability is the key to zero environmental pollution,” she said.

Mrs. Ednah Adigwe, the Chairperson, SWS, Rivers Chapter, commended the women hair stylists at the park for being independent, and useful to the society.

She enjoined them not to allow anyone undermine them, or make them feel inferior whether in their homes or work places.

She advised them to speak out against abuse and exploitation, with the assurance that the association would provide support and advocacy.

“We are here to also ask for your support to help keep our environment clean and safe for all.

“If you maintain the culture of cleaning, this park will be clean and healthy for your stay,” she said.

Adigwe, on behalf of the group, presented brooms, dust packs, disposal bags and hand gloves to the women for the cleaning of their business environment.

Responding, Silvia Ubani, one of the Abali Indigenous Park Women Executives, expressed gratitude to the SWS Rivers Chapter for promoting environmental awareness at their businesses area.

Ubani said that the importance of maintaining a clean environment cannot be overemphasised.

She pledged on behalf of the women to join in the campaign against plastic pollution in the state and country at large.

Meanwhile, Nestlé Nigeria Plc has intensified efforts to ensure environmental sustainability with a nationwide clean-up and sensitisation campaign to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day.

The commitment was made in a statement by the founder of the African Clean-Up Initiative, Dr Alex Akhigbe.

The statement was issued by the Lead for Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability, Mrs. Victoria Uwadoka, on Monday in Lagos.

Akhigbe said the exercise was held simultaneously across 11 cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Jos, Sagamu, Ibadan, Agbara, Abaji, Enugu, Awka and Port Harcourt.

He said the initiative was carried out in collaboration with the African Clean-Up Initiative and the local government partners.

“The clean-up activities targeted major market areas with high levels of foot traffic and waste generation such as Oke-Arin Market in Lagos, Utako Market in Abuja and Abubakar Rimi Market in Kano, among others.

“The campaign resulted in the removal of 5,601 kilogrammes of solid waste and 379.2 kilogrammes of recyclable waste, underscoring the impact of community-based waste management efforts,” he said.

The founder said the initiative aligns with the 2025 World Environment Day theme: “Curbing Plastic Pollution.”

“At Nestlé, our commitment to tackling plastic waste is a key part of our vision for a waste-free future.

“We are working with partners such as the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance and recyclers, including Alef Recycling, Wecyclers, Chanja Datti, and Maladase Ecopreneurs Management Ltd. to enhance the plastics value chain.

“Our Employee Plastics Collection Scheme, introduced in 2022, has diverted over 5,900 kilogrammes of plastic waste from landfills. Since 2019, our initiatives have retrieved over 61,000 metric tonnes of plastic from the environment,” he said.

He said the partnership with Nestlé Nigeria highlights the importance of collaboration in advancing environmental sustainability.

“This goes beyond clean-up. It is about instilling a culture of environmental responsibility and building a circular economy.

“Every piece of plastic removed, every engagement made, is a step toward protecting our planet.

“This reflects a broader sustainability agenda, combining operational responsibility with community engagement to foster environmental awareness and action at the grassroots level.

“Nestlé Cares is the firm’s employee volunteering programme designed to promote social and environmental impact through community service.

“Through various projects, Nestlé Cares empowers employees to make a positive impact in their local communities,” he said.

By Muhammad Nur Tijani, Precious Akutamadu and Olaitan Idris

Lagos reiterates commitment to coastline protection, resilient environment

Michael Simire
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Lagos reiterates commitment to coastline protection, resilient environment

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has reiterated its commitment to protecting its coastline and building a safer and resilient friendly environment for future generations.

Tokunbo Wahab
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said this at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

“Lagos as a coastal state, faces severe climate risks from rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and excessive heat. But we are not sitting back. We are building resilient infrastructure.

“So, as a state, we must face our realities and those realities are that we must build resilient infrastructure which is key and we must also take ownership of those infrastructure which is very key,” he said.

Wahab said the state in the past two years had invested in its drainage systems to reduce the possibilities of flash flooding.

“At the last count, in the past two years, we have as an administration done about 76 kilometres of trapezoidal drainage system statewide,” he said.

Wahab noted that the state, with over 13,000 tonnes of daily waste generation, was moving from a linear disposal system to a circular model where waste becomes a resource for energy and recovery.

He stated that the state was transforming the way it managed plastic waste.

“This is by religiously following a trajectory that had already banned the use of styrofoam food containers and moving on to effect the enforcement of its ban on single use plastics from July 1 after 18 months moratorium to users and producers.

“In the last two years, we have chosen to categorise waste as a resource.

“So, we have transitioned from a pick and dump system to a more sustainable climate friendly system where waste is now a resource for wealth and a resource for energy,” Wahab stressed. 

By Olaitan Idris

Taraba community seeks strict enforcement of open grazing prohibition law

Michael Simire
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Taraba community seeks strict enforcement of open grazing prohibition law

The Munga Dosso Community in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba has appealed to the state government to ensure strict enforcement of its anti-open grazing law to address herders and farmers conflict in the state.

Agbu Kefas
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State

Mr. Robert Bukar, Youth Leader of the community, made the appeal on Monday, June 9, 2025, while briefing newsmen in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The Munga Dosso community has come under an attack recently by suspected herders, where scores were killed and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

Bukar noted that the bill was signed into law by the former Gov. Darius Ishaku in 2018.

He said that the enforcement of the law would address the lingering farmers/herders conflict.

He also decried absence of government’s representatives to the crisis affected community.

The youth leader also said that the community was left to it faith at the time its 12 members were killed by suspected herders and were given mass burial.

“Notably, no government representatives from federal, state, or local levels visited the community after this incident.

“We have a senator, a house of representatives member, a state assembly member, yet non deemed it necessary to visit us and to listen to our lamentations.

“As a peace-loving community, we always report all incidents and seek assistance from security agencies.

“However, we were disappointed by the lack of government representation at the mass burial, where officials failed to commiserate with our people.

“It is true that the state government sent relief materials to the victims, but relief materials is not our problem. We expected their solidarity at the time.

“The aftermath of such violence has tragically resulted in not only fatalities but also a significant number of injuries and displacements.

“It has led to a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention. Families are left to mourn their loved ones, while survivors grapple with trauma and insecurity.

“Access to essential resources has become increasingly challenging, complicating efforts for community stability.

“Moreover, in all these, our people are often arrested and from police station to prison but none of the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“It is only in the recent crisis that the herders were arrested with assaulted rifles by the police in Karim-Lamido but were released the next day,” Bukar said.

The youth leader also appealed to government to increase security deployment to allow farmers to safely return to their farms.

Bukar also requested Taraba government to ensure that the recently constituted administrative committee of enquiry carry out a thorough investigation to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of the recent attacks.

By Martins Abochol

Vanuatu on UN Ocean Conference: Time to move beyond voluntary pledges

Michael Simire
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Vanuatu on UN Ocean Conference: Time to move beyond voluntary pledges

Statement from Ralph Regenvanu,  Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management for the Republic of Vanuatu

Ralph Regenvanu
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management for the Republic of Vanuatu

At this UN Ocean Conference, the stakes could not be clearer.  

Vanuatu’s contributions to climate change are minimal, yet we – and our neighbours – suffer severe repeated climate impacts that devastate our economy and people. We are living through the collapse of ocean stability and witnessing a dangerous acceleration in sea-level rise and ocean temperatures.

Our oceans are increasingly hostile even to the very creatures that live in them. The consequences of this will ripple through the entire food chain, hitting vulnerable countries like Vanuatu the hardest and ultimately affecting all of humanity and future generations. The role of our ocean as our greatest carbon sink is being threatened. 

The Nice Ocean Action Plan aligns with the standards set by the landmark International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Advisory Opinion delivered in May 2024, which made it clear: greenhouse gas emissions are marine pollution. And under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, all States are legally bound to prevent, reduce, and control them. This obligation extends not only to domestic emissions but to global ones as well. 

Even so, plans like these are voluntary. Promises without enforcement. Declarations without duty.

Protecting the ocean from climate change should not be a matter of choice. We need concrete mechanisms and independent monitoring to ensure that nations uphold their legal responsibilities. Conferences like this one, and the upcoming COP30, must not leave frontline nations feeling that nothing is changing – despite the overwhelming urgency.

It is time to move beyond voluntary pledges to making climate action a binding legal duty. Climate action must be grounded in a robust framework of legal principles: human rights, the right to self-determination, the duty to prevent harm, precautionary approaches, intergenerational equity, and obligations enshrined in key international treaties – from the Biodiversity Convention to the UNFCCC to the Law of the Sea.

That’s why we eagerly await the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the broader climate obligations of nations, in hopes of a strong ruling supporting global accountability for the climate crisis and enforceable climate action.

It’s time for States to catch up with the law, with the science, and with the urgency of this moment. 

Four nations meet to approve Limpopo Basin Water Report

Michael Simire
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Four nations meet to approve Limpopo Basin Water Report

Four southern African countries will convene this week to approve a comprehensive water management report for the Limpopo River Basin, marking a key step toward addressing critical transboundary environmental challenges.

Limpopo River
Limpopo River

The Limpopo Watercourse Commission will host the basin-wide meeting from June 10 to 12, 2025, in Bilene, Gaza Province, for Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe to consider the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis Report.

The report identifies seven priority transboundary water-related environmental problems requiring urgent attention: land degradation, sedimentation, deteriorating water quality, loss of biodiversity, weak transboundary water resources management, resilience to climate variability and uncertainty about available water resources.

“The TDA provides a factual basis for the formulation of a SAP that will be negotiated and agreed upon by the four riparian countries and will be aligned with the national and regional policies of member states,” said Dr. Ebenizáo Chonguiça, LIMCOM senior technical advisor.

Each member state validated the draft report at the national level late last year. Basin-wide approval represents collective ownership of the analytical process and outcomes.

Once approved, the commission will begin formulating a strategic action programme for the basin.

The analysis is part of the “Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management for the Sustainable Development of the Limpopo River Basin” project.

LIMCOM implements the initiative in collaboration with the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa, supported by the United Nations Development Programme through funding from the Global Environment Facility.

The project aims to improve living standards for basin populations while conserving resources and ecosystem services.

LIMCOM was established in 2003 through an agreement among the four member states to provide recommendations on Limpopo River usage and protection measures.

Ijaw Congress stresses need for support to coastal resilience, NDDC launches tree planting campaign in nine states

Michael Simire
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Ijaw Congress stresses need for support to coastal resilience, NDDC launches tree planting campaign in nine states

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide has stressed the need to promote coastal resilience, policy and good governance in managing coastal resources in Nigeria.

Benjamin Okaba
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Global President, Ijaw National Congress (INC)

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Global President, INC, said this on the occasion of the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit, which was held at Nice, France, on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

In a statement made available in Abuja on Sunday, Okaba in his presentation “Coastal Resilience Policy and Governance: Implications for Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Ijaw Land” said there’s need for a proactive approach to managing coastal resources.

He also stressed the need for protecting infrastructure and promoting sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities across Nigeria.

Okaba called on all stakeholders to join the INC in its effort towards a more resilient and sustainable future for Ijaw land.

According to him, coastal resilience, policy and governance are critical to the survival and prosperity of communities.

“We need to take a proactive approach to managing our coastal resources, protecting our infrastructure and promoting sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

The INC global president said the Ijaw, as an indigenous nation living in the Niger Delta, are no strangers to the devastating impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and oil pollution.

“Our people have borne the brunt of extractive exploitation, with our lands, waters, and ecosystems scarred by decades of neglect and abuse since 1956/1958, when oil and gas was first discovered in commercial quantities in Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of the present Bayelsa.”

He noted that the Ijaws occupy over 60 per cent of the entire Nigeria coastline, from the literal indigenous ljaw communities on Akwa lbom, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, and Lagos states.

He added that the ocean and its diverse marine and its aquatic resources define the ljaw identity of livelihood systems and heritage.

“Our communities are on the front lines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, storm surges, and environmental degradation.

“The impacts are far-reaching, from damage to infrastructure and livelihoods to threats to our very way of life. We have seen our mangrove forests, a vital component of our ecosystem, being destroyed, and our fisheries being depleted.

“Our people are struggling to cope with the loss of their livelihoods and the degradation of their environment. The Impact on our economy, climate change and environmental degradation on our economy is significant,” he said.

Okaba urged policymakers and stakeholders at national and international levels to prioritise coastal resilience, policy, and governance that supports the needs of Ijaw communities through the instrumentality of integrated coastal management.

He also called for the adaptation of climate change adaptation through supporting initiatives that would help the coastal communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

According to him, there’s a need to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, promote ecosystem-based adaptation, and support climate-resilient livelihoods.

Okaba also stressed the need for community engagement as well as leveraging on Indigenous knowledge and technology.

He added that coastal resilience must be built on justice, equity, and the recognition of the rights of the Ijaws as indigenous people.

He appealed for direct access to climate finance for sub-national entities and local communities, a UN convention for the conservation of River Deltas, recognising the specific needs and challenges of deltaic regions.

He also appealed for technological partnerships to support mangrove restoration in coastal areas, early warning systems, and integrated coastal zone management, among others.

The INC global president reiterated the commitment of the INC to building resilience, providing sustainable development and protecting the rights of the people.

“This position is in line with our persistent resolve on self determination and control of our God given water and land resources.

“We are committed to promoting the interests of our people and protecting our environment. We will continue to advocate for policies and practices that support our communities and ensure a sustainable future.

“We will work with policymakers, stakeholders, and our communities to develop and implement effective coastal management plans, support climate change adaptation initiatives, and promote sustainable livelihoods,” Okaba added.

In a related development, The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on Sunday, launched tree planting campaign across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

The states involved in the initiative are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.

The Director of Environment Protection and Control in the commission, Mr. Onouha Obeka, performed the launch during a multi-stakeholders’ meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Obeka said that the initiative is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and fostering community development, while also addressing the long-standing environmental degradation and pollution in the region.

He expressed confidence that the campaign would support biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, and improve public health across the region.

“This tree planting initiative will also tackle key factors contributing to environmental degradation, including the absence of eco-friendly practices such as deforestation and unethical business activities.

“NDDC calls for collective action to help forge a more sustainable future for the people of the Niger Delta,” Obeka said

He affirmed the commission’s commitment to full implementation of the programme, with particular focus on both urban and suburban areas across the Niger Delta states. 

By Deborah Coker and Desmond Ejibas

Single-use plastics dealers accuse Lagos of insensitivity, seek phased ban

Michael Simire
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Single-use plastics dealers accuse Lagos of insensitivity, seek phased ban

The Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL) has urged the Lagos State Government to undertake a phased ban of Single Use Plastics (SUPs) instead of an outright ban, ahead of the July 1, 2025, enforcement deadline.

Single-use plastics
Single-use plastics

President of ASWOL, Mr. Friday Oku, who disclosed this in an interview on Sunday, June 8, 2025, said that there should be at least three years’ notice to dealers and producers of SUPs to transit to other businesses in order not to create unnecessary unemployment.

He noted that the ban if implemented would impact the economy of the dealers and producers.

Oku said the government did not embark on adequate campaign and awareness before going ahead with the proposal to ban SUPs.

Also, some dealers and producers of SUPs described the proposed ban of SUPs by July 1 as insensitive at a time of economic challenge, adding that enough time should be given to them to seek alternative means of livelihood.

Mrs. Bunmi Ayeni, a dealer at the Ikotun Market in Lagos, said she had been selling nylon materials for about seven years and relied on it to support her family.

Ayeni said the timing for the ban was too short for her to begin to think of any other business to do.

Mr. Anthony Ugbe, a producer of nylon materials in Ayobo, said he had invested so much in the business and feared the ban could end it.

“If the government goes on with the ban, that will mean the end of my business.

“There should be a lot of time and awareness to get us in the sector prepared,” Ugbe said.

Another seller of nylon materials and styrofoam at Iyana Ipaja market, Mrs. Precious Ibeh, said the economy had been very challenging, wondering what she would fall back on when the ban is enforced.

Ibeh said she suffered huge losses during the initial ban on styrofoam in 2024, adding that she had to take them to a neighbouring state to sell.

However, Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, the General Secretary, Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria, said the action of the government to ban SUPs is a well-reasoned action that should go with a lot sensitisation.

Komolafe decried the use styrofoam for food packaging, adding that it pollutes the food and makes it unfit for consumption.

“It constitutes a lot of environmental hazards while disposing it and has capacity to clog the drains.

“It is a well reasoned action but needs a lot of sensitisation and engagement of the people who have the need to use it.

“The ban has implications for their little businesses,” Komolafe said.

He said the government should engage and sensitise the people using the social media and regular media to the dangers of SUPs.

“Quite frankly, there is an abuse of nylon in this country. In some other parts of the world, people have adopted paper for packaging.

“They are even using nylon to pack moi moi, hot eba and akara, etc. This is poisonous,” Komolafe said.

According to him, nylon poses a serious environmental problem because it clogs the drain and is not easily biodegradable.

“Our people need to be sensistised and a reasonable timeline should be given and messages in different languages should be used.

“The approach needs to be looked into. There is the need to adopt a more humane approach to it,” Komolafe said.

The Lagos State Government on May 20, 2025, clarified that its statewide ban on SUPs did not include PET bottles and sachet water.

Commissioner For Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known in a statement.

The statement was issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Kunle Adeshina.

Wahab added that part of those exempted from the ban were nylon carrier bags of more than 40 micron thickness.

“The latest clarification was made while reacting to deliberate viral misrepresentations by some people that the ban involves all categories of Single Use Plastics.

“The position of the state government has not changed that only single use plastics consisting of styrofoam food packs and all forms of polystyrene cups (disposal cups) are banned.

“Other items banned in the single use plastics category are plastic straws, plastic cutlery and all single use carrier bags and nylons that have less than 40 micron thickness,” he said.

Wahab reiterated the determination of the state government to go ahead with the enforcement of the ban on July 1.

This is after the expiration of a moratorium of 18 months which it had been given since the announcement of the intention to effect the ban in January 2024.

By Fabian Ekeruche

Spain asked to pass law to protect great apes

Michael Simire
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Spain asked to pass law to protect great apes

Spanish organisation, Proyecto Gran Simio, has called on the government to urgently pass a law to protect great apes.

Great apes
A young orangutan behind bars. Photo credit: Jay Ullal)

In collaboration with Rainforest Rescue, the group is calling for signatories to a petition addressed to the Directorate-General for Animal Rights in the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda.

The Spanish government had pledged to pass a law to protect bonobos, orangutans, chimpanzees and gorillas as part of its Animal Welfare Act, but it has not yet done so, and the groups believe that time is running out for man’s endangered close relatives in the animal kingdom.

In early 2023, the Spanish Congress and Senate passed the Animal Welfare Act, a landmark law recognising animals as sentient beings. The Act explicitly requires the government to present a draft law to protect great apes – bonobos, orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas – within three months of its enactment.

But those protections for great apes now appear to be two years overdue, according to Proyecto Gran Simioand and Rainforest Rescue.

The Jane Goodall Institute estimates that about 140 great apes live in captivity in Spain, often under poor conditions.

“Great apes suffer from illegal wildlife trafficking, deforestation and the impacts of human activities such as mining, oil exploration and intensive agriculture. Unless we protect them, we will also lose the biodiversity that ensures ecosystem balance.

“A law is vital for the survival of endangered great apes. Enacting it will strengthen Spain’s commitment to international conservation and protection programmes and send a clear message to the world: Great apes belong in the wild because they are indispensable for preserving rainforests. For those who cannot live in freedom, a law is urgently needed,” said John Hayduska of Rainforest Rescue.

The Letter:

To: The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda; Directorate-General for Animal Rights

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In Spain, Animal Protection Law 7/2023 of March 28 stipulates that “three months after the law comes into force, i.e. from December 29, 2023, the government must present a draft law for the protection of great apes” (according to the 4th additional provision). It is now more than a year overdue.

As stated in the explanatory memorandum to the public hearing prior to the drafting of the bill on great apes, “special protection for this group of primates is necessary … to eliminate practices that threaten the life, physical integrity, dignity and survival of great apes.” https://www.dsca.gob.es/sites/default/files/consultapub/CPP-Ley-Grandes-Simios.pdf

The Great Ape Law should set minimum standards for the welfare of great apes that have been exploited in zoos and other facilities for decades. It will be an important tool to ensure that they are never again treated as objects of entertainment or mere economic resources for humans. The law should cover the following points:

  • An end to captive ape programs, as there is no independent scientific support for them and they only serve to increase populations and replace those that die.
  • An end to transfers between zoos that disrupt the family units of great apes.
  • Prohibition of their use in circus performances, advertising, television, film etc.
  • Prohibition of experiments of any kind.
  • An end to captive breeding.
  • Strict flood and fire protocols.
  • If animals must live in captivity, strict conditions should apply. They must live in an environment that is optimal for their development.
  • Entry to Spain should only be permitted for great apes if their destination is a rescue center.
  • Spain must incorporate the commitments it has agreed upon with global organizations such as UNEP, GRAPS and others into its own legal system and continue its commitment to protecting great apes in international forums.

We must stop the unrestricted exploitation of those who share our evolutionary path. This law harms no one but benefits everyone. Every day that goes by without this law being passed is another day these extraordinary beings suffer needlessly and remain unprotected and vulnerable – hastening their demise.

Great apes deserve to live with dignity. A law to protect great apes is not just a regulation but a statement of principle that is urgently needed. Thank you for putting it into effect as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

World Oceans Day: Protect the ocean to sustain the planet – HOMEF, FishNet Alliance, HOME Alliance

Michael Simire
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World Oceans Day: Protect the ocean to sustain the planet – HOMEF, FishNet Alliance, HOME Alliance

The ocean is one vast body of water with various faces. It accounts for approximately 71% of the Earth and plays significant roles in environmental and climate systems, and more broadly, in life on Earth.

Oceans
The ocean. Photo credit: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Beyond its diverse faces – Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern – the ocean is connected to and interacts with other comparatively smaller surface water bodies, such as seas, gulfs, bays, lagoons, estuaries, and groundwater systems.

Ocean ecosystems supply a substantial amount of oxygen to the atmosphere and offer various services that ensure the survival of all species on Earth. As the world observes World Ocean Day with the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” it is time for humans to reflect on our exploitative, violent, and destructive relationship with the ocean and embrace a new beginning.

The Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, highlighted the importance of World Ocean Day, which is celebrated annually on June 8 to underscore the immeasurable importance of the world’s ocean and garner support for their protection. He stated that the ocean and other water bodies are continuously subjected to a barrage of assaults at local, national, and international levels.

“The concept that the ocean cycles itself and acts as a greenhouse gas sink has been misconstrued to mean that the ocean can filter and clean itself no matter what is dumped in it. The ocean and other waterbodies have become dumpsites of all sorts, polluting and extreme exploitation. There are a lot of unusual activities going on in our waters that must not be allowed to continue if we want a healthy ocean and planet.”

Bassey further stated that “corporate interests have been substituted for national and people-centred interests, as communities that live along the coasts, bear the brunt of such abnormalities. Now is the time for all to rise to the occasion to protect the ocean. The continued burning of the Ororo Oil well over a period of five years is a sad commentary on ecocide on our waters.”

Also, Stephen Oduware, a Programme Manager with HOMEF and Coordinator of the Fishnet Alliance, a network of fishers across Africa, emphatically noted that the world’s fisheries depend on the ocean.

“The two major sides of the ocean bordering Africa – the Atlantic and Indian, along with their associated gulfs, are experiencing shortfalls in fishing due to vested and powerful interests. Industrial fishing, including the use of bottom trawlers, is partly responsible for unsustainable fishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region.

 “These practices not only harm fisheries but also harm the ocean and create imbalances in the ecosystems the ocean supports. These unchecked activities in the territorial waters of Africa must stop. Fishers of the world unite.”

Climate change, primarily caused by human activities, is impacting the ocean. Dead zones are proliferating, pollution from minerals and fossil fuel extraction and production processes is occurring, unsustainable industrial fishing practices are occurring, intentional waste dumping is occurring, and disturbances of the ocean floor and seabeds are among a long list of destructive activities.

As ocean surface temperatures increase, global warming will also rise. Therefore, protecting the ocean from these forms of degradation would ultimately safeguard the Earth. Let’s protect the ocean and force others to respect it because we are the ocean; we are part of the ocean family.

Health of Mother Earth Foundation is an ecological think tank advocating for socio-ecological justice and food sovereignty in Nigeria and Africa.

The FishNet Alliance secretariat sits with HOMEF at its international headquarters in Nigeria.

On UN Oceans Day, ahead of the upcoming United Nations Oceans Conference the Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance is calling on governments to take decisive action to safeguard ocean ecosystems from the growing threat of marine geoengineering.  Civil society, including climate justice groups, Indigenous Peoples Organisations, human rights and grassroots groups are urging governments to take action to halt any ongoing current or planned marine geoengineering experiments.

In a statement signed by 126 organisations (including 20 new signatories this year), the HOME Alliance is calling on governments to recognise that oceans face growing threats not only from overexploitation and the climate crisis, but also from dangerous geoengineering experiments that attempt to manipulate Earth’s systems in response to climate change.

Coraina de la Plaza, Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance, said: “Marine geoengineering is not a solution to the climate crisis – it’s a dangerous distraction. Our oceans are not testing grounds for risky, unproven technologies. These large-scale manipulations of marine ecosystems pose serious threats to climate and biodiversity, and the livelihoods of coastal and Indigenous communities. We need real climate solutions rooted in justice, and respect for nature – not technofixes that gamble with the planet’s most vital systems.”

Between 2019 and 2023, proposed marine carbon dioxide removal field experiments have quadrupled compared to the period from 2014 to 2018. However, there has been sustained and strong public opposition to marine geoengineering, with key grassroots-led victories showing growing resistance to marine geoengineering.

These include the shutdown of an ocean alkalinity enhancement trial in Cornwall, UK, by Planetary Technologies, after pushback from local communities, scientists, and environmental organizations, and the shutdown of the Arctic Ice Project due to growing concerns over its ecological impacts this year. Similarly, a marine cloud brightening project was also shut down in Alameda, California last year.

Late last year at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, governments came together and reaffirmed the de facto moratorium on geoengineering, highlighting their commitment to a precautionary approach to geoengineering. The London Convention/London Protocol also calls for precaution on various marine geoengineering technologies including effectively prohibiting Ocean Fertilisation technofix among others.

Despite public opposition and existing restrictive governance in place, marine geoengineering proposals continue to surface globally and mainly driven by the private sector with commercial purposes.

“Governments attending the oceans conference have a responsibility to uphold the Convention on Biological Diversity moratorium on geoengineering, including marine geoengineering, and other existing restrictive frameworks and regulations like London Convention/London Protocol, to ban outdoor marine geoengineering experiments from taking place, and to ensure that any decision taken prioritize human rights and the protection of marine ecosystems,” added Coraina de la Plaza.   

Marie-Luise Abshagen, Head of Sustainability at the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, shared: “At the last UN Oceans Conference in 2022 in Lisbon, we saw a growing commitment of governments and parliamentarians to a deep-sea mining moratorium. Three years later, 33 countries are behind this call. Be it deep sea mining or geoengineering, it is all the same trends – exploiting our oceans resources, ignoring Indigenous opposition, all for the continuation of an industrial model that is destroying our planet. Let’s make the 3rd UN Oceans Conference a marine conference of resistance!” 

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