The Gains, Pains of COP 28 to Nigerians

The Gains, Pains of COP 28 to Nigerians

 

By: Femi Oyelola

 

Nigeria is among the 195 other signatories to the 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) participating in the ongoing 28th edition of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28).

 

The Conference kicks off on November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its theme anchored on reducing emissions through climate change mitigation and just energy, building climate-resilient societies, and investing in solutions to counter the effects of climate change, considering the negative effects of Climate change on Man and his environment.

 

According to Environmental Expert Hajia Binta Musa, climate disasters are happening at frightening rates in Nigeria, which calls for prioritizing efforts to counter the effects of climate change.

 

“There is no doubt that Nigeria is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with a population of over 200 million people, half of which are considered to be in abject poverty. Nigeria is recognized as being vulnerable to climate change,” she said.

 

Climate change, in simple language, is an adverse environmental phenomenon that is causing enormous concern all over the world. It also refers to some anomalies in the climate system that are a result of human activities. Global warming has already begun, as the earth’s temperature has risen between 0.4 and 0.8°C in the last 100 years.

 

Climate change and global warming, in the words of Seth Luke, a youth activist in Kaduna, “If left unchecked will cause adverse effects on livelihoods in the Country such as crop production, livestock production, fisheries, forestry, and post-harvest activities because the rainfall regimes and patterns will be altered, floods which devastate farmlands would occur, increase in temperature and humidity which increases pest and disease would occur, and other natural disasters like floods, ocean, and storm surges, which not only damage Nigerians’ livelihood but also cause harm to life and property, would occur.”

 

There is no gainsaying that vulnerability to extreme climatic change in Nigeria is becoming more intense as accelerated urbanization continues to push more people into the capital cities in different regions of the country.

 

In many of the states in the country, urbanization pressure across different urban areas is gradually expanding towns and cities to floodplains and coastal strips where they are exposed to more coastal flood risks.

 

The ongoing 28th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP) 28, to many, will provide solutions to the effects of Climate Change in Nigeria.

Speaking from Dubai, the Deputy Executive Director Of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Mr. Leo Atakpu said undoubtedly, COP28 comes at a decisive moment of international climate action.

 

He added that ANEEJ welcomed the message of the Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, to the COP 28 summit, calling on world leaders to end fossil fuel.

 

The statement stated that an agreement at the ongoing COP 28 summit on a loss and damage fund with nations pleading over $725 million on the first day, which is a vital step but still inadequate for the quantum of what is needed.

 

“Operationalization of the Loss and Damage funds at the opening of COP28 noted some studies have estimated that loss and damage in developing countries are already greater than $400bn a year and are expected to grow.

 

Atakpu, who is in Dubai for the two-week summit, noted that some studies have estimated the loss and damage in developing countries are already greater than $400bn a year and are expected to grow.

 

 

He stressed that the yearnings and aspirations of climate-vulnerable countries, particularly in Africa, before the commencement of COP28, are to see the operationalization of the historical loss and damage fund established at COP27 in Egypt last year.

 

This, according to him, came to fruition at the opening plenary of COP28 delegates adopted a loss and damage operationalisation agenda. Just after that, high-income countries began to make pledges in solidarity with the new funds, with over $500 million pledged so far.

 

He opined that his organization welcomed the agreement at the COP 28 summit on a loss and damage fund with nations pleading over $725 million on the first day, which is a vital step but still inadequate for the quantum of what is needed.

 

He stressed that as Environmental activists, they are deeply concerned that contributions from highly polluting countries will be voluntary and wonder when the fund will pay out and how it will be sustained over the long term.

 

According to him Bayelsa State of Nigeria alone requires $12 billion in loss and damage. Delta State requires a much higher amount.

 

“We are also worried that the fund will be administered, initially, by the World Bank against the wishes of many developing countries as we expect such funds to be disbursed as grants and not loans.

 

Atakpu explained that the agreement for the loss and damage funds on the first day of the climate talks (30 November) in Dubai was greeted with a standing ovation from delegates.

 

“The fund aims to support the most vulnerable and poorest countries to keep up with the rising costs associated with the climate crisis.

 

“Host country UAE and Germany both pledged $100m (£79m) to the loss and damage startup fund, which will aim to keep up with the rising costs caused by extreme weather and slow-onset disasters such as sea level rise, ocean acidification, and melting glaciers.”

The ANEEJ Deputy Director also hailed the call by Pope Francis for lending his weight behind calls for an end to fossil fuels in a message delivered here at COP28. In a wide-ranging statement, Pope Francis called for an end to coal, oil, and gas as well as lifestyle changes to save the planet. He also asked for debt forgiveness for poorer countries hit by climate change.

 

“We are particularly happy that the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has lent his voice to the calls for a need to urgently phase out fossil fuels given that we have had to get the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Board of the Church of England Pension’s Board to stop lending its moral and financial support to Shell, an oil company that has polluted and degraded the Niger Delta environment alongside other multinational oil companies.

 

“We want the big emitters, USA, China, Canada, Germany, Russia, Japan, India, and Indonesia to save the planet by taking urgent steps to cut their carbon emissions” Leo Atakpu demanded.

 

“The issue of debt cancellation for poor countries as raised by the Catholic head is quite important for the world to be able to meet the global climate target as agreed in Paris COP21 as many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria are reeling under the yoke of debt burdens. Debt cancellation for such countries is an imperative to achieving net zero,” Atakpu stated.

 

“As a Nigerian, it was also heartwarming to see President Ahmed Bola Tinubu calling on industrialized nations to invest in alternative energy sources in Nigeria and Africa since Africa, which contributes the least to carbon emissions is at the worst hit at a Panel hosted by the COP 28 presidency and the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

 

“President Tinubu’s emphasis on the need for risk management is vital for Africa’s full and swift transition to cleaner energy sources, according to the President, Africa must not become a victim of the disruptions that come with climate change mitigation measures is quite significant,” Atakpu noted.

 

The ANEEJ Deputy Chief further stated, “Another significant milestone achieved is the COP28 Presidency, in partnership with the World Health Organization and UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, the unveiling of the ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health’ to place health at the heart of climate action and accelerate the development of climate-resilient, sustainable and equitable health systems.”

 

A set of new finance commitments on climate and health was announced to back up these political commitments, including a USD 300 million commitment by the Global Fund to prepare health systems, USD 100 million by the Rockefeller Foundation to scale up climate and health solutions, and an announcement by the UK Government of up to GBP 54 million. “This is quite remarkable, Leo Atakpu noted.

 

Similarly, the Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani Mallam Yusuf Amoke said, Kaduna State as a sub-national group registered its name as one of the few states to organize a side event in COP28. This event was acclaimed the best by participants and a member of the handlers of the Nigerian Pavilion.

The event which was chaired by the State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Mallam Abubakar Buba, had a panel him on the panel, Mal. Sabiu Ismail, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion, Haj. Juwaira Bashir Elrufai the SSA on Investment Promotion and moderated by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Climate Change, Hon. Yusuf Idris Amoke.

 

While stressing the challenges Kaduna State faces regarding climate change, the Hon. Commissioner seeks partners both locally and internationally to help the people of Kaduna State adapt to the impact of climate change, most especially women, children, and the elderly.

 

Aligning Kaduna State with the commitment of Nigeria to reduce emissions by 20% in 2030, the commissioner made it clear that a law has been passed banning cutting down of trees in Kaduna State without acquiring a license to do so, even if the tree is in your compound.

 

Dr. Sabiu and Hajiya Juwaira discussed the viability of Kaduna for investment particularly as it regards renewable energy and waste management.

 

The commissioner further enumerated that the high population of Kaduna State means high waste generation which makes it an investment opportunity in waste management in Kaduna. The session was acclaimed as one of the best organized in terms of coordination and value of content.

 

The Nigeria Pavilion at the COP 28 is said to be a beehive of activities but this according to Prof. Kamarudeen Abubakar Of ABU Zaria will be of no importance if the government does not prioritize climate action to mitigate natural disasters Authenticating this he said currently, about 178 local government areas (LGAs) in 32 of 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory fall within the highly probable flood risk areas and more than 830 kilometers of coastline are increasingly threatened by floods, erosion, water, and air pollution.

 

He added that Communities in the Niger Delta states bordering the Atlantic Ocean have lost or fear losing their homes and farmlands due to the eroding bedrock shielding the shoreline.

 

Collaborating this Alhaji Musa Zakari, director of human resource management at the National Emergency Management Agency, disclosed that the frequency of natural disasters in the country is linked to climate change.

 

A Climate Change reporter in Kaduna Ibrahim Yakubu said all the noise about Nigeria’s large delegates to COP 28 will be irrelevant if the government and other stakeholders do not come out with solutions to the vulnerability of the country and its citizens to Climate change.

 

Ibrahim, however, said Nigeria and other African countries are poised to gain from €5 million in Sustainable Energy Funds from Italy through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) Special Fund, which is a new contribution during a side event at the COP 28.

 

“This new contribution of €5 million to the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) Special Fund strengthens the attention that the Italian Government devotes to Africa, a geographical region of priority importance for our country’s energy and climate policies,” he said.

 

But Saheed Umar of the League of Climate Change said any fund or pronouncement that did not stop deforestation, loss of farmland, and Health challenges to the vulnerable is not the gain Nigerians are expecting from the delegates.

 

He advised that a mechanism should be put in place immediately for the vulnerable to benefit from the funds that will be allocated to the country from the operationalization of the Loss and Damage funds approved by delegates at COP28, saying that is the gain of the people who are mostly affected by Climate change.