Supporting Climate Finance; A step at securing the future today

Date: 2017-08-29

The rains could no longer be predicted, the simple agrarian African setting is groaning. It seems a curse has hit the land as all seem to be at extreme measures.

From unstable weather patterns to diminishing water supply and poor water quality, from dwindling agriculture to poor food production, from deteriorating human health to shelter, from attendant hard times on vulnerable population especially women and children to massive disruption in Eco balance, Climate Change threats are evidently pervading the length and breadth of Africa. The typical communal lifestyle that characterized Africa is been threatened and measures formerly taken by leaders of clans and villages have failed, the quest for a detailed explanation of the eventualities of these threats is daily on the lips of residents.

Nigeria with a population of over 180 million people has actually earned its ranking as the most populous black nation as a case study is a significant impact metrics of the damning consequences of climate change. It's no longer news, the devastating results of Flash Flooding that in times past and even now ravage the entire nation. In the last half of the year 2012, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 363 people were killed and over 2.1 million people displaced, 30 out of Nigeria's 36 states was affected. It was estimated that the losses and destructions associated with the floods were worth about N2.6 trillion. These floods have led to a drastic decline in crop yields and livestock productivity, as they are most times lethal, especially in densely populated city shanties or even rural areas, where there is an attendant inadequacy in the drainage system.

In Nigeria, huge stretches of inland waters are now facing environmental devastation owning to pollution as half the population is denied access to clean water due to human activities that border on climate change. It is therefore imperative to put in place strategic financial investment in mitigating and adapting climate change in Nigeria, it's worrisome though the expansive finance essential to do so, these have resulted in quite a number of finance models – climate finance strategies to address climate change issues on the local and national scale.

As widely reported in the media, the figures budget for Solar Street lights installation and Solar powered water pumps in the 2017 budget are quite impressive, communities that depend majorly on burning wood for cooking now have access to Green Stoves, an innovation that allows for commercial distribution of biofuels to women in rural neighborhoods as championed by representatives of such constituencies in the legislative arm of government although still grossly inadequate but is relatively a good step in the right direction. Nigeria seems to have a newly discovered love for renewable energy, as the diversification in power generation has led the government into exploring Solar and Wind energy in the Northern part of the country. It is believed that if explored in commercial capacities this two energy sources can further give a boost to the struggling power sector of the nation.

It has become a national policy on the administration of ecological funds that areas prone to flooding have camps built to serve as immediate relief to people that are displaced from their homes in times of floods and as well serve as a finance vehicle to dredge blocked water ways, most of which are clogged by debris dumped into flowing water channels by residents who engage in indiscriminate disposal of waste across the country. Although there is no implementation of carbon pricing laws in Nigeria, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) recently took a huge step at ensuring big polluters in areas of industrialized cities like Lagos State, Nigeria pay more in areas of tax to buffer projects aimed at mitigating environmental degradation, however with recent focus of the government on Green Bonds, it's imperative that in the nearest future a proper legislation will take place and laws will be enacted to drive the quest for proper carbon trading schemes. It is, however, worth mentioning that private sector has been highly involved in the pursuit of a sustainable climate finance, a lot of big spenders in the manufacturing sector are giving a positive nod to the long-anticipated Environment Green Bonds, aimed at enabling capital-raising and investment for new and existing projects with environmental benefits.

Indeed, a step in the right direction as this shows Nigeria's commitment and allegiance to the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in staring down on the damning impact of climate change. This fund is as well in line with the current government development focus targeted at agricultural revitalization, power generation resuscitation and carbon emission targets. It is very well commendable though that when on global scene some very important stakeholders like the United States are pulling out of the Paris agreement, Nigeria is further strengthening national policies to sustain the pact through localizing climate actions, this is relatively important in sustaining the fight against climate change and mitigating its threats as we likewise adapt as a nation.

Another very commendable initiative subscribed to by Nigeria is the Great Green Wall Programme conceived to address desertification and land degradation, strengthen food security and help communities adapt to climate change in the Sahel-Sahara region of Africa.

This program is aimed at sound ecosystem management, sustainable development of land resources, protection of rural heritage and improvement of the living conditions of the indigenous populations.

These discuss won't be complete without mentioning the Ogoni Clean Up Project. On June 2nd, 2016 in Bodo Rivers State, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, launched the clean-up project of Ogoniland. Over a year after, major activities are yet to resume and this has raised the question of sincerity on the part of the government as the usually restive Niger delta region has experienced commendable calm in the past months.

The bureaucracy of involved institutions of government have been blamed for the slag, the expectations of the local residents are gradually fading away as the hope that a lot of young people in the communities affected will be gainfully employed in the process remains hanging in a balance.

In recent past, vast funds have been said to have been earmarked for relative projects like Power Generation, Infrastructural development and other government social contracts with the residents, but didn't see the light of the day as the hydra head of corruption took a large chunk of the resources leaving nothing to make the projects a reality. If the objectives of these climate financing strategies will be achieved, a lot has to be done to fight corruption in both private and public sector, the whistle blowing policies of the current administration seems also to be a giant leap from the past, however, lot is yet to be done in making corruption less attractive.

As a nation, there are still a lot of grounds to cover in areas of implementing climate finance, as the focus and objectives of which each initiative above mentioned are been strategized are very much yet achieved. We should come to an understanding how be it that as an ancient Indian adage say " we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children" If we will go all the way to rescue the unborn generation from the consequences of our own human activities directly responsible for climate change, we would as a matter of urgency and national responsibility set in motion pro-active and serious measures of sustainable climate financing that are targeted at encouraging local climate actions with prospects of global impacts.

Amusa Temitope Victor is an Environmentalist, Social Entrepreneur and Zero-Waste Advocate. He is the Chief Executive Officer, Vicfold Recyclers- A Recycling Firm based in Ilorin Kwara State Nigeria, which Promotes Incentive Motivated Recycling. (www.vicfoldrecyclers.com). He can be reached on +2348094865401 or founders@vicfoldrecyclers.com

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Rafiu Olasile     Oniye     Olupako Of Share     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     UITH     Gbajabiamila     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Isiaka Alikinla     Oba Sulaiman Asude     Olabanji Orilonishe     Bayo Ajia     Ibrahim Abikan     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     CBT     Yaru     Folaranmi Aro     Apaokagi     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Tsaragi     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Issa Manzuma     Aisha Gobir     Sabi     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     John Obuh     Ethical College     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Funke Adedoyin     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Abegunde Goke     Femi Ogunsola     Mohammed Abduraheem     Valsolar     Ahman Patigi     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Sadiq Buhari     Adeola Abraham     Kwarareports     SWAN     IYA YUSUF     Monthly Sanitation     Saraki     Press Release     Rasaq Jimoh     Muhammed Abdullahi     Ahmad Lawan     Kwara State Television (KWTV)     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Modupe Oluwole     Muritala Olarewaju     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Alao Ayotunde     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Saliu Ajia     Ilorin South     Sunset Workers     COVID-19 Palliatives     Tsado Manman     Patience Jonathan     Nigerian Army     Sulu Gambari     John Olobayo     Henry Makinwa     Medview Airlines     United Nigeria Congress Party     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Zara Umar     Offa Metropolitan Club     Kwara Poly     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Taofik Mustapha     Saad Belgore     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Forgo Battery    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ishaq Abdulkarim     ITEM 7     Lai Mohammed     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Emir Of Lafiagi     Abubakar Atiku     Bamikole Omishore     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Paul Odama     Kayode Bankole     Harafat E. Mukadam     Taofeek Sanusi     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     SSUCOEN     High Court     Bello Oyedepo     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Atiku     Emir Of Kano     Henry Olaosebikan     Rotimi Oyedepo     Oluronke Adeyemi     Madawaki     Quareeb Islamic Association     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Oniye     Sai Kayi     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Adebara     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Funmilayo Mohammed     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Tinubu Legacy Forum     Aliyu Adebayo     PPS     Yemi Osinbajo     JAMB     Femi Gbajabiamila     Olomu     John Olajide Adedipe     Suleiman Abubakar     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Lanre Jimoh     S.O. Opowoye     Mogaji Aare     Kale Ayo     Kumbi Titiloye     Abraysports FC     Illyasu Abdullahi     Isiaka Alikinla     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Igbomina     Alliance For Democracy     Cornelius Adebayo     Oke-Ode     Azeez Bello     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Yoonus Lawal     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     John Olobayo     Ndakene     Kishira     Afonja Descendants Union     Amos Bajeh     Funmilayo Oniwa     Shururat Olatinwo     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Ayo Salami     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Rafiu Ibrahim     Ilesha-Gwanara