Climate Watch: 321 killed, 740,000 displaced nationwide by flooding, says NEC

Climate change directly affects our communities, health, and livelihoods. Yet, media coverage often prioritises politics and business over climate-related stories, leaving crucial environmental news underreported.

Climate Watch seeks to bridge this information gap, ensuring that important climate change stories and mitigation efforts stay on your radar.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:

• During a dialogue organised by The Kukah Centre, Eco Steward, Al-Habibiyya Islamic Society, and GreenFaith Africa on October 28, religious leaders asked the federal government to develop a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. Atta Barkindo, the executive director of The Kukah Centre, asked the government to prioritise investments in renewable and clean energy. Barkindo said activities of fossil fuels are contributing to environmental degradation, leading to the displacement of communities, deepening inequality, and the erosion of livelihoods. Read more here.
• Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), says there is a critical need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2030. Stiell noted that current climate plans are far from sufficient to prevent global warming. He said the new nationally determined contributions (NDCs) due next year must provide a clear roadmap for increasing renewable energy, enhancing adaptation efforts, and speeding up the transition to low-carbon economies globally. Read more here.
• Last week, the national economic council (NEC) said more than 1.3 million Nigerians were affected by floods in 34 states. Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, spoke in Abuja after a NEC meeting presided over by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the State House. Soludo said 321 persons died due to flooding while 740,000 others were displaced, adding that 281,000 houses were also destroyed and 258,000 cultivated farmlands were affected nationwide. The governor said the council urged state-level emergency agencies to “up their game” and enhance their collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Find out more here.
• Help Africa Initiatives (HAI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has donated school materials to over 800 students in Lagos lagoon communities in Epe. The donation was made possible through HAI’s ‘Lagos lagoon climate response’ project, which aims to support communities impacted by climate change and improve access to education. Bolaji Alonge, the project coordinator for HAI, said the organisation is committed to supporting coastal communities. Read more here.