Climate watch: Flood displaces millions of residents in India, Bangladesh

Despite directly impacting our communities, health and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

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

• Up to 59 people have been reported dead from massive floods occasioned by continued downpour in India and Bangladesh. The flood is said to have submerged millions of homes, disrupted transport links and left millions stranded. Emergency workers have struggled to reach those affected, while forecasters warn that the flooding is expected to get worse in the coming days. According to the BBC, some Bangladesh government officials have described the recent flooding as the country’s worst since 2004. Schools have been converted into makeshift shelters, while troops have been deployed to evacuate households cut off from neighbouring communities as a result of rising waters. 

• In a bid to live up to it climate change commitment under the nationally determined contributions, President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigeria is working towards moving away from the use of kerosene lighting by 2030. In a meeting with other world leaders hosted by US President Joe Biden, Buhari said Nigeria’s plans to improve public transportation, forest programmes, and reduce kerosene lighting will enable a significant reduction in carbon emission by 2030. Read more here.  

• Last week, Nigeria hosted the eighth ordinary session of the council of ministers of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) in Abuja. As the current leader of the PAGGW member states, Nigeria committed to donating the sum of $550,000 for the establishment of the Great Green Wall secretariat. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who disclosed this, encouraged other countries to fulfil their commitments to the project because it will help Africa combat the challenges of climate change and poverty in the continent. Read more here. 

• Amid calls for the implementation of the climate change act, Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of environment, has said the federal government is on course to implement the act and set up the climate change council. He said the government is working from the background and addressing administrative and legal prerequisites for the take off of the council. He also gave the assurance that Nigeria is on course with its climate change commitments. Read more here. 

• In another development, Nigel Topping, UN high level champion for COP26, visited Nigeria last week to engage with the government on the implementation of national climate change plans. He said implementation is key if Nigeria is to achieve her net-zero goal by 2060. Topping, who was in Nigeria from June 14 to 16, met with private and financial sector leaders, civil society organisations and climate change activists, where he discussed the prospects of a green transition. He applauded Nigeria on its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which he described as “ambitious”, as well as the energy transition plan presented at COP26 and the passing of the climate change act.