Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihoods, 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 toward limiting its impact.
Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:
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- The house of representatives committee on climate change, on November 13, said it will ensure that Nigeria meets the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Chris Nkwonta, chairman of the committee, said climate change is a reality that affects every aspect of human lives. Nkwonta said the committee would work “closely” with the National Council on Climate Change on capacity-building programmes, international conferences and seminars within and outside the country. Read more here.
- Last week, Denmark expressed readiness to partner with the federal government of Nigeria on green transition and mutual economic development. Dan Jorgensen, Danish minister of development cooperation and global climate policy, said both countries can work together to ensure a successful green transition. He said energy transition can boost economic growth, adding that Nigeria has a huge potential in solar energy which is cheaper and more reliable. Read more here.
- The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), on November 14, inaugurated the steering committee of the Nigeria bioenergy partnership (NBEP) to harness the benefits in the sector. Mustapha Abdullahi, ECN director general, said the country would benefit from its abundant bioenergy potentials which have been under-utilised for years. Abdullahi said Nigeria’s biomass potential can be directed into modern bioenergy which could mitigate climate change and promote rural economic development. Find out more here.
- The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), last week, said national climate action plans are insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5° Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris agreement. The report said while emissions are no longer increasing after 2030, they are “still not demonstrating the rapid downward trend science says is necessary this decade”. Simon Stiell, UNFCCC executive secretary, said the first global stocktake at COP28 is where nations can get on track with meeting the goals of the Paris agreement. Stiell said COP28 “must be a clear turning point”, adding that governments must agree on what stronger climate actions must be taken and deliver them. Read more here.
- Aliyu Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, on November 14, said climate change is posing a great threat to the nation’s food security. Abdullahi said the country is hounded by desert encroachment in the north rising tide of coastal flooding and erosion in the south. He said the country must raise its level of preparedness by putting in place policies and strategies that support climate-smart agriculture. Read more here.
- Vice-President Kashim Shettima has raised concerns over an “existential threat” of drought and flooding in the country following the report of the presidential committee on flood mitigation, adaptation, preparedness, and response. He said President Bola Tinubu is committed to finding a solution and enhancing the lives of vulnerable Nigerians. He commended members of the committee for their efforts towards ensuring that the impact of climate change is mitigated through the comprehensive report. Read more here.
- Ishaq Salako, minister of state for environment, on November 18, said the federal government has launched a project to map the impacts of climate change across the country. Salako said the government hopes to analyse the existing climate policies and actions to identify the support needs of each state. He said it is also aimed at gaining the support of sub-national governments in managing and addressing environmental issues around climate change. Find out more here.
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