Climate Watch: Lagos residents count losses as flood submerges cars, property

Despite directly impacting on 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:

• The need for countries to meet up with their climate ambitions of reducing carbon emissions cannot be overemphasised if the world is to tackle climate change. This is why in the race to COP26, Alok Sharma, president for the 26th United Nations climate change conference, has written to countries signatory to the Paris agreement, charging them to ensure they deliver on all the goals contained in the Paris agreement. He emphasised the need for countries to come together at COP26 in November and show progressive reports that demonstrate to the world they are on the right path to healing the planet. Read more here. 

• With over eight million tonnes of plastic deposited in the world’s oceans annually and about 1.5 million plastic waste believed to be generated in Nigeria every year, Mohammed Abubakar, minister of environment, said plastic pollution has become one of the gravest environmental problems in the world. But notwithstanding, Abubakar said the government is taking measures to reduce plastic pollution in Nigeria, some of which include the development of national policies on solid/plastic waste management, a national plastic waste recycling programme, and waste to wealth entrepreneurship programme. More on this here.

• The impacts of climate change are affecting the entire world, as some countries are experiencing different degrees of the planet crisis. Germany had a bitter taste of a natural disaster last week when flooding from a downpour killed over 80 persons,  submerged houses and property. German authorities did not hesitate to connect this to climate change because according to them, it is one of the worst floods in decades. Angela Merkel, German chancellor, pledged full support for the victims but expressed fears more disaster might be seen in the days ahead. Read further on how much was lost here. 

• Following the passage of the climate change bill by the house of representatives, Sharon Ikeazor, minister of state for environment, can say the goals of the ministry in ensuring the nation meets its climate objectives are gradually moving in the right direction. The minister who has been pushing for the passage of the climate change bill was pleased with the house of representatives for passing the bill. She said the passage of the bill shows their commitment to the implementation of the provisions of the Paris agreement. She asked the senate to affirm this position from their end to give the bill the necessary boost it requires to become a law. Find out more about this bill here.

• As the rainy season sets in, in full force and more intense rainfall occurs as a result of climate change, flooding events are bound to be commonplace. In Nigeria, states are beginning to experience different magnitudes of flooding which has led to loss of property and livelihoods. Last week in Lagos, the downpour on Friday afternoon led to flooding that washed into peoples’ houses, submerged their cars and left many helpless. Residents took to social media to share pictures and express their frustrations. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advised residents to observe safety precautions this period and park their cars on high grounds for safety. See pictures shared on social media here.