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 toward limiting its impact.
Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:
- In Nigeria, a lot of people live on the front lines of climate change and are daily left to hope for a better future. One such person is Morgan Agidi, a native of Abari community in Pantani LGA of Delta state. The River Niger tributary which flows through this community has become a source of pain for residents. Despite serving as the main source of water for the community, it constantly floods its banks; and in the process submerges anything on its part. Read more here.
- Following the onset of rains, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has warned pilots and passengers to be wary of thunderstorms and other dangerous weather events. The agency said this can cause turbulence, lightning strikes, strong winds, and heavy rainfall, which may eventually lead to delays, diversion, and cancellations of flights. It, however, assured that weather monitoring systems and thunder detectors have been installed across airports nationwide to mitigate the negative effects.
- President Muhammadu Buhari has encouraged the world’s most vulnerable countries to adopt domestic resource mobilisation for climate finance. While speaking at the UN conference on least developed countries (LDCs), held in Qatar last Tuesday, President Buhari said Nigeria’s issuance of green bonds has made it possible to implement certain climate projects. He mentioned that Nigeria is committed to helping countries adapt and mitigate climate vulnerabilities. Read more here.
- The National Population Commission (NPC) said it is set to conduct a green census for the 2023 population and housing census. The commission said the exercise is its own way of keying into the reduction of climate change impacts in Nigeria. While soliciting funds from stakeholders in Abuja last week, Clement Agba, minister of state for budget and national planning, said the census would be technology-driven. He asked network providers and other partners to help with acquiring tablets for the conduct of the exercise. Find out more here.
- Similarly, Adeleke Adewolu, the executive commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the commission is working towards reducing the impact the operations of telecommunications have on climate change. Speaking in Abuja last week during the 2023 World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD), Adewolu said Nigeria’s poor electricity supply is such that the sector runs on generators and contributes to carbon emissions. He said the commission hopes to increase the use of renewables.
- In its bid to improve climate awareness of the electorate, the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) has taken its ‘Vote for Climate’ campaign to Benue communities. In Iniungon community in Wadata LGA, David Terungwa, GIFSEP’s team lead, encouraged residents to vote for candidates that have practical strategies to tackle the issue of flooding in the state. GIFSEP also introduced community members to renewable energy by distributing solar kits to households.
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