Climate Watch: Stakeholders must collaborate to advance Nigeria’s climate goals, says minister

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:

• Balarabe Lawal, minister of environment, says ahead of the 29th session of the United Nations climate change conference (COP29) in November, stakeholders must collaborate to advance Nigeria’s environmental goals. Lawal spoke at the national workshop to review COP28 outcomes. He said the workshop aimed to unpack the significant outcomes of COP28, while setting the stage for Nigeria’s active participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan. He said there is a need for stakeholders to collectively identify and prioritise key areas that will drive Nigeria’s environmental agenda in the future. Read more here.
• Last week, a year’s worth of rainfall in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, left the city flooded and disrupted airport operations. A video posted online showed the tarmac of Dubai International Airport underwater as massive aircraft attempted to navigate floodwaters. Nearly four inches (100 mm) of rain fell over 12 hours, which according to United Nations data, was around what Dubai usually records in an entire year. Multiple airlines announced flight delays and cancelled flights. Find out more here.
• Social Justice Community of Practice, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), has called for the integration of social justice into climate action. Victor Terhemba, executive director of Raising New Voices Initiative, said integrating social justice into climate action will achieve fair and long-lasting solutions for marginalised communities affected by climate change. Terhemba said when justice is prioritised and all voices are heard, it will build resilience, empower the vulnerable, and create a future where everyone can thrive. Obinna Nwagbara, executive director of Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiatives, said integrating climate action into social justice would foster “fairness, equity, and participation”. Read more here.
• Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) has called for an increase in the budgetary allocation to address climate change in Nigeria. David Terungwa, GIFSEP’s executive director, said the federal government must increase resources in tackling the effect of climate change. Terungwa noted that the N599 billion earmarked for climate change in the 2024 budget is meagre compared to the entire N28 trillion that the government planned to expend for the year. Read more here.
• Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, has called on countries to ensure they develop new and ambitious climate action plans by 2025. The UN chief said climate disasters have a significant impact on the economies of nations. He said climate impacts, like floods, droughts and fires, are destroying economies worldwide. Read more here.