The International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) Africa popularly known as “Climate Wednesday” is set to launch a series of workshop to broaden public knowledge on the concept of net-zero particularly in the context of Nigeria.
This is against the backdrop of President Muhammadu Buhari’s COP26 pledge at Glasgow, UK in November 2021, where he announced that Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude producer, along with some of the world’s largest energy exporters (such as Saudi Arabia and Russia), pledged to eliminate planet-warming emissions by 2060.
The practicality of Nigeria achieving Net Zero by 2060 and the need in the first place have brought about many concerns, according to Olumide Idowu, co-founder of the ICCDI, who added: “Government must make sure there is enough assistance for companies to make this shift confidently.”
Idowu, who is also Executive Director of the Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), also expressed optimism about the possibility of a net-zero future. “We are using this platform to educate the public about the need to understand that achieving net-zero demands considerable reduction in greenhouses gas emission across all economic sectors,” he stated.
The workshop series serves as a capacity building for Nigerians, detailing on what exactly net-zero means for the country and whether pursuing zero emissions is compatible with Nigeria’s development plans. It will also explore accountability tools available to measure and compare the progress made over time.
As part of the project concept, a hybrid workshop themed: “How to build a campaign strategy on net-zero in Nigeria” will be held. The workshop is targeted at civil society and youth groups, helping to build both online and offline strategies to drive the “net-zero” project locally.
The European Climate Foundation is supporting ICCDI Africa to organise the workshop series as part of activities aimed at promoting climate and energy-related policies towards achieving a net zero greenhouse gas emissions society by 2050.
Among other professionals, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, a foremost Nigerian climate scientist and Professor in Environment and Development will be speaking alongside Habiba Ahut Daggash, an Associate at the Africa Energy Programme at RMI; Ken Henhsaw, a climate activist; and Ochuko Odibo, an environmentalist.
Expected to host this series of workshops is ‘Seyifunmi Adebote, a prominent young environmentalist and host of the Climate Talk Podcast.
By ‘Seyifunmi Adebote
