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2016: Amosun promises affordable housing, infrastructure development

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2016: Amosun promises affordable housing, infrastructure development

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has promised the residents of the state of affordable housing and a spate of infrastructure development schemes under a wider urban renewal programme in 2016.

Gov Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State
Gov Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State

Governor Amosun stated this in Abeokuta while presenting the 2016 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly at the Hallow Chamber, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.

He said that provision had been made for the completion and commissioning of Orange valley Estate, adding that the second serviced estate, Plainfield Estate now renamed Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo Estate, would also be given priority attention in the next fiscal year.

Amosun stated further that A.A.K. Degun Estate, Laderin is nearing full completion, explaining that provision had been made for its early completion in the 2016 budget.

He said the New Dawn Estate in Agbara which will provide 55 terrace bungalows and 50 detached bungalows was almost ready for commissioning, adding that government had paid full compensation to the owners of farm lands and properties acquired for the construction of Ultra-Modern Housing Estate at Kobape in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

He stated that, as part of the ongoing urban renewal initiative, government has flagged off the construction of the 600-unit MTR Garden Estate in Isheri noting that, the estate on completion, would enable the development of one-kilometre carriageway that would ease road access at OPIC Estate, Isheri.

On the proposed Light Railway Project, the governor said the project is closer to becoming a reality.

“We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the construction giants, Messrs CCRCC/CCECC, that will handle the project. We expect the ground breaking to take place in 2016. This will be a significant step in our urban renewal drive and also boost commercial activities in the state,” Governor Amosun said.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing Development, Arch. Jumoke Akinwunmi, has said that evolvement and exposure to new trends through constant update on skill and knowledge on housing has been considered as major way to meet the demand on housing.

Arch. Akinwunmi made this known at a two-day in house re-orientation/refresher training organised for senior staff of the State Housing Corporation held in Abeokuta.

Arch Akinwunmi posited that expertise would develop dynamic approach to realise government policies and programmes as they embark on capacity building in their different areas of specialisation.

She admonished the participants to eschew transparency in their dealings with the people, saying that they should endeavour to show case image of the organisation well.

Akinwunmi also encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained in the day-to-day activities in their respective areas.

‘’Out of the 200 staff of the corporation, senior staff dominated more than 70 percent which means junior are looking up to you, you must project the corporation name well and lay good example when relating with third party in the course of your duties,’’ Akinwunmi said.

Ogoni youths graduate from Shell-sponsored training for farmers

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Ogoni youths graduate from Shell-sponsored training for farmers

A total of 60 youths from Ogoniland on Tuesday graduated from a training programme on agricultural entrepreneurial programme organised by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd operated Joint Venture in an effort to introduce youths in the area to viable means of livelihood.

Cross section of beneficiaries of the 2015 Ogoni Youths Agricultural Entrepreneurial Scheme sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture, at the graduation ceremony held on Tuesday at Bunu-Tai, Rivers State.
Cross section of beneficiaries of the 2015 Ogoni Youths Agricultural Entrepreneurial Scheme sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture, at the graduation ceremony held on Tuesday at Bunu-Tai, Rivers State.

The youths from the four local government areas in Ogoniland – Tai, Khana, Gokana and Eleme – received the four-week training at the Songhai Farm at Bunu-Tai, where they learnt vital skills in fishery, cassava production and poultry farming.

“The training is key first step towards making Ogoni youths self-reliant and eventually become employers of labour,” said SPDC’s Ogoni Restoration Project Manager, Vincent Nwabueze, at the graduation ceremony. “We urge the new entrepreneurs to work hard and be steadfast in their various enterprises irrespective of any initial challenges that may confront them.”

King Godwin Giniwa, the Gbene Mene Tai and President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, said: “I want to thank Shell for what they are doing. They should continue to do more, especially to touch the lives of the people, because we are partners.”

The Director of Youth Enterprise Development and Promotion in the Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Festus Ugwuzuo, said that the agricultural training initiative of the SPDC JV under the Ogoni Youth Entrepreneurial Scheme has come at a time when there is growing need to diversify Nigeria’s economy. Brian Udoh, the training officer of Songhai Farm Rivers State said that the 60 trainees recorded 85 per cent success in the programme, which has equipped them to maximise the full value chain of each of their areas of specialisation.

Representatives of the trainees, Jane Jiala, Nkiken Nwafor and Hanson Nwidobie, thanked SPDC and their trainers for the opportunity given them to make a difference in their lives.

The trainees were given funds for land preparation, business take-off and implements relevant to their trades. Another payment will be made to them when their businesses have taken off. Using the findings of a baseline survey, SPDC JV designed the agricultural programme to include links to market and credit facilities as well as mentoring and monitoring services for the beneficiaries. As a result, SPDC JV has retained the services of consultants to mentor the young farmers for one year during which the first harvest and sale of crop and livestock would have taken place. At the end of the first year, the scheme beneficiaries will then be managed as part of the public agricultural extension services delivery.

Early this year, another set of 105 Ogoni youths graduated from Shell’s flagship entrepreneurship programme, LiveWIRE, which was extended to Ogoniland in 2014, with the objective of raising living standards and reducing crude oil theft through the promotion of alternative livelihoods

Oxfam: Delays in cutting emissions will cost developing nations dearly

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Oxfam: Delays in cutting emissions will cost developing nations dearly

Developing countries’ economies face being crushed under the double burden of climate change adaptation costs of almost $800 billion and more than twice that in economic losses every year by 2050 if pledges to cut emissions are not improved, Oxfam warned on Wednesday.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International. Photo credit: usaid.gov
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International. Photo credit: usaid.gov

In a new report released for COP21: Game-changers in the Paris climate deal, Oxfam sets out seven steps to a Paris deal that will better protect poor people from climate change.

The international agency reveals that in a world warming to 3 degrees developing countries are set to face an additional $270 billion more a year in adaptation costs by 2050, taking the total to $790 billion. That means more than 50 per cent more could be needed for developing countries to protect themselves from climate change than in a 2 degree scenario, which leaders meeting at the UN climate talks in Paris are aiming for.

Developing countries also face losing $1.7 trillion annually to their economies by the middle of the century if global average temperatures rise by three degrees. This is $600 billion more than if warming was contained to 2 degrees – four times more than rich countries gave in development aid last year.

Oxfam’s Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said: “We are seeing growing momentum for a climate deal but what is on the table so far is not enough. Our report today shows the scale of the challenge facing the world’s poorest people as a result of climate change – which they have done very little to cause.

“World leaders need to step up. We need further cuts to emissions and more climate funding so vulnerable communities – who are already facing unpredictable floods, droughts and hunger – can adapt to survive. The human cost of climate change must be central to discussions in Paris so we get a better climate deal for poor people.”

Even now, if all of today’s public adaptation finance were to be divided among the 1.5 billion small-holder farmers in developing countries, they would get the equivalent of just $3 a year to protect themselves from floods, severe droughts and other climate extremes – the cost of a cup of coffee in many rich countries.

The pledges by more than 150 countries to cut emissions, known as INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) are expected to be the cornerstone of a Paris deal. But even if these targets are met, the world is likely to experience devastating warming of around 3 degrees. This could come despite the UN’s goal of 2 degrees, let alone the 1.5 degrees that more than 100 developing countries and Oxfam is calling for.

Currently, climate funding commitments to help poor countries adapt and develop in a low carbon way only run until 2020. At the same time, little progress has been made in agreeing how much will be available after this date, which needs to be urgently addressed in Paris.

More funding is also needed if the promise of $100 billion a year by 2020 made six years ago in Copenhagen is to be kept. More of this needs to go towards adaptation, which remains woefully short. Oxfam estimates that public climate finance was around $20 billion on average in 2013-2014 but only around $3-5 billion was dedicated for adaptation – less than the 50 per cent minimum that Oxfam says is needed.

In its new report, Oxfam shows how the international context has changed since the ‘failed’ talks in Copenhagen. This includes a US / China deal on climate change breathing new life into the talks, spectacular growth in renewables, and interventions from high profile figures like Ban Ki-moon, Pope Francis and Islamic clerics. The INDCs have also been important in shaping the deal, but it has been most of the developing countries – including India and China – that have either met or done more than their fair share in pledging to cut their emissions. The world’s richest countries need to do more.

The report also pin-points what developments are possible in Paris to make the deal a better one for poor people.  This includes:

  • Addressing the lack of finance to help countries adapt by either agreeing that at least half of all public finance should go for adaptation, or setting a fixed target of at least $35 billion by 2020 and at least $50 billion by 2025
  • New contributors of climate finance beyond the traditional rich countries need to step up, including Russia, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore
  • Agreeing to a strong review mechanism that commits governments to increase the overall ambition of emission cuts from 2020, and every five years thereafter so that  runaway climate change can be avoided
  • Agreeing a long-term goal where rich countries lead the way in phasing out fossil fuels
  • Improving the predictability of scaled up climate finance so developing countries can develop adaptation and development plans knowing what funding they can expect
  • Announcing new sources of climate finance, such as the EU  Emissions Trading Scheme, to stop diverting aid to climate finance budgets
  • Provisions for loss and damage, which will ensure that poor people get the support they need where adaptation is no longer possible.

Byanyima said: “The Paris deal needs to be a solid foundation for further global action to tackle climate change, and the more we see poor people at its heart, the stronger it will be.”

Oxfam is calling for progress on climate finance, especially for adaptation and women who need it most, and greater ambition to cut emissions.

World takes to the streets ahead of Paris climate summit

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World takes to the streets ahead of Paris climate summit

The weekend before the opening of the climate summit in Paris, hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets in over 2,000 events spread across 150 countries to demand that negotiating parties keep fossil fuels in the ground and finance a just transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Hoda Baraka, Global Communications Manager for 350.org. Photo credit: youtube.com
Hoda Baraka, Global Communications Manager for 350.org. Photo credit: youtube.com

“While 2015 is on track to be the hottest year in recorded history, this weekend will be a further testament to the unprecedented surge in climate action we’ve seen in the last year and serves to pave the way for further escalation going into 2016. People everywhere are ready for the end of fossil fuels and the dawn of renewables,” said Hoda Baraka, Global Communications Manager for 350.org.

There will be huge marches, concerts, rallies, workshops, bike rides and film screenings spanning all continents. Highlighted events include:

  • Australians will be among the earliest marches across the world, with many thousands gathering in capital cities across the country including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and Perth, as well as Melbourne and Sydney. The marches will be colourful, family friendly events, and will be attended by a diverse range of Australians, including firefighters, faith communities, unions and workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Pacific Islanders, farmers, health professionals, business people, artists and musicians.
  • Across The Philippines, over 20 events, marches, and rallies are planned. In Manila, 20,000 people are expected to converge in Quezon City as part of a broad march with groups representing climate-impacted communities, faith organisation, youth, labor, anti-coal and renewable energy.
  • In a remote corner of northern Tanzania, more than 1,000 Maasai will march for a global deal on renewable energy through the town of Loliondo, on the edge of the Serengeti National Park, where they’ve faced government land grabs and extreme droughts, severely impacting their livestock.
  • Students are coming together in more than 60 distributed events across China including round table discussions, bike rides and screenings.
  • A number of events will be taking place across the Pacific Islands. Climate marches are planned in Fiji, the Marshall Island and Kiribati, while in Papua New Guinea islanders will mobilise to send an urgent message to world leaders to transition to renewable energy to save their homes and humanity.
  • In Hong Kong, Taipei and Seoul hundreds are taking to the streets to demand a just transition to 100% renewable energy. In Vietnam a big climate music festival is planned, bringing together more than 1500 youth. In Japan, the marches in Kyoto and Tokyo will feature a mass photo action where people will form one collective image.
  • Across the United States, marches will take place across the country — from Los Angeles to Austin, to Washington, DC up to New York City, thousands will gather in creative, art-filled actions in the name of climate justice.
  • Events are planned in Egypt’s two largest cities (Cairo and Alexandria) where thousands will be running to raise awareness on climate impacts and call for urgent climate action.
  • The divestment movement will be out in force worldwide, joining marches in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Melbourne, Wellington and more!
  • More than 5,000 cyclists will be taking over the center of Mexico City with marches also planned in Bogota, Colombia, Sâo Paulo, Brazil and Bolivia.
  • In Kampala, Uganda a huge march is planned to go through the city. The Pope is visiting Africa this week and in Kenya he will receive a letter asking the Vatican to divest emphasising the moral call to divest from fossil fuels and make a just transition towards a world powered by 100% renewable energy.
  • In Paris, where the government has prohibited the climate march from taking place due to security concerns in light of recent attacks in the city, people will join hands to form a human chain will now take place from Place de la République to Place de la Nation with participants carrying the placards, signs and artistic visuals initially developed for the march.
  • In Abuja, Coalition of Abuja Climate Groups (CAC-G) will hold the Abuja Climate March, a peaceful solidarity walk aimed at raising awareness on issues of climate change and other environmental degradation in Nigeria. Venue is the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja.

“While we’re restricted in Paris, we’ll make sure that our governments hear our call for climate justice loud and clear from all corners of the world,” added Baraka.

Report exposes biotech big bet to prop up fossil fuels

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Report exposes biotech big bet to prop up fossil fuels

At the upcoming Climate summit in Paris, some governments and much of civil society will be pushing for an urgent transition away from the carbon-rich fossil fuels responsible for climate chaos. However, one hi-tech sector, the multi-billion-dollar Synthetic Biology industry, is now actively tying its future to the very oil, coal and gas extraction it once claimed to be able to displace. That’s the conclusion of a new report released jointly on Tuesday from the ETC Group and Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Jim Thomas, Programme Director with ETC Group
Jim Thomas, Programme Director with ETC Group

Titled “Extreme Biotech meets Extreme Energy”, the report predicts that, as the extreme biotech industry and the extreme extraction industry move towards deeper collaboration, the biosafety risks and climate threats emanating from them will become ever more entangled.

Synthetic Biology (or Syn Bio) describes a set of new and emerging genetic engineering techniques and is also the name for a surging young industry that is designing and engineering life-forms from scratch for industrial purposes. The first round of synthetic biology companies sold themselves to investors on the promise of a ‘clean green’ industry that would replace fossil fuels with biofuels and bioplastics made from sugar and cellulose. However Syn Bio industry leaders are now retooling their companies explicitly in order to serve the petrochemical industry and to increase the value and flow of fossil minerals from the frackfields and oilfields to commercial markets.

Lili Fuhr of Heinrich Böll Foundation
Lili Fuhr of Heinrich Böll Foundation

“Only five years ago Syn Bio industry CEOs were posturing that they would bring about a sugar-based bioeconomy that would do away with dirty fossil fuels,” explains Jim Thomas, Programme Director with ETC Group. “Now those same CEOs are restructuring their operations to prop up the oil and gas majors and their green promises are melting along with the ice sheets.”

“Climate activists, policymakers and the public should be concerned about this unholy alliance between the gene-jiggers and the oil riggers, between corporate bio-hackers and the gas-frackers,” said Lili Fuhr of Heinrich Böll Foundation, “The fossil fuel industry’s desperate quest for carbon profits keeps going deeper into riskier territory – now they are adding biosafety risks to the already long list of  extractive industry risks”.

The 24 page report – available online here http://www.etcgroup.org/content/extreme-biotech-meets-extreme-energy –  includes:

  • Details of a dozen private companies and a US Government Programme developing synthetically engineered “methanotroph” microbes that transform natural gas (methane) into fuels, chemicals and foods, using techniques such as “gaseous fermentation”.
  • Analysis of fossil industry agendas to use Syn Bio to capture so-called “stranded gas” that would increase recoverable gas reserves by 40-60% and may drive up the market value of fracked and captured gas.
  • Analysis of how synthetic biology-based proposals to pump engineered microbes into oil, coal and gas fields – known as “Microbial Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery” (MEHR) – could increase available oil reserves by up to 150% thereby massively increasing climate risks.
  • Details of private companies and public research on releasing Syn Bio Microbes for mining metals and minerals.

“At next week’s climate negotiations in Paris the oil and gas industry will attempt to secure political support for turning ‘stranded‘ gas into liquid fuels even though that may in fact increase climate risks.” warned Silvia Ribeiro, ETC Group’s Latin American Director, en route to Paris, “They will dress up this use of  engineered microbes  as ‘Carbon Capture Use and Storage’ (CCUS) – a false solution and a dangerous distraction”.

UN to decorate Wapichan community for defending land, forests

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UN to decorate Wapichan community for defending land, forests

The Wapichan people in Guyana, South America, have received the prestigious Equator Prize from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in recognition of their prolonged efforts to legally secure their ancestral lands and conserve extensive rainforests and diverse wildlife habitats in the South Rupununi.

The Wapichan people in Guyana, South America. Photo credit: laurencjohnson.files.wordpress.com
The Wapichan people in Guyana, South America. Photo credit: laurencjohnson.files.wordpress.com

In common with many indigenous peoples across South America, Wapichan communities are vulnerable to land grabs and marginalisation because they lack secure legal title over much of their traditional lands. Wapichan territory is threatened by mega road projects and external plans for logging, mining and agribusiness development. Right now, a gold rush in the South of the territory is causing water pollution, deforestation, social disruption and damage to traditional hunting and fishing grounds.

In response, Wapichan communities and their representative body known as the South and South Central Rupununi District Toshaos Council has been assisted by local organisation South Central Peoples Development Association (SCPDA) in stepping up their collective efforts over the last 15 years to get the full extent of their traditional land recognised through innovative work to collect evidence in support of their land claim. Community mappers worked over more than a decade to make a digital map of the entire territory and 17 Wapichan communities worked for five years to draw up a ground-breaking plan for caring for their territory, which includes a proposal to care for 1.4 million hectares of pristine rainforest for the benefit of their communities and the world.  Elizabeth Andre, daughter of the late leader Henry Winters who submitted the Wapichan land claim to the Amerindian Lands Commission in 1967, notes:

“The forest is special to us. She is like our mother. Our forest provides cool air in our homes in the nights as the days are getting hotter. We do not want the government or companies to do away with our forest. We need the same forest that our former leaders identified in our territory to keep us and our children and grandchildren. This is why we are working together still today for our Wapichan territory and our mother forest…”

Since 2013, Wapichan villages have been developing a local system for watching over their forests, savannahs, mountains and wetlands. Information is collected by local monitoring teams using smart phone technology. They have also built a community-owned drone with support from the NGO Digital Democracy that can take high resolution pictures of forest loss, wildfires and illegal resource use.

SCPDA has now gained international recognition for its sustained and highly innovative work. Its projects in support of community mobilisation to secure land rights, protect rainforests and promote sustainable livelihoods came top in a list of over 1000 Equator Prize nominations made to UNDP seeking awards for community projects worldwide:

“After years working to advance our land rights, winning the Equator Prize means a lot to us. So often the work of indigenous peoples is invisible. Governments and world leaders meeting in the Paris Climate summit need to acknowledge indigenous peoples’ contributions. They must make commitments to legally recognise our lands as part of global and national strategies for respecting our rights and mitigating climate change,” says Nicholas Fredericks, SCPDA Projects Coordinator and Village leader (Toshao), Shulinab Village.

Tony James, a charismatic Wapichan elder who initiated much of the mapping and land use planning work together with other community leaders in the 1990s, said: “All of our villages embarked on this long road seeking legal recognition of our lands with passion and commitment. Our women, youths, elders and children are fully involved in our efforts and there is unity among all of our villages. We never did all this work to win any sort of competition: we did the mapping and other activities because we love our land and we need to protect our forests and resources for our children and grandchildren. The Prize is a bonus. Its gives weight to our case. If governments are serious about stopping climate change, then they must legally secure the land rights for indigenous peoples in order to meet their obligations under international treaties and to ensure effective national actions to protect the climate and the world’s remaining forests.”

The Wapichan and SCPDA representatives are now travelling to the UN climate summit in Paris to receive the Prize. They are calling on world leaders to take more effective actions to recognise indigenous peoples’ land and territorial rights as a core part of national and global efforts to tackle deforestation and climate change.

Campaigners to hold Abuja Climate March

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Campaigners to hold Abuja Climate March

World leaders from more than 190 nations are gathering at the United Nations Climate Summit (COP21) in Paris, France from November 30 – December 11, 2015 to deliver a bold new international climate agreement.

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. Photo credit: punchng.com
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. Photo credit: punchng.com

On Monday, 30th of November, 2015, the day the UN Climate Summit begins, the Coalition of Abuja Climate Groups will join with other hundreds of thousands of climate and environmental activists around the world who are holding marches and other various climate events in support of COP 21 in Paris, to which the Paris agreement will positively impact on Nigeria’s climate policies. Development organisations, climate movements, people young and old, faith groups, indigenous people, trade unions and many more will march together globally. Together, campaigners will demonstrate that tackling climate change is important to all of us and urge leaders to sign an ambitious climate agreement in Paris that will see countries scale up action until the job is done.

The Abuja Climate March is a peaceful solidarity walk, organised by the Coalition of Abuja Climate Groups (CAC-G). It aims to raise awareness on issues of climate change and other environmental degradation in Nigeria. Venue is the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja. It commences by 9 am.

Global data, says CAC-G, is clear that rising temperatures will cause disruptions to economic, agricultural and even political systems all over the world. In Nigeria, where our infrastructure is already fragile and our population is rapidly increasing, such disruptions could mean disaster.

In September 2015, world leaders committed to a new set of global goals for sustainable development. These goals, called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a roadmap for the next 15 years and if leaders keep their commitments, could end extreme poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change. The new global goals symbolise an important shift in development, recognising that these three issues are interlinked and what’s more, that climate change could undermine all the progress we have made in eradicating poverty and inequality thus far.

Before attention turns to the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, Nigerian government has the opportunity to deliver bold new climate policies which can send a strong signal that the age of dirty fossil fuels is over and set us instead on a path to a safer, fairer and more sustainable future for all.

As our nation prepares to send delegates to the 2015 United Nations Climate summit (COP 21), we Nigerian citizens want to demand that our government’s actions go beyond mere lip service. The conference’s objective is to achieve a legally-binding and universal agreement on the world’s rapidly warning climate from all the nations of the world and Nigeria must take this responsibility seriously.

“Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest contributors of global emission of CO2, but we believe we can do better. Our leaders must take concrete steps to protect the environment and reduce its emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) by passing new laws and enforcing those already in place. We demand action to mitigate the encroaching desertification in the North, the flooding and drought in the middle belt, the soil erosion in the East, rising sea levels on our coasts and the wide scale destruction of our agricultural activities and forests across the country, says CAC-G.

COP 21: We’re at a defining moment for Earth’s future – GEF

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COP 21: We’re at a defining moment for Earth’s future – GEF

Governments are meeting in Paris to reach a new climate change agreement that aims to keep global average temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) – the level beyond which there will be irreversible impacts.

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made clear that the longer the world delays in tackling climate change, the higher the risks and costs. The next couple of decades are critical.

Halting the growth in global emissions and putting them on a downward path so as to prevent climate disruption is possible, but necessitates a transformation of the global economy that not only addresses climate change, but also powers new growth.

“We are at a defining moment for the future of our planet and its peoples,” said Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).  “Urgent action is needed to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions, invest in adaptation and build resilience to the growing impacts of our rapidly warming world.”

“Shifting to a low-carbon and resilient trajectory will require coordinated, integrated solutions to catalyse transformation of three key economic systems: energy—how we power our homes, offices and industry, and move goods and people from one place to another; cities—how we live; and food production—how and where we produce food, and what we eat,” Ishii continued.

The 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holds from 30 November to 11 December 2015.  It is expected to be a turning point, which sends a loud and clear signal to citizens, markets and the private sector that the transformation of the global economy is inevitable, beneficial, and already underway.

“Based on our quarter century of experience and a wide network of partners, the GEF is well-placed to support this transformation,” said Ishii.

The GEF’s commitment to address climate change issues is unequivocal. In 2013-14, it committed a total $1.4 billion for adaptation and mitigation action.  By the end of the current funding cycle in June 2018, it’s estimated that the GEF will be making about $3 billion available to developing countries to help address climate change, with the potential of $25 billion to be leveraged from other sources.

As a financial mechanism of the UNFCCC, the GEF is supporting developing countries’ shift towards a low-emission development path.  Besides its ongoing support to countries in their UNFCCC obligations (such as national communications and biennial update reports), the GEF has also provided financial support to 46 countries as they prepared their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, and stands ready to help make these “investment plans” operational.

In Paris, the GEF will also be actively supporting the 12 action tracks of the so-called Lima Paris Action Agenda to showcase coalitions, partnerships and integrated approaches for action on the ground in areas such as buildings, forests, transport and private finance.

“Rooted in our role as a financing mechanism of the UNFCCC and other key international agreements, the GEF’s resources help catalyse action and direct larger-scale financing flows toward low-carbon and resilient investments,” said Ishii.  “We support partnerships at local, national and regional levels around integrated solutions in areas like energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable cities, land degradation, deforestation, food security and resilience.”

Governments, the private sector and civil society are taking action on climate change because it is in their interest to do so.  Ahead of Paris, almost all countries, as well as states, cities, business and investors, have come forward with the most comprehensive set of pledges and plans ever seen to reduce emissions and bolster resilience.

Paris is a huge opportunity to demonstrate political ambition and action on climate change.  But, what happens after is as, if not more, important.

The newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals recognise that the health of the global commons is essential for a thriving world,” said Ishii. “A strong climate agreement backed by action on the ground will help us achieve the SDGs. But with the underlying drivers of degradation still at play, our efforts must only intensify.”

Mohammed to lead 41-member Nigerian delegation to COP 21

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Mohammed to lead 41-member Nigerian delegation to COP 21

Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed, will lead a 41-member team, comprising negotiators, representatives of civil society organisations and legislators to the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) starting next week in Paris, France.

Nigeria's Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed. Photo credit: i.vimeocdn.com
Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Mrs Amina Mohammed. Photo credit: i.vimeocdn.com

Unlike the previous conferences where a large chunk of the delegation comprised persons with limited relevance, the minister stated on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at a media briefing in Abuja that the list had been thoroughly reviewed to ensure that only those who have something to offer were included.

She said, “I know the delegation has always been an issue in terms of the size and the relevance at these meetings. That is a legitimate and important question that Nigerians should ask. We are going to the conference with a 41-member negotiating team, members that would attend, not only intergovernmental negotiations, but also represent Nigeria at the side events which are numerous.

“We have reviewed the delegation and I paid attention to who goes and for how long we go. I am committed to the fact that every member of this delegation comes back with dividends on climate change agenda. I am satisfied that we have a competent set of professionals and key stakeholders. We have included our colleagues from the National Assembly to shape the understanding of environment issues.”

While saying the country was yet to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the UNFCCC, she pleaded with Nigerians for more time to enable the new administration study the document. She added that the process anywhere in the world requires incredible amount of expertise and time.

The minister further explained that since it was a document that would shape the nation’s pattern of development, care must be taken to ensure that it was perfect and enduring.

Her words: “The process of preparing INDCs requires incredible amount of expertise. It has to be put in a sensible way that will generate the partnership that we get from outside to implement our INDCs. The remaining countries who have submitted their INDCs, they have not been in the best shape they should be. They will have to go back after the COP to address them.

“We are trying to put our best foot forward. Nigerians should give us a little more space, because the cabinet is just coming into place and we also have to own the INDC because we are the one that will implement it. And I can assure you we will do that.

“I would not imagine Nigeria will produce an INDC that will not be serious about its implementation over the next three to four years in the first instance. Remember our INDCs will go on for a couple of decades. There are commitments there to the percentage we want to look at in terms of our emission reduction strategies, the degree to which we want to invest domestically on a number of issues and areas of priority. All of that will be known in a couple of days,” she added.

Nigeria is one of the about 192 countries expected to participate in the UNFCCC conference aimed at achieving a new universal climate change agreement. Indeed, the summit’s objective is to achieve, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world.

Nigeria, in the INDC, is proposing to reduce carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. It is likewise considering 30 per cent energy efficiency in industries, homes, businesses and vehicles, and increased use of natural gas in generators and renewable energy.

Besides putting a stop to gas flaring, the country outlines plans to capture and process hitherto flared associated gas. It will give priority to climate-smart agriculture, while setting standards for appliances, generators and buildings.

If executed to the letter, all proposals in the INDC are expected to lead to an estimated $4.5 billion benefits to the country.

Nigeria to explore gas potential for sustainable development – Buhari

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Nigeria to explore gas potential for sustainable development – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria is taking appropriate steps to turn its abundant gas resources into veritable catalyst for development as the nation’s gas potential might be in excess of 600 trillion cubic feet.

President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: informationng.com
President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: informationng.com

The President said this at the 3rd summit of Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Tehran, Iran on Monday.

Buhari said the country was taking the steps because natural gas was fast evolving as the fuel of choice for sustainable development in view of its impressive suitability for environmental protection and lower cost of supply in comparison with fossil fuels.

He, therefore, charged the leadership of the GECF to take appropriate steps towards sustaining the pricing of gas at the international market for the benefit of member countries.

He said the stability of the energy and financial market was critical to ensuring investments in current and future natural gas projects.

“It is therefore imperative that the GECF plays a significant role towards energy security by driving the formulation of a sustainable pricing mechanism that will guarantee fair and reasonable for both producers and consumers,” he added.

President Buhari noted that for decades, Nigeria focused on the development of crude oil like other oil producing countries.

He said: “Our current National Proven Gas Reserve Base is 188 Trillion Cubic Feet. But our actual gas potential may be in excess of 600 Trillion Cubic Feet.

“With this great potential, Nigeria is taking appropriate steps to turn its abundant gas resources into veritable catalyst for development.”

President Buhari also called on the forum to foster technical and economic cooperation among member states.
According to him, Nigeria remains the hub for natural gas supply in West African sub region with the construction of 681-kilometre West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transmits gas from the country to neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.

He said: “Nigeria is among the world’s top five exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas and we recently celebrated the 3000th export cargo milestone.

“Similarly, we have asserted regional prominence by becoming the hub for natural gas supply in the West African sub-region through our leadership role in the development of the 681km West African Gas Pipeline, which currently transmits gas from Nigeria to neighbouring countries of Benin, Togo and Ghana.”

Buhari also charged the forum on the need to deploy research and development initiatives towards technology innovations in exploration and development processing, logistics and marketing for the benefit of member countries.

He also charged the member countries to ensure that the exploration of gas resources was done in a sustainable manner so as not to jeopardise the security of the future generation of member states.

Buhari called on them to ensure optimum gas reserves replacement and work towards ending routine gas flaring in the shortest possible time.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the forum and the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, called for cooperation of member states to get maximum benefits from the natural resources.

The Secretary of the Forum, Seyed Hossein Adeli, informed the meeting that Azerbijah had indicated interest in joining the body as an observer.

Adeli noted that the body had begun to command international recognition and credibility.

Adeli, however, stressed the need for member countries to build mutual understanding and address the common challenges facing gas producing nations.

NAN.

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