Azerbaijan has called on countries to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) before the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held in Baku in November 2024, reads a letter from COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev, to the parties to the conference of the parties on climate change.
Mukhtar Babayev, COP President
The letter reads in part:
“While recognising the varying starting points of each country, early submissions of BTRs will be a strong demonstration of our collective commitment to transparency. With COP29 in Baku fewer than 75 days away, it is imperative that we take tangible steps to demonstrate our shared commitment to climate action.
“As we conveyed earlier this year, the COP29 Presidency’s vision centres around two parallel and mutually reinforcing pillars: enhancing ambition and enabling action, with climate finance as our top priority. As we reiterate the necessity for all Parties to enhance their ambition in the next generation of national climate plans, transparency forms a cornerstone of mutual trust and accountability. It ensures that our collective actions to combat climate change are robust, comprehensive, and measurable. By transparently reporting our words and deeds, our progress and challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving our climate goals.
“It is in this context that the COP29 Presidency is emphasising the key role of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), as Parties implement the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). With the deadline for submission of the first BTRs rapidly approaching, it is critical to ensure that all countries are ready and able to submit. BTRs will be pivotal in tracking our progress, building trust, and identifying areas where further action and investment are needed.
“We understand that it will be challenging for many Parties to measure and report data and there is significant need for capacity building. In light of this, the COP29 Presidency is taking decisive steps to ensure ongoing political engagement and enhance collaboration and capacity-building so we can all deliver on our collective transparency commitments at COP29 and beyond.
“On September 3, 2024, the COP29 Presidency will host a High-Level Dialogue (HLD) to sustain momentum for increased transparency action in the lead-up to COP29. This High-Level Dialogue will focus on building confidence among Parties, raising political awareness about the importance of universal participation in the ETF, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
“The main objective of the BTP is to enhance confidence and support Parties in preparing and finalising their BTRs, as well as implementing the ETF beyond 2024, in particular, supporting the capacity-building efforts of developing country Parties along the way. The BTP will complement existing transparency platforms, including the #Together4Transparency initiative, aligning with and enhancing the existing transparency ecosystem.
“Our goal is to unite stakeholders committed to support developing country Parties in the preparation and submission of BTRs, promote collaboration and knowledge exchange amongst all Parties on the full spectrum of the ETF, and better mobilize capacity-building resources where they are needed. By doing so, we can help to ensure the effective implementation of the ETF and the success of the Paris Agreement.”
The UK government is considering making further commitments on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, likely to be announced at the UN climate summit this year in Baku.
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
According to The Guardian, the plan is expected to help kickstart global ambitions on cutting emissions and encourage other countries to follow suit.
Under the Paris climate agreement countries are obliged to submit more stringent targets on emissions in February, if the world is to have any chance of holding global temperature rises to within 1.5C of preindustrial levels.
But Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, hopes to announce a new target months early, and has the support of Keir Starmer, the prime minister, in trying to propel the UK into a leadership position on the international stage at climate negotiations.
The article notes that activists representing developing countries told the Guardian the global south would welcome UK plans for the early publication of its emissions-cutting plan, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC).
Harjeet Singh, the global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “The UK has a critical opportunity to set the bar for climate leadership and equity by announcing a robust NDC well ahead of Cop29. This proactive approach would signal to other developed nations the urgency of abandoning fossil fuel production and committing to a future powered by renewables.
Miliband has asked the Climate Change Committee to advise on the UK’s next target, for 2035. The Guardian understands the CCC’s recommendation is likely to be published before the autumn budget in late October.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, says the Federal Government has delivered the phase one interventions of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities across 92 federal unity colleges (FUCs).
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman
Mamman said this during a presentation on the progress of the interventions by the National Project Coordinator, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Mrs Amina Haruna, in Abuja on Friday, August 30, 2024.
He said that the WASH facilities would provide for a new rebranding of the schools, as well as give opportunities to learners to learn in a conducive environment.
“This is what we want to see at our basic and secondary education levels.
“By the time we are done with the second phase, we will be having brand new facilities in our colleges.
“If we have this in place, we will be having little efforts to persuade learners to go to school.
“We will be rebranding our schools in terms of facilities and lifelong skilling, and then we will be on the way to deliver on the agenda of our president,” he said.
On her part, Haruna said that the interventions had impacted positively on the wellbeing of learners and the entire community.
She explained that the 40 per cent of the phase one project for WASH facilities in the FUCs had already been completed.
She added that the remaining 60 per cent, which is for infrastructural interventions, would commence soon.
“The disbursement of the balance of 60 per cent of the intervention fund to the 92 FUCs will be for the implementation of the next phase of the interventions.
“These interventions are for the construction of classrooms, laboratories, multipurpose hall, kitchen, ICT centres, provision of furniture, teaching and learning materials in the schools,” she said.
Out of the 115 unity colleges across the country, the intervention for the 92 colleges was provided for by AGILE.
However, interventions in the remaining Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) were handled by the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS), a World Bank supported project.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, says the ministry is committed to tackling the impact of climate change in Nigeria.
Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation
Utsev gave the assurance at the unveiling of Nigerian Multi-Lateral Infrastructure and Climate Change Summit and Business Excellence on Friday, August 30, 2024, in Abuja.
The programme was organised by the Africa Infrastructure, Climate Change and Investment Summit (AICIS), 2025 – Nigeria.
The summit was aimed at exploring over $12 trillion investment opportunity in the infrastructure, green energy transition, climate change, space and digital/Artificial Intelligence technology drive for Africa.
Utsev said that the ministry had taken deliberate steps to mitigate the impact of climate change on water resources and associated infrastructure.
He said the programme was to also create a platform for the assessment of Africa economic and security infrastructure and to identify new development partners and many more.
The minister, represented by the Director of Hydrology in the ministry, Mrs Ngozi Abohwo, said that the ministry had taken a proactive approach in preparing for infrastructure development and climate change action.
He said that ministry recognised the urgency of the challenges of climate change.
Utsev said that recent policy initiatives and strategic plans, such as the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan and the main report of the presidential committee preventing flood disasters reflected the ministry’s commitment to building resilient water and sanitation infrastructure.
“The quantum of energy required and amount of emission from the water sector is huge especially when moving water from one location to the other or pumping water through the systems.
“Consequently, it is very important to deploy more renewable energy sources to the water sector in order to reduce the Green House and Gas (GHG) Emission or Carbon Footprints.
“In this regard, the ministry has unveiled the National Programme for Conversion of Diesel-Powered Water Schemes (Irrigation schemes, Boreholes and Water Treatment Facilities) to renewable energy sources.
“This project aims at inventory, rehabilitation and conversion of existing schemes designed using fossil fuel to renewable energy sources based on energy available within each region of the country.
“In its bid to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases which are the major drivers of climate change and to reduce flood with its attendant colossal loss and damages, the ministry has commenced processes for the Construction of Small Hydropower Plants nationwide and the Datsin Hausa Dam.
“The Small Hydropower Project aims to retrofit existing Small Dams initially constructed for irrigation purposes with small hydropower systems,” he said.
Mr George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said his office would continue to support AICIS partnership to promote infrastructure development, climate change and investment drive for Nigeria and Africa in general.
Akume was represented by Mr Etoabasi Okon, Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Bilateral Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
He said that Africa continent needed to harness all the potential in the climate change activities for the continent’s economic benefits.
Mr Moses Owharo, Chairman of the Planning and Organising Committee for AICIS 2025, said that the Nigerian Multi-lateral, Infrastructure and Climate Summit would shape the future pathway of Africa’s development, starting with Nigeria.
He said that the country was the powerhouse of West Africa considering its role in politics and economics.
Owharo emphasised the importance of the summit in addressing the urgent needs of Africa, particularly in infrastructure development and climate action.
“We believe that AICIS 2025 would project Africa to the world and Nigeria in particular considering the successful implementation of the maiden edition in the U.S. in 2024,’’ he said.
The representatives of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Nigerian Space Agency, Diplomats, Burundi and Ethiopia Embassies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), NGOs and other development partners attended the event.
The Lagos State Government is set to launch a sensitisation initiative aimed at promoting the Circular Economy as a solution to diversify the state’s resources by transforming waste into valuable assets.
R-L: Special Adviser, Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titi Oshodi; Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ope Goerge; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Oke-Osanyitolu inspecting footwears made from recycled materials during a closeout event on circular economy practices in Idi-Araba, Lagos recently
The awareness campaign themed “Eco Circulate” will commence in Badagry on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at St. Thomas Primary School, Agbalata Market Road, led by the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy.
The Eco-Circulate programme is designed to increase awareness and adoption of the Circular Economy across Lagos State. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden of climate impacts, such as flooding and waterborne diseases, on both the government and citizens.
The Circular Economy has the potential to create 10,000 to 30,000 jobs, foster new entrepreneurship, and cut over two million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually in Lagos State.
The programme will incentivise residents to participate in waste-to-value initiatives, offering rewards like health insurance, free public transport, foodstuffs, cooking energy, and airtime/data in exchange for recyclable materials such as plastic bottles, sachets of pure water, waste oil (black oil and used cooking oil in separate containers), e-waste such as phones, laptops, household appliances as well as textile waste.
Strategic partnerships with LASHMA, LASSRA, the Lottery Board, and external partners like telecom companies, manufacturers, and markets have been established to ensure the program’s success. The campaign will extend across all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State.
The city of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State on Thursday, August 29, 2024, played host to the South-South Regional Summit on Accelerating Nigeria’s Emission Reduction (Net-Zero) Commitment for Local Government authoring organised by Connected Advocacy in collaboration with Institute of Biodiversity, Climate Change and Watersheds Niger Delta University.
Participants at the Connected Advocacy workshop in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The central theme was on strengthening collaboration for just transition implementation and improve energy access at the subnational level.
The event was opened by the Vice Chancellor of the Niger Delta University who was represented by the Director of Institute of Biodiversity, Climate Change Watersheds, Dr Cyprian Abasi, who welcomed the Chairmen, heads of LGA Administration, and LGA leaders of legislative Council.
He said: “Accelerating implementation for sub-national government to achieve Nigeria’s net-zero commitment to tackle climate change and improve energy access and subnational development is a commitment for everyone to work together to build a lasting legacy that our people and planet will be proud of.”
He further stressed the time essence to act which is now and warned of the devastating consequences of inaction to climate change mitigation and adaptation considering pressing issue of its impact in communities. He encouraged participants to use the summit to build bridges and foster collaboration and champion contributions towards achieving Nigeria’s net-zero target.
The convener and Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, underlined the need to develop local government climate action plans, adding that it is required to drive funding and sustainable environmental development.
GodsonJim-Dorgu Mac-Jim Foundation and its team members spoke on the Need for Just Transition and Environmental Sustainability, saying that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and environmental degradation.
The need for the country to fulfill its policy work commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) require a shift towards cleaner energy sources, they added.
They emphasised that urgent action should be given to energy security and access, adding: “We need to stop overdependence on imported petroleum products and lack of diversification in the energy mix will make Nigeria vulnerable to global price fluctuations and supply disruptions, this we are currently suffering now.
“Improving energy access, particularly in underserved rural areas, is crucial for socioeconomic development and poverty alleviation.”
Mrs. Allen Alice Tangi, Chairman, Sagbama Local Government, thanked the organisers and pledged to implement learning and resolutions from the summit.
“The summit has opened our eyes to the urgent need for action. We pledge to work together to address the challenges of climate change,” she said.
Bulodisiye Ndiware, Chairman, Yenagoa Local Government Council, said: “The time for talk is over. We must take concrete steps to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
David Alagoa, Chairman, Nembe Local Government, said: “I would like to thank the organisers of this programme for the issues around climate change cannot be overemphasised because it affects us all, and it will be an avenue to start working on the change that we need as a people and as a community. We need to get organised using data gathering to drive real action on the ground.
Participants listed next steps to include:
Development of a comprehensive action plan to address climate change.
Conducting an emission inventory to identify areas for reduction.
Implementation of emission reduction strategies and data for development.
Execution of strategies for sustainable development.
WaterAid Nigeria with support from Microsoft Inc. has rolled out a new project aiming at improving access to sustainable Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in the peri-urban area of Lagos State.
Prince Niran Ogunbanwo, Mrs. Juliet Omole, Engr. Adisa Yinusa and Dr. Adebayo Alao during the launch of Peri Urban Water and Sanitation Improvement Project in Lagos. Photo credit: Olayide Daniel
The intervention programme titled Lagos Peri-urban Water and Sanitation Improvement Project will be implemented through increasing access to water supply and sanitation services and strengthening mechanisms that promote community preparedness for water-related shocks and stresses that arise from the effects of climate change.
In her remarks, Evelyne Mere, Country Director for WaterAid Nigeria, said: “The three-year project is set to reach nothing less than 21,475 people with access to sustainable, resilient, and affordable Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in Ikorodu North LCDA.”
The Country Director, represented by Dr. Adebayo Alao, said: “WaterAid reiterates its committed partnership with Lagos State and all relevant stakeholders. We look forward to the successful implementation of the project and the sustainability of the rehabilitated facilities. We hope that the governments at both levels will adopt these models for upscaling and replication across the evolving megacity of Lagos until everyone, everywhere have access to sustainable WASH services.”
“Lagos State is among the most populous cities in Africa, with an estimated population of 22 million people. However, like many other cities in sub-Saharan Africa, it struggles to manage rapid population growth and urban development, including providing access to essential services like Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), hence the need for the intervention programme,” she maintained.
Speaking further, Mere noted that “WaterAid in collaboration with the government and civil society organisations will be implementing this project with emphasis on rehabilitation of non-functional water and handwashing facilities, upgrade of sanitation facilities to be gender inclusive; one that addresses the needs of women/girls and persons with disabilities, and promotion of good hygiene that supports healthy living.
“The Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation Improvement project will leverage our ongoing Clean Family Campaign in the state to promote and improve targeted hygiene behaviours in communities to improve health outcomes and curb the spread of infectious diseases by establishing/strengthening Environmental Health Clubs (EHCs) in schools and instituting Volunteer Hygiene Promoters (VHPs) who will become champions of hygiene behaviour change,” she stated.
In his remarks, Godfrey Iloha, WASH Manager (Microsoft Project), said to achieve the target, four communities namely Omigun, Arobiona, Irepodun-Ayegbami and Agbede Olosugbo as well as Farm Settlement Primary School in Odogunyan, all in Ikorodu North LCDA will be benefiting from the intervention programme.
According to Iloha, “The project has three objectives: one is improving access to water and sanitation, increasing education and awareness on hygiene as well as strengthening governance systems.
“For everything that WaterAid does, it is about sustainability, WaterAid alone cannot achieve the enormity of access gap in the state. We need to work with the state government, who has the ultimate responsibility to provide water and access whatever we do is some sort of a model for them to be able to take off and then sustain them. So, all that we do is we bring in stakeholders from local from the community and at the state level,” he submitted.
The 2021 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) Survey shows that 45% of people in Lagos lack access to safely managed water, 75% lack access to safely managed sanitation and 65% do not have access to hygiene services while 34% drink water contaminated with E. coli.
In recent years, as the climate crisis has become more severe, there has also been a major surge in the number of cholera outbreaks across the world including Lagos State.
Findings from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Cholera Situation Report Monthly Epidemiological Report 15 Epi week 32: (August 5, 2024 – August 11, 2024) show that Lagos accounted for 63% (3,758 cases) of all suspected cases in the country of the 36 states that have reported cases.
Disease outbreaks such as this continue to highlight the importance of access to adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene services and more so, that the provision of WASH infrastructures is climate resilient.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion include Engr. Adisa Yinusa, Director of Water Resources in the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources; Mr. Fadunsin Babatunde (Deputy Director WASH) from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Prince Prince Adeniran Ogunbanwo, WASHCOM Coordinator and Chairman CDC, Ikorodu North, CDA Chairmen from the benefiting communities in the LCDA, among others.
Governments have reportedly listened to growing calls for the UN Summit of the Future to address the threat of coal, oil and gas by explicitly adding that Heads of States “decide to (…) transition away from fossil fuels” in the latest draft outcome, made public on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
End fossil fuel campaign in Ottawa, Canada
The third revision of the Pact for the Future, the outcome of the upcoming landmark summit in September, brings in strengthened text explicitly addressing fossil fuels. The critical revision comes after a bloc of nation-states, hundreds of civil society organisations, 77 world leaders and Nobel laureates, and over 45,000 individuals united to express their grave concerns that earlier drafts of the Pact did not even mention “fossil fuels”, despite the significant risk they pose to our future.
Jody Williams, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Nobel Peace Prize 1997, said: “We welcome governments committing to transitioning away from fossil fuels in the Pact for the Future, and call on them to match these words with action, starting with ending the expansion of new oil, gas and coal projects. When faced with other global threats like landmines, nuclear weapons or an ozone in crisis, nations have come together – not just with declarations, but with binding treaties and multilateral frameworks. We must now join forces once again to address one of the greatest threats of our time: the extraction and burning of fossil fuels.”
After decades of efforts from civil society, scientists, and the world’s most vulnerable nations, fossil fuels finally took centre stage in the UN COP28 climate talks in Dubai in 2023 and have now been pushed back onto the agenda for the UN Summit for the Future.
However, like the COP28 outcome, the latest draft text – which is not yet final – includes several qualifiers and loopholes designed to allow fossil fuel producers to expand their coal, oil and gas extraction. This is a critical step, but far from a final victory. While outcome declarations are important and can send a powerful signal, governments must ensure they are strong, actionable, and produce meaningful results for people and the planet.
Alex Rafalowicz, Executive-Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “This new draft of the Pact cements the commitment from COP28. It includes a decision by governments to transition away from fossil fuels – proof that the voice and vision of people everywhere are being heard. If the language stays, it’s clear there’s no going back. This is a first step, but declarations alone will not suffice. We need to build on this outcome with immediate, decisive action and concrete plans to turn these commitments into reality.
“It’s clear that to deliver this vision we need to mobilise resources today. A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a next step in this journey – a binding global plan to manage an equitable decline in fossil fuel production, ensuring wealthy nations move first and fastest, while providing the necessary resources to secure a just transition for all.”
The full excerpt with the mention of fossil fuels states:
“Action 9. We will strengthen our actions to address climate change. (…) We decide to: (…) (e) Accelerate the development, transfer and deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies, including to triple renewable energy capacity globally, and double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, as well as accelerate the development and deployment of other zero and low-emission technologies and transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.”
The letter to governments negotiating the Pact for the Future from former world leaders and Nobel laureates was delivered on August 13, just over two weeks before the latest revisions sought to address their concerns. This effort was coordinated by the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, a global campaign aiming to foster greater international cooperation on the just transition away from coal, oil and gas extraction. The original letter and list of signatories is available here.
Close to one million Ghanaian farmers are at risk of losing their investments to a prolonged dry spell.
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana
Already, half of these farmers have their livelihoods hanging in the balance. They planted their crops in vain because the rains failed them, and they had no alternative means to moist their soils to reap good yields on their farms.
The Ghanaian government is already mobilising GH₵8 billion (US$500 million) relief package to assist farmers in eight of the country’s 16 regions grappling with the devastating effects of the ongoing dry spell.
But this is only the latest impact of the weather variation on farmers. In recent times, the country’s cocoa sector has been threatened by unfavourable weather conditions – high temperature and excessive rainfall.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) partly attributed the decline in the production of cocoa beans for the 2023/2024 crop season to the adverse effects of El Niño.
COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, explained the climate phenomenon has significantly impacted cocoa supply globally, resulting in substantial losses to producers.
“We all know that we are not in normal times, the presence of El Niño has affected our production not just in Africa but Europe also,” he said.
Acknowledging the climate phenomenon is a good step. But scientists forewarned Ghana, long before getting here.
In 2011, climate scientists at the Colombia-based International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) predicted that the expected increasing temperatures will lead to massive declines in cocoa production in Ghana and other cocoa-growing areas in West Africa by 2030.
Their report also revealed that an expected annual temperature rise of more than two degrees Celsius by 2050 will leave the cocoa-producing areas too hot for chocolate.
Warmer conditions mean the heat-sensitive cocoa trees will struggle to get enough water during the growing season, curtailing the development of cocoa pods, containing the prized cocoa bean.
The climate change realities are here
The World Bank Group’s 2022 Country Climate and Development Report posited that Ghana’s economic and human development is vulnerable to climate change and climate-related shocks.
Since 1960, Ghana’s average annual mean temperature has increased by around 1 degree Celsius. Rainfall has also become more erratic.
“Without prompt global and local climate actions, higher temperatures and heat stress will affect crop and labour productivity,” said the Bank.
Dr. Shalom Addo-Danso, a Senior Research Scientist with Ghana’s Forestry Research Institute, has observed the current changes in the weather pattern and other extreme events clearly show the realities of climate change and variability and its impact on the country.
“The available data and observations point to temperature increase in the last few years across all the agroecological zones and irregular but more intense rainfall,” he noted. “The irregular but intense rainfall is oftentimes accompanied by long dry spell durations. Even the average number of ‘hot’ days and nights have increased in recent times. These changes are posing serious risk to many sectors of the economy, especially the cocoa sector. The projections show that the duration of dry spells will likely increase, which may increase drought conditions.”
Ghana has ambitious climate change commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
International climate financing remains critical for Ghana to effectively implement its NDCs, but the government of Ghana must demonstrate commitment to mobilizing internal resources and making budgetary allocations to deal with the pressing climate events that threaten lives and livelihoods.
Time to get serious with adaptation mechanisms
The government of Ghana is worried about the food security implication of the current dry spell hitting farming. This has informed a ban of export of grains like maize, rice and sorghum to avert local shortages.
But farmer-based organisations have raised objections; the government’s decision to ban grain export will have dire income and livelihood consequences. Some of these farmers have contracts with foreign entities to plant grains, which will be impacted by the ban.
They rather would want to be in production than their productivity strangles.
These farmers, mainly smallholder and subsistent, are most vulnerable when they cannot access irrigation facilities.
The Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana, for instance, has questioned the government’s priorities, citing the abandoned Pwulugu Dam Project, which has already consumed $12 million in investment.
“We need modern irrigation systems, not reliance on rain-fed agriculture which is outdated,” said the group.
Due to the new realities of the impacts of climate change, adaptation should become integral to the development agenda at all levels of society. But adaptation will depend on different sectors and their vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities.
Dr. Addo-Danso suggests three options for communities to build resilience:
First, there is the need to implement the country’s National Adaptation Plan Framework, which was developed in 2018. The Plan seeks to address climate change adaptation in a more holistic, integrated and coordinated manner. This is important because policies and strategies provide the framework within which actions could be implemented sustainably.
Secondly, given that local communities are more vulnerable to climate change, attention should focus on community-based adaptation strategies – measures that place local communities at the centre by empowering them to reduce their vulnerabilities and build their resilience to climate shocks. These include building on local knowledge of weather conditions to raise awareness on climate change, building their capacities on poverty and disaster risks reduction strategies, and addressing gender disparities, which will help communities to plan and cope with the risks and impacts of climate change.
Thirdly, poor communities often depend on land-based activities and natural resources for their livelihoods and survival, so adopting ecosystem-based approaches is critical for climate change adaptation. These approaches harness the benefits of conservation, management and restoration of ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, wetlands and rivers; and using biodiversity and the services provided by ecosystems to reduce the vulnerabilities of communities and build their resilience to climate risks.
Reducing exposure of farmers to climate risks
The current impact of the dry spell on food security has been described as a symptom of a long neglect of erecting irrigation systems across the country.
While climate change cannot be solved by any single country, local actions can help manage physical and transition risks as well as bring large opportunities, says the World Bank.
To many farmers in Ghana, poor irrigation continues to be the bane of productivity, with no sustainable efforts by successive governments to deal with the situation.
Jacob Naja, one of the farmers worst affected by the dry spell at Akapuka in the Pru East District of the Bono Region, pleads for urgent measures to be adopted in ensuring all-year water supply for agriculture.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has noted that the establishment of 574 dams under the government’s “One Village, One Dam” policy has been effective in holding rainwater for use by farmers.
However, the sector minister, Bryan Acheampong, has acknowledged the need for farmers to access irrigation facilities, which require pumping water from a big water source into a big canal or dam to hold the water.
What farmers expect is the demonstration of commitment to deliver this essential need, especially small irrigation systems, for all-year-round production.
As the most vulnerable to weather changes and climate variability, farmers would also need to diversify their livelihood investments and reduced their exposure to climate risk.
“One of the best options is for them to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices such as planting different crop varieties and incorporating trees into their cropping systems including nitrogen-fixing species,” said Dr. Shalom.
“Farmers also need access to climate information; they should be able to plant drought-tolerant varieties, adopt rain harvesting techniques and mulching, as well as use treated manure and organic fertilisers. These practices ensure increases in farming system productivity and incomes, and at the same time help them to build resilience to climate change,” he noted.
Kofi Adu Domfeh is a Journalist, Media Trainer and Climate Reality Leader
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has retained its top ranking in business efficiency and transparency among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as captured in the latest evaluative assessment by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe
In the “2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report (January 2024-June 2024)” released on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Abuja by PEBEC, the Board scored 71.6 per cent in Efficiency Compliance and 100 per cent in Transparency Assessment, to emerge with an Overall BFA Performance score of 80.1 per cent.
The Overall Business Facilitation Act Performance of MDAs, as explained by PEBEC, is assessed “using an efficiency and transparency scale weighted at 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively.”
With the latest Report, NCDMB has retained the top ranking for 30 consecutive months, having first secured the coveted position in the January 2022-June 2022 review period and subsequently in the second half of that year and the 12 months of 2023.
Under the Efficiency Compliance Ranking, PEBEC focuses its evaluation on “adherence to service level agreements (SLAs), cost management, procedural efficiency, One Government directive, and instances of Default Approval as provided in the Business Facilitation Act, 2022.”
For Transparency Ranking, the focus is on “how effectively MDAs…make essential information accessible to the public,” with particular emphasis on “clarity and completeness of published details on service level agreements, operating procedures, eligibility requirements, timelines and fees.”
In a year-on-year overview, PEBEC noted with satisfaction that “The MDAs have made progress in adhering to service level agreements and advancing digitization efforts,” even though “bureaucratic challenges and issues with consequence management persist.”
The Council states further that “The outlook for efficient public service delivery remains positive, given this administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment,” and that “There has been significant improvement in the overall rankings, with over 60% of MDAs now scoring above average, compared to the previous report above-average scores.”
A total of 40 MDAs, categorised as “PEBEC Priority MDAs”, were covered in the “2024 Half Year Transparency and Efficiency Compliance Report”. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which scored 78.2%, and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) 74.8%, were second and third, respectively, in the ranking.
