GIFSEP Rally Support For Climate Change Act Implementation In Nigeria

By Eric Ojo

Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) on Wednesday in Abuja, convened a one-day consultative workshop to galvanize support for the implementation of Climate Change Act in the country.

GIFSEP is a non-profit organization founded on the ideals of environment education, climate change adaptation and mitigation, renewable energy and sustainable development. Its mission is to mobilize communities to build resilience to a changing climate, to conserve and protect the environment.

In November 2021, President Mohammadu Buhari signed the Climate Change Bill into law. The Act reaffirms the Federal Government’s aim to cut current emissions by 50 percent by 2050 and achieve net zero emissions as early as possible in the second half of the century (net zero target for 2050 to 2070).

The workshop which coincided with this year’s commemoration of Africa Day, was attended by a number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), representatives of relevant government agencies, development partners, friends of Nigeria and media practitioners.

Africa Day is celebrated annually on 25 May to commemorate the founding in 1963 of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which became the African Union (AU) in 2002. This year’s celebration is centered on nutrition, with the AU Theme for the year: “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent”.

The workshop was held essentially to analyze and interpret the clauses of the Act, foster synergy and inspire interest of relevant stakeholders for the effective monitoring and implementation of its provisions.

Executive Director of GIFSEP, Mr. David Michael Terungwa said since the Act was passed into law everything, according to him, has been quiet and no information whatsoever on it, adding that the CSOs working in that space, however know full well that if the Act is fully implemented, a lot of things will be taken care of in the sector.

“No one is even talking about climate change. The activities heralding the 2023 general elections are already gathering momentum and if you listen to all the political parties and all the campaigns, you hardly hear anything about climate change and the environment, which is one of the greatest problems facing humanity today and even our country.

“So, if this government leaves and another government steps in, will it be thrown in the thrash. This is a big question for us that we need to answer. Secondly, today is Africa Day and the theme is focused on nutrition and we know the impact of climate change on nutrition so, it simply means that with theme of the Africa Day will not come to fruition without climate action”, he said.

Mr. Terungwa noted that on its part, GIFSEP has printed free copies of the Act for those who don’t have access to it so that they can study, digest and understand it. “We have gone ahead further to collaborate with the Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Abuja to help us break down the Act into a simple document by simplify it into 4 or 5 pages to make it more user-friendly” he added.

He said the expected outcomes of the workshop include galvanizing increased support for CSOs to push for the implementation and enforcement of the Climate Change Act, as a quick pathway to carbon pricing and ultimately “Climate Income” and to promote understanding for successful implementation of the law.

He added that it is aimed at enhancing state and non-state actor’s knowledge of the provisions of the law that will inform plans, programmes and advocacy initiatives as well as strategies to strengthen accountability of government on the implementation.

Director of the Centre for Environment Studies, University of Abuja, Prof. Shuaibu Hassan who reviewed the provisions of Act, harped on the need for the President Buhari to urgently establish the National Council on Climate Change which is saddled with responsibility of implementing the Act, adding that nothing can be done in the absence of the Council.

Prof. Hassan also called for more advocacy and awareness creation about the Act, noting that CSOs in the country should collectively lent their voice to the call for action on the implementation of the Act in order to address the various environmental problems, just as GIFSEP has been doing consistently over the years.

In her goodwill message, the Climate Policy Manager at British High Commission, Adesuwa Obasuyi commended GIFSEP for organizing the workshop.

Obasuyi said the British government provided technical support to Nigeria when the Act was still undergoing legislative procedures at the National Assembly. She added that her organization is poised to encourage the implementation of environmental laws in Nigeria, even at the sub-national levels in order to protect their environment.

She also called on the CSOs to engage more with the Act with a view to drawing attention to its implementation, adding that individuals can also seek redress for violation of environmental laws in the country. “Read, understand and disseminate the Act to create more awareness”, she stressed.

Similarly, a representative of Citizen Climate International (CCI) Barrister Yahaya Dangana said the legislature has done their part by enacting the Climate Change Act, noting that it behooves on the relevant stakeholders, particularly the CSOs to promote and mobilize support for its implementation.

“The concept of climate justice needs to be vociferously articulated and taken as a clarion call for all to act, now that the Act is here for us. At least, we have means of passing our demands to the Minister of Environment and others, all we need to do now is to mobilize, lobby and talk to them on the implementation of the Act.

“These messages will go far if we can collectively take action. What will stop us from going to the National Assembly to press for the inauguration of the National Council on Climate Change, so that the implementation can begin in earnest?”.

Barrister Dangana also observed that since the general elections are by the corner, citizens can be sensitized to impress it upon political aspirants to make climate change the focal point of their campaign if the intend to get votes from them, (the electorate). 

“We can also hold our representatives and those in government accountable by demanding for the implementation of Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is all about Climate Change”, he further suggested.