Ogun State Government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with relevant bodies, especially Tertiary institutions to explore opportunities in mitigating the challenge of climate change.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Olayiwola Abiodun and his counterpart from the Ministry of Forestry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, stated this at a separate meeting in Abeokuta with delegates from the Centre for Climate Change, the Bells University of Technology, Ota
Mr Olayiwola noted that synergy with the Centre would enable the Ministry to achieve its aim of confronting the challenges associated with climate change, through the activities of other relevant agencies such as the Ministries of Environment and Transport, among others.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, said the combined effort by Stakeholders was necessary to tackle the climate change challenge headlong, to further create a friendly eco-system that would make the world habitable for human beings and others creatures.
Mr. Olatunji stated that the Ministry had taken proactive steps to investigate the effect of climate change, such as uninterrupted tree planting in all forests and reserved in the three Senatorial District of the State.
In a remark, the Director of the Centre for Climate Change, Professor Babatunde Agbola advocated the need for the creation of a Climate Change desk in the Ministries to aid the process of integration, monitoring, evaluation, and technological transfer.
To prevent further loss of investments in yam production, farmers and Agricultural Extension workers in Ogun State have committed themselves to promoting wholesome practices to overcome the challenges of yam cultivation.
They made the submission in Abeokuta at a training programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring the farmers and agricultural extension workers up to date with the current realities in the sector.
The participants concluded that sharing their practical ideas and experiences would help to mitigate the harsh effects of climate change on the production of yam, both for consumption and commercial purposes.
Earlier while addressing the forum, the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ayo Ajayi and a representative of the Ministry from Abuja, Mrs Esther Moyo had encouraged the participants to make judicious use of the technical assistance and knowledge gained at the training.
In a remark, the Acting Programme Manager of the State Agricultural Development Programme, OGADEP, Mrs Solape Awe restated the state government’s commitment to providing the conducive environment for the people to engage in profitable farming.
Also, Director, Agricultural Extension Services, Mrs Adeola Sobukonla and the resource person, Mr Clement Ogunseye pointed out that climate change was posing huge limitation to yam farmers and advised them to review the planting and harvesting periods as well as upgrade the quality of their planting materials.
Climate change in Nigeria is one major challenge that has become a great concern to stakeholders.
In this special report, our reporter, Mosope Kehinde takes a look at the impact of human behaviours on climate change in Nigeria.
No doubt, both human and animals, not leaving out all the sectors of Nigeria’s socio economic existence are being threatened with the impact of climate change which are obviously caused by the nonchalant attitude of some citizens.
Some of such behaviors contributing to climate change are, but not limited to, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, bush burning, tree felling and open defecation.
According to report, the effects of climate change prompted the World Meteorological Organization, in its 40th Executive Council 1988, to establish a new international scientific assessment panel to be called the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
However, the 2007 IPCC’s fourth and final Assessment Report (AR4) revealed that there is a considerable threat of climate change that requires urgent global attention.
The earth faces environmental threats which include atmospheric and marine pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, the dangers of pollution by nuclear and other hazardous substances, as well as the extinction of various wildlife species.
There is no gain saying the fact that man depends on his environment for existence and sustenance, such that man’s life is shaped by his environment and this underscores the need for the protection of the environment from all forms of degradation, especially those brought about by the activities of man.
Emphasizing the significance and inevitability of the environment for survival of man, environmental experts argued that without the environment, man cannot exist since human activities are made possible by the existence of his environment.
Speaking on the physical, biological and chemical factors affecting climate change that must be addressed, President Environmental Health Officers Association, Oyo State, Nigeria, Mr Abiodun Tijani, said man’s inability to prioritize the care of the environment played pivotal roles at curbing the impact of climate change in the country.
Mr. Tijani explained that it is unfortunate to hear that Nigeria is among the dirtiest countries of the world, that is why individuals, government and the communities must rise up to their responsibilities by complying with sanitation rules.
“We have to protect our water sources, the water you pollute here is being used in another place by other people“.
A dump of used foam takeout food containers floats and blocks a drainage point following a heavy storm in Lagos, on June 26, 2019. – Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently has declared a state of emergency on environmental sanitation and traffic management matters to check the resurgence of waste in the metropolis, environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially on drainage points which mostly are responsible for flooding during raining reason. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)
He said, “Concerning the issues of climate change, whatever we throw into the environment is what the environment throws back at us. Indiscriminate disposal of refuse is a major challenge were having in Nigeria, that’s why we were having climatic change and chlorofluorocarbon in the air.”
“People dump refuse indiscriminately on the ground, by the time its raining, it will wash the remaining chemical in the substance or object to the stream thereby destroying the soil enriching nutrient, by the time we destroy this, were also destroying our ecosystem.”
Mr Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, is the Network Coordinator, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, who decried the indiscriminate felling of trees and other human-driven factors contributing to climate change.
He harped on the need for public enlightenment on the significance of trees which he said helps to absorb green house gas emissions a major contributor to negative climatic change.
Mr Ola-Olowoyo expressed happiness that stakeholders in Nigeria are beginning to give priority to climate education, noting that many organizations are now concerned about climate and environmental issues.
“However, Nigerians have a lot of work to do as regards taking care of our environment and we have to be conscious about how we keep the environment clean and healthy; things we do that contribute to having a sustainable future. The natural resources we have are also depleting and reducing, how are we managing these resources, how are we keeping the environment , so that the forthcoming generation will meet there own needs?, Mr Ola-Olowoyo asked.
“It is very important that we take this as a collective responsibility, don’t throw a sachet water nylon away, you have to reuse it, keep it or give it to any recycling company, reduce your plastics or water bottles, reuse instead of using different bottles all the time.”
He said apart from the fact that trees protect buildings and structures from windstorm; it provides fresh oxygen to humanity.
Nigeria is not shielded from the rest of the world in terms of the effect of climate change.
The outcomes of climate change have been felt across the vegetative regions of the Nigeria.
Research has shown that climate change is increasingly becoming a major threat to agricultural productivity in Nigeria.
An expert in agricultural value chain and agribusiness, Mr Wole Okewole, noted that the effect of the climate change has made Nigerians to experience more dry days and less rainy days in 2022 which has affected farming experience especially in the agrarian areas where small holder farmers reside.
Mr. Okewole said many of the farmers lack access to irrigation facilities.
He said, “At the end of the day, the limitations we are having is going to affect all of us, food security is not just about the farmers, its about everyone and their environmental habits. We have to understand that government must be able to see reasons, they must be more robust in addressing climate and environmental challenges”.
The billionaire founder of the outdoor fashion retailer Patagonia says he has given away his company to a charitable trust.
Yvon Chouinard said that under a new ownership structure, any profit not reinvested in running the business would go to fighting climate change.
This will amount to around $100m a year, he claimed, depending on the health of the company.
Patagonia sells hiking and other outdoor clothing in over 10 countries.
Founded in 1973, its estimated revenue was $1.5bn this year, while Mr Chouinard’s net worth is thought to be $1.2bn.
“Despite its immensity, the Earth’s resources are not infinite, and it’s clear we’ve exceeded its limits,” the entrepreneur said of his decision to give up ownership.
“Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth, we are using the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source.”
The Californian firm was already donating 1% of its annual profits to grassroots activists and committed to sustainable practices but in an open letter to customers, the apparently reluctant businessman said he wanted to do more.
He said he had initially considered selling Patagonia and donating the money to charity or taking the company public but he said both options would have meant giving up control of the business.
“Even public companies with good intentions are under too much pressure to create short-term gain at the expense of long-term vitality and responsibility,” he said.
Researchers from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta have commenced sensitization for farmers on the climate information services for early warning system on climate change in the southwest.
The unveiling of the research work aimed at assisting farmers to prepare against the impacts of climate change held in Abeokuta was attended by stakeholders from the six states of the south west.
Lead researcher, Doctor John Oyedepo while speaking said the research sponsored by the tertiary education trust fund, TETFUND was to assist the country in achieving food security and improve the economic status of the farmers.
Director of research, innovations and partnerships of federal university of agriculture Abeokuta, Doctor Mutiu Busari in a remark said the research would assist farmers to make informed decisions and help them to increase yields.
The project trained one thousand four hundred and forty farmers from seventy villages across the six states on smart farming with access to early warning system and information dissemination platforms.
The farmers through the research outcome also have access to weather information websites, online radio and other small phone enabled applications aimed at providing useful information on farming activities.
Ajo ton risi oro ayipada oju ojo nileyi, NIMET ti kesi awon eni orokan leka eto ogbin nipinle ogun lori lilo anfani awon ikede ajo naa lori boju ojo seleri fun eto ogbin ohun ise agbe lapapo.
Eekan awosakun oju ojo lati ajo ohun, Ogbeni Charles Olubiyi lo soro iyanju naa nilu abeokuta lasiko eto idanileko olojo kan fawon eni-orokan leka ise agbe lori igbelaruge eto iroyin to ro mo tayipada oju ojo fawon agbe.
Ogbeni Olubiyi sope,o se pataki lati jeki awon agbe mo pataki iroyin lori ayipada oju ojo kole seranlowo fun iragogo ipese ounje.
O wa je ko di mimo pe nipase iwosakun oju ojo latodo ajo NIMET,sise ise po pelu awon agbe,eto ipese nkan ti yi pada,pelu alaye pe aisiroyin to poju owo lori ayipada oju ojo lateyin wa ti sepalara fawon agbe.
Global warming is causing long-lasting changes to our climate system which threatens irreversible consequences.
According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world must cut its carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 in order to prevent global warming.
Also, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, in its 2019 seasonal rainfall prediction, said the annual variability and trend of rainfall over Nigeria in the last six decades depicts several inter-annual fluctuations that have been responsible for dry and wet years or extreme climate events such as droughts and floods in many parts of the country.
NIMET also predicted that as a result of these climatic conditions, incidences of malaria and other diseases will be higher in areas with temperatures ranging between 18-32c and with humidity above 60 percent.
More worrisome is the increasing knowledge that the country will be subject to consistent changes in rainfall and temperatures in future.
Hotter and drier conditions would likely exacerbate floods, droughts and heat waves and hamper agricultural production, particularly rain-fed agriculture, which many Nigerians rely on for their livelihoods with agriculture accounting for about twenty three percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
This critical situation is putting lives and livelihoods at risk, disrupting vital ecosystems for people and the planet with methods of production and consumption that are constantly attacking the environment globally.
As a result, the world is in a race to limit climate change and find workable, practical, and cost-efficient solutions to this emergency that is redefining global partnerships hence need for cooperatives for climate action.
President of the International Cooperative Alliance, Ariel guarco noted that there is need to develop an economy with social inclusion and protection of natural resources.
Mr. Guarco noted that cooperatives worldwide will show leadership and share their cooperative values in combating this global issue.
He advocated support for Sustainable Development Goal, SDG, 13 on climate action, which is one of the most severe challenges facing the planet during the 21st century.
Climate change severely impacts people’s livelihoods around the world, such as small-scale farmers, women, youth, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities, who have to cope with extreme natural disasters and degradation of natural resources.
A report by United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, showed that nearly half of the world, seventy five nations representing 37 percent of emissions, is deeply committed to tackling the menace.
To tackle climate change, the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs, was made under the Paris Agreement to reduce national emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
If fully implemented, these efforts will pave way for a low carbon economy and result in about 50 percent reduction in emissions, while economy will grow at an average annual rate of five percent by 2030.
Nigeria has ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement, this commendable considering it is one of the top six greenhouse gas emitters in Africa
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari in New York announced robust plans and initiatives by his administration to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Nigeria.
The plans were revealed in his address to the United Nations Climate Action Summit with the theme, “A race we can win, a race we must win.”
The president’s seven-point plans reiterate commitment to concrete actions towards the Paris Agreement goals.
To mitigate impact of climate change, the cooperative movement, a global actor of change should collaborate with its partners within the international community to significantly impact the climate agenda and achieve a fair, green and just transition for all communities, leaving no one behind.
