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NIGERIA CLIMATE CHANGE AMNESIA

It seems the real threats to the impact of climate change have not yet sunk deep enough in our

legislative corridors. One would expect that by now, legislative actions should have commenced

and assumed heightened gear in limiting the level of emissions in all the technologies in the

production processes in the country that utilize fossil fuels. But this has not been the case.There exists no strategy, at least legislative wise to address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions

in the wider Nigerian environment. It remains doubtful if any legislation to limit greenhouse gasemissions will be passed by the Nigerian National Assembly before the expiration of the Kyoto

Accord in 2012. The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty of the United National Framework Convention on

Climate Change. The treaty spells out steps and measures aimed at stabilizing the concentration

of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere throughout the world.

This Treaty was adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11th December, 1997 and has been ratified by 187

countries that are signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, of

which Nigeria is a member. The Nigerian government ratified and accepted the treaty on 10th

December, 2004, and thereafter, it seems everyone has gone to sleep. There appears to be a sense

of complacency in the country as climate change mitigations efforts are restricted to campaigns

against gas flaring in Nigerias oil producing Niger Delta region and the fight against desert

encroachment in the Savanna region of Northern Nigeria.

There is a mounting debate going on now in Nigeria as to whether the country should sign or notsign the Copenhagen Accord. The Copenhagen Accord happens to be a more ambitious set of

agreements reached by delegates at the last United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change held on 18th December, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Copenhagen Accord is

aimed at strengthening the Kyoto Protocol.But the issues of Nigerias commitment to climate change mitigation transcend the signing of

treaties and accords. And besides, these treaties for now do not carry any legally binding

obligations on developing countries. And it is generally believed too, that these treaties do not

address the needs of the developing countries, which are more vulnerable to the impact of climate

change phenomena.

It is instructive that Nigeria did not showcase herself as a front runner in the fight against climate

change at the just concluded Copenhagen conference of Parties. That Nigeria was not among the

five countries namely Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the United States of America (USA)that drafted the final agreement at the conference made us to look very pitiable in Denmark.

Apparently the lack of demonstrable commitment by Nigeria towards legislative mitigation

actions to combat climate change in the country has led to the drowning of our voices at

international forum on climate change.

However, the combined efforts of State Governments and Non-Governmental

Organizations(NGOs) in the country in mitigation campaigns appears to be raising the issue of

climate change in the country to the front burner, otherwise the country would be threading on a

dangerous path by prevaricating on legislative measures in tackling climate change in the

country.

Examples of Sate Governments effort in the fifth against climate change include the activities inDelta State. The Delta State Government in Nigeria is the first state in the country to formulate a

Climate Change Policy and by so doing, the state is setting the pace in the global action onclimate change in the country. Recently, the state held a stakeholders forum on climate change as

one of its sensitization campaigns.

The Cross River state government in South Eastern Nigeria is also pioneering action on forest

protection as a mitigation action. This effort by the state has already attracted the attention of the

Global Carbon Fund of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP),and the state stands to

benefit from a draw down of about 50 million Dollars from the Fund.

The stealthy phenomena of global warming in sub-Saharan Africa seems to be lost on the

generality of the Nigerian public, perhaps as a result of the barely noticeable incremental

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occurrence of global warming due to our warm climate. But we should make no mistake about

the reality of climate change. Like Hiv/Aids, climate change is real and here! In North Central

Nigeria where this NGO (Volunteer Care Trust Foundation) is carrying out sensitization

campaigns on climate change mitigation, cases of crop failures and flash floods are becoming

more rampant and alarming. The unusual fluctuations in the two main seasons in the region(Rainy and Dry seasons) are becoming more noticeable now. Rains are coming late and stopping

earlier. Average temperatures are rising. In Benue state where this NGO is based, thetemperatures usually experienced in the month of March were this year experienced in the month

of February. These historical changes in the climate records of these areas are clear

manifestations of climate change.

In order to combat these potential devastating effects of climate change in Nigeria, the Volunteer

Care Trust Foundation is advocating strong legislative commitment to urgently address the

anthropogenic causes of climate change in the country. These anthropogenic causes include: Gas

flaring by oil exploration companies in the oil producing Delta region, desertification in the

savanna region of Northern Nigeria as a result of bush burning, deforestation in the southern

region of the country and waste management in the urban areas.

And perhaps, the major issue which should be addressed through legislation is pollution control.

Pollution control should be encapsulated in a broader climate change program that will set strict

emission levels on any technology in the country that is driven by fossil fuel. The carbon dioxideemissions from generating sets, motor cycles and manufacturing industries in Nigeria constitutes

not only health hazards, but also the major contributor to global warming.

The Volunteer Care Trust Foundation therefore advocates strong legislation as the tipping point

in tackling climate change in Nigeria. And we recommend that the pivotal proactive effort byNigeria, in demonstrating commitment to climate change mitigation is by signing the non legal

binding Copenhagen Accord.

In prevaricating on any proactive response by the Nigerian Government in combating global

warming, the collaborative efforts involving state Governments and Non-Governmental

Organizations in tackling climate change in the country may not achieve the desired results.

John T.Chen

(Chairman)Volunteer Care Trust Foundation

vctfoundation@yahoo.com

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