… As experts warn on dangers of continuous neglect of Climate Change***
Community-based, Educational oriented non- Government organisation, covering a significant part of Nigeria, the Bree Light Charity Foundation (BLCF) has tasked Nigerians to focus on the needy, stressing that despite the adversity of Climate change, there’s enough for everyone to share, if the nation’s greediness is curbed
The founder of BLCF, Bridget Egere Gbeje stated this recently in Lagos while welcoming stakeholders and industry captains, to an enlightenment and sensitization event, aimed at drawing quality attention to the dangers of uncontrolled climate change, particularly from the angle of adversity on humans and animals and the ecosystem.
The BLCF believes that Nigeria, like several other African countries, must strive to proactively influence changing climate, harnessing the spinoffs, and minimizing the adversity, where possible.
The body also believes that the challenges and impact of a spiraling climate change cannot be abandoned to the Government alone but must be collectively evaluated, and broad-based solutions proffered.
It was certainly for this reason, that the BLCF welcomed stakeholders and shakers and movers of the industries, to assemble and brainstorm, stressing the need to put in place, institutional structures, capable of helping the citizens, especially the poor and the needy, before the advent of the evil day.
“It is our goal to build a better world for the needy. This is the reason for creating a platform that supports our vision and delivers valuable help to those that need it” Egere Gbeje stated, adding that in spite of the unpredictability of weather and the attendant adversity, the Bree Light Charity Foundation would continue to shine the light.
“We will continue to shine a bright light on the needy, through various programme and campaigns. An act of which we believed would help the people and reduce poverty in our society”, she indicated, highlighting the group’s determination to help children and youths to realize their potential, in several ways, including through payment of school fees.
She highlighted that her foundation which was incorporated on the 2nd of February 2021 with registration number 155478: a website as: www.breelightcf.org; and the email: info@breelightcf.org was equally undertaking the following:
*Providing aid to poverty and diseased struck poor people, especially the elderly and children in society
*Provide social and economic empowerment to women and girls
*Train women and girls on different skills acquisition.
*Safeguard the rights of women and girls and provide the well-being of women in needs
“We have successfully carried out a few projects and next on our roaster for the year are:
1. Paying school fees for 100 underprivileged children.
2. Organizing vocational training for underprivileged single mothers to learn life-changing skills.
3. Donation of food items to different orphanage homes and
4. Climate Change Awareness campaign for youths and adults.
Speaking in the same vein, a Climate expert, Emmanuel C. Christian delivered an erudite and scholarly paper on ‘Giving a Critical In-depth of Climate Change Policy In Nigeria and the World at Large’
He described CLIMATE CHANGE as one of the most important issues presently facing the global community today, whether from the environment, businesses, and society alike, and which must be timely tamed, to a manageable level..
“One of the main objectives in the fight against Climate Change is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system (Article 2, UN 1992)”, he said, adding that only such proactive option would limit the average increase of the temperatures to +1.5°C – in line with Paris Agreement, of 2015.
Driving home his point, he called attention to Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution (NDC), a document embodying ambitious pledges and actions set by countries that have endorsed the Paris Agreement in order to effectively and efficiently reduce carbon emissions, thus mitigating the devastating impacts of climate change in their respective countries.
“Nigeria first developed a climate change policy, the Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy (NCCPRS), in 2012 to promote low-carbon emissions and to respond effectively to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, food insecurity, etc.
“In 2021, the Federal Ministry of Environment, through the Department of Climate Change introduced the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) for the 2021 to 2030 period. The NCCP sets out Nigeria’s climate change policy direction, addresses conditions required to attain Nigeria’s vision to be a climate-resilient economy, and sectoral measures for mitigating the effects of climate change in Nigeria.
“During COP26, Nigeria committed to achieving net zero by 2060, and barely a week after the conference, the Climate Change Act, 2021 was signed into law, which was passed by the National Assembly in October 2021”, he stated, adding that the Act seeks to provide a framework for achieving low GHG emissions and also mainstream climate change actions into national plans and programs.
“An Act to provide for the mainstreaming of climate change actions, establish the National Council on Climate Change; and for related matters.
“Nigeria’s 2021 Climate Change Act provides an ambitious framework for mainstreaming climate actions in line with national development priorities and sets a net-zero target for 2050-2070.
“The Act codifies national climate actions by mandating the Ministry of Environment to set, among others, a carbon budget, keeping the average increase in global temperature within 2oC and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels.
“It further approves of formulation of a National Climate Change Action Plan in every five-year cycle to ensure that the national emission profile is consistent with the carbon budget goals and prescribes measures for identifying actions for climate adaptation and mitigation.
“The Act seeks to provide a framework for achieving low GHG emissions and to mainstream climate change actions into national plans and programs.
“Being the first stand-alone comprehensive climate change legislation in West Africa and among few, both globally and regionally, it has the potential to become a strategic tool for climate change advocacy and a legal foundation for potential climate litigation in Nigeria”, he actually explained..
Periscoping the scope & purpose of the Act, he observed that the Act is its wide scope, applies to institutions and agencies of government as well as private and public entities, and compulsorily mandates them to adhere to all governmental regulations on climate change.
Quoting Section 1(a) –(i) of the Act, he said it sets the years 2050-2070 as the target time frame within which to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
“The Act requires all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government; and public and private enterprises in Nigeria to develop and implement mechanisms geared towards fostering low carbon emission, environmentally sustainable, and climate-resilient society.
“The Act also establishes the National Council on Climate Change, chaired by the President of Nigeria, with members from both the public and private sectors, including members of the civil society, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
“It empowers the Council with significant powers to coordinate national climate actions, administer the newly established Climate Change Fund, mobilize resources to support climate actions and collaborate with the Nigerian Sovereign Green Bond in meeting Nigeria’s NDC.
“The Climate Change Fund is envisioned as a financing mechanism for prioritized climate actions and interventions. The promotion and adoption of nature-based solutions to reduce GHG emissions and mitigate climate change is encouraged.
“The Act provides a framework for Nigeria to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions(GHG) through inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development and the implementation of Nigeria’s commitment to net zero emissions declared at COP26 in 2021. It establishes the National Council on Climate Change, which is tasked with implementing the country’s climate Action Plan.
“The law is the first stand-alone comprehensive climate change legislation in West Africa.
“Apart from establishing the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) which shall have the power to make policies and decisions on all matters relating to climate change in Nigeria, the Act also provides that the NCCC will collaborate with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to develop a mechanism for a carbon tax in Nigeria.
“The proceeds from the carbon tax, as well as emissions trading among other sources of funds, will be used to fund the Climate Change Fund (the Fund) proposed by the Act.
The Director-General is also required to submit to the National Assembly, within 3 (three) months after the end of every financial year, an evaluation report on the performance of climate change duties by private and public entities.
CLIMATE CHANGE FUND
The Act in addition, also establishes a Climate Change Fund to be administered by the Council.
The Fund is to be funded by budgetary allocations by the National Assembly, fines obtained from entities found to have breached the provisions of the Act and other funding sources to be prescribed by the Council from time to time. Amongst several objectives, the overall intent of the fund is to aid climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Act provides for the creation of the Fund which will warehouse amounts paid by way of carbon taxes and emission trading; appropriations from the National Assembly; funding from international organizations; fines and charges issued to private and public entities; subventions, grants, donations, and fees, etc.
The proceeds of the Fund are to be disbursed towards funding climate change mitigation initiatives, incentivizing private and public entities that meet their GHG emission reduction targets, conducting climate change impact assessments, and running the NCCC.
CARBON BUDGET, which essentially, indicates the amount of carbon a country will be permitted to emit within a given period.
“The CC Act saddles the Federal Ministry of Environment with the responsibility of setting up the Country’s budget. The budgets which usually have a five-year circle are put in place with the overall aim of ensuring that Nigeria achieves its net-zero carbon emission target between 2050-2070.
Each budget circle is to be submitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval before implementation. The Federal Ministries of the Environment and National Planning however have the responsibility to set the carbon budget (which means the approved quantity of GHG emission that is acceptable over a specified time) and the budgetary period for Nigeria, and periodically revise the carbon budget in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions in order to comply with international obligations.
“The goal of the carbon budget is to keep the average increase in global temperature within 2 degrees Celsius and make a concerted effort to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The Act also requires private entities to designate a Climate Change Officer or an Environmental Sustainability Officer, who would be responsible for submitting an annual report that shows the status of the entity’s carbon emission reduction efforts during the relevant period.
Failure to comply with this obligation will result in fines determined by the NCCC, based on Environmental Economic Accounting, with attention to the health impacts, impact on climate variation, and total damage to ecosystem services.
Fortunately, the Act acknowledges the need for Increased public awareness of climate change and the need for a transition through public outreach and education.
This may not be achievable, except organisations like Bree Light and Charity Foundation comes into the foray and continue to build on efforts to ensure a just transition and build trust in the fairness of climate policies.
In the meantime, another Climate expert, Seyi Olawuyi has warned that nature, from which climate derived its power has the capacity to increase in Poverty Rate, raise the Incidence of flood and drought; entrench loss of farmland; reduce crop yield; ensure pollution of water body, also affect fish farming, thereby affecting the micro economy; a dangerous displacement of people from their houses by rendering them, including even animals homeless.
Looking at the basics, Olawuyi defined Weather as the atmospheric condition of a place at a particularly short time, while Climate is the Average Weather condition of a place over a long period of time.
“Climate change is a broad term used to refer to changes in the Earth’s climates, at local, regional, or global scales, and can also refer to the effects of these changes”, Olawuyi stated, mentioning the adverse impact of Carbon dioxides C02, Methane CH4, Ozone, Nitrous oxide N20, Industrial Gases, Natural causes, Anthropogenic (Human) causes and Natural causes.
He also accounted for Changes in the earth’s orbits, Changes (Fluctuation) in the amount of energy coming from the sun, Ocean changes, Volcanic eruptions, Anthropogenic causes, Burning of fossil fuel, for electricity, heat, transportation, etc.
Throwing a blank question, he inquired: What are the possible Effects of Climate change on Human health?
He identified the following: Heat and sun UV ray, Assisting vector biology, Air and water pollution, Malnutrition from food insecurity, and Transmission of diseases noting that Solutions can be classified into three: Behavioural change, Government Policy and Law, Innovations and technology, Aforestation (Tree planting), Use of alternative source of energy and saving of energy, Shifting to the Use of Renewable Energy- Solar, Wind, Hydro; Embracing Energy Efficiency, CAR Pooling & Bicycle riding, Meatless Day, Proper waste management, especially ‘Waste to wealth’ and Practising Sustainable Agriculture, particularly, Agroecology and Agroforestry.
The Bree Light and Charity Foundation deserves genuine encomiums for selfless commitment and pursuit. It has recognised the fact that Government cannot do it alone. It has flagged off a noteworthy sensitization program, leaving a basic question unanswered: When would stakeholders begin to encourage the BLCF, in a bid to ensure that the body consistently delivers on a task, that actually ought to be performed, by all and sundry?
