By Mayowa Adeniran |
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Federal Ministry of Environment through its Department of Climate Change have launched a Climate Incubation Hub in Nigeria to involve the youths in finding solution of climate problems in Nigeria.
The event curated new ideas and existing climate solutions of 47 participants from the South-South Region spread across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.
Seyifunmi Adebote, an environmentalist and Nigeria’s youth delegate to the recent Abu Dhabi Climate Meeting, applauded the idea and expressed enthusiasm about the scalability of some of the climate innovations profiled at the event.
“I am reassured that there are solutions to the climate crisis witnessed in Nigeria today. From exploring technology to advocacy, policy implementation to public engagement, youths in Nigeria now understands the fact that climate change is real and are responding to the urgency of tackling the global challenge.”
On his part, Nnimmo Bassey, whose organisation, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) coordinated the process in the region, expressed optimism that the ideas from young people, if developed, can solve the problems that come with climate change in Nigeria.
His words: “If you look at the whole scenario, you will see that the youth will be the ones to be the worst impacted because the impacts of global warming are still coming to the future. So, they are here to bring out their ideas on what government and global leaders can do to tackle the action; we want to get practical ideas from young people at the end of the day.”
At the event, it was observed that the issues of climate change call for emergency responses in Nigeria and proactive measures must be put in place by the Nigerian government to tackle them.
Other observations include: “The non-implementation of extant environmental laws and policies continue to serve as a major setback in the fight for a safe climate in Nigeria; need to create more awareness among the Nigeria citizenry; and financial investment and transfer of technology to build human capacity and groom basic ideas that will mitigate climate crises in Nigeria is urgently needed.”
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Participants at the event recommended eco-friendly technological solutions, including Apps to map vulnerable and non-vulnerable areas to climate change impact and solar panels should be more affordable for the people.
Participants also recommended that Mangrove reclamation and tree planting especially indigenous and economic crops while also generating biogas from household biodegradable waste and bio-digester
It was also noted that effort should be made on recycling as regards plastic bottle collection and reuse, conversion to other products and also waste segregation and separation.
The need for the establishment of environmental clubs and advocacy for target groups and also creating certain social documentaries in local languages on climate change was also mentioned.
Participants also called for the, “Amplification of government action on climate change policy implementations, including by stopping gas flaring and converting the emitted gas instead.
“Massive and creative advocacy campaigns on the impact of climate change; inclusion of climate change education in our curriculum at the various levels of learning in Nigeria.
“Amplification of Youth voices and harnessing their creative ideas on climate change. Strengthening existing structures to integrate women and marginalized groups participation in all levels in climate action in Nigeria.”
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