NIGERIA: Paris Climate Deal Must Be Legally Binding. MY SUGGESTION @OlumideIDOWU
Nigeria is getting it right in the build up to the UNFCCC conference in Paris, France COP21. Why do we need to make sure this conference will not be the same as the other ones that happen and turn to normal travelling and vacation for Nigerian delegates?
The new minister in her announcement on twitter about the INDC which was submitted to UNFCCC on the 26th of November made us to know that we mean business and the President made a good choice in selecting a dedicated and understanding minister for the portfolio.
As a youth that manage a platform called Climate Wednesday (seeks to identify key climate based issues affecting development specifically in Nigeria, and Africa overall. It looks at the issue of climate, thinking locally, and then acting globally. This way, we are able to imbibe our local realities and present them on the table of global action steps towards mitigating effects of climate change.) Which preaches Climate Justices, appreciate the submission of INDC.
Why is this conference very important for Nigeria? Climate change has become a new reality and a worldwide phenomenon but a second look at the topic suggests that Nigeria may be immune from it. In effect, climate change will mean a change in such weather condition for a particular location over time. Nigeria need to make sure the deal we are binding in Paris should reflect the change we are fighting for back home. The changes which are seen over recent years and those which are predicted over the next century are thought to be mainly due to human behaviour rather than due to natural changes in the atmosphere. What causes this change cannot be treated in isolation without looking at greenhouse effect which is caused by the release of destructive gases by human action which in turn brings about the warming of the earth surface by increase in the earth’s temperature.
The deal should include:
- Help Communities to Adapt to Climate Shocks: Build climate resilience and adaptive capacity of most vulnerable and marginalized people, and address the loss and damage they are facing.
- Climate Action most Advance Gender Equality: Ensure actions to tackle climate change advance gender and human rights.
- Cut Emission to Keep Global Warming below 1.50C: Drastically cut emission from fuel and speed up the transition to renewable energy to keep global warming below 1.50
- More Financial Support for poor people: Massively scale up financial support for poor people and communities, and especially for vulnerable and marginalized people.
- Protect Food Security in a Changing Climate: Protect the food nutrition security of poorest, marginalized and most vulnerable people.
If Nigeria can help to work towards this deal then we are getting the country to a safer side of the environment.
“Climate change in Nigeria is a ticking time bomb and it exists little or even nothing to mitigate its effects.” Nnimmo Bassey, Nigeria.
Olumide IDOWU
Campaign Specialist
