AGA-Africa, NESREA And NIALS Host Climate Justice Workshop In Abuja, Proffer Solutions To Climate Change In Nigeria

*Climate change Should Be A Thing Of Concern To Everyone — NIALS DG, Prof Tawfiq Ladan
*NESREA DG, Tasks Civil Society, NGOs To Promote Sustainability And Carbon Reduction
*Yinka Omoregbe Leads Call For Creation Of Alternatives

Attorney General Alliance-Africa (AGA-Africa) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), and other stakeholders on Environment have shared views on ways to curb climate change and protect the environment.

In this ongoing collaborative 2-day workshop taking place at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, with the theme: “Rule of Law and Climate Justice” organizations called on Federal, state, local governments, private sector, and other stakeholders to action.

The Director General of National Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS), Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, shared his insight on why climate change should be a thing of concern to everyone.

Speaking on the topic: Climate change phenomenon: policies and legal framework, he said, climate protection against harm is the legal duty of every actor. Governments, corporate entity, CSO, lawmakers, academia and the media must play their role in order to avert danger and further avert effect on climate change on human beings, plants, animals.

He added that National Government, seeking to promote and enjoy economic development must embark upon aggressive economic development for the common good of all but it must be in a sustainable manner.

He further added that in the whole world no legal instrument provides for rights to safe climate, and it is only Portugal that made an attempt in one sentence to discuss the environmental rights and justice of their citizens.

“We must ensure 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.

“There’s need for protection of the climate against harm and stable climate and this is where the role of duty bearers come in, to provide empowerment to others so that they can attain climate justice.

“There has to be inclusive participation of the most vulnerable population, people in the local communities, they should be given a voice because they are the ones suffering more. The government should provide for adaptation measure, litigation or loss and damage measure, for compensation.

“Therefore, for rule of law to prevail they should be given the platforms for participation. There’s need to have access to climate information and how we can collectively survive.
“Unfortunately, the institutions that supposed to take actions on the climate change are not doing anything, hence, the need to have a legal framework.

“The Climate Change Act 2021, has provided that all MDAs must have climate change desk for ensuring integration of climate change activities into their core mandate. It also provides clear responsibility for private sectors, especially those in coal, cement, oil, mining and other manufacturing companies, therefore NBA should engage them on climate change.

“Failure to address climate change effectively will compromise the ability of many developing countries to reach the SDGs, SDG 13, specifically urges actions to combat climate changes and its impacts. The targets under the goal include strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity in climate change related hazards, natural disasters in all countries integrating climate change measures and national polices, strategies and planning; improving education, awareness raising institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and mechanism for testing capacity for effective change related to effective management in least developed counties and small island developing states including children, women; youth and local and marginalized communities.”

“ECOWAS climate action is fully embedded in the organization’s founding treaties. Although it is not a Contracting Party to the Paris Agreement, its action at the regional level is to support and supplement that of its Member States, which are committed by the Paris Agreement to Participate in the global response to fight climate change.

“This climate action is carried out in compliance with its powers and the fundamental principles provided in the revised Treaty and in, particular the principles of solidarity and inter-state cooperation, policy harmonization and programme integration, promotion and strengthening of good relations with neighbors and fair and equitable sharing of the costs and benefits of cooperation and economic integration.

The Director General of NESREA, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, speaking on the topic, Climate legislation compliance: practice and procedure, pointed out that the impact of climate change is becoming increasingly apparent and therefore needs universal solution. He also said in order to mitigate its impact on the globe, government around the world and organizations are introducing legislations and regulations to reduce the greenhouse gas emission and therefore all sectors have it as a duty to comply with these regulations to ensure that carbon footprint is reduced.

He said; As of September 2021, 191 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement.

“However, many countries are not on trite meet their NDA targets, and some countries have even increased their emissions in recent years. This highlights the need for greater compliance with climate legislation globally.

“While progress has been made in implementing climate legislation globally, there’s Sua long way to go to achieve the necessary emissions reductions to limit the impact of climate change. Greater compliance and enforcement of climate legislation is essential to ensure that countries meet their emissions reduction targets and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.”

He added that climate legislations can be implemented at the local, state, national or international level and can involve cooperation among multiple jurisdictions.

He stated that Nigeria has implemented a good number of climate policies, regulations and initiatives aimed at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

He mentioned Overarching Climate Change Act (CCA) 2021, NESREA Act, National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategies 2012, National Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Policy, adopted in 2015, Renewable Energy Master Plan, 2012, National REDD+Strategy, National Clean Cooking Scheme and so many other, as key climate policies and initiatives Nigeria has employed to combat the climate change in the country.

He charged stakeholders to engage CSO, private organizations, to promote sustainability and encourage them to reduce carbon footprint.

In conclusion Prof Jauro, noted that effective compliance monitoring and enforcement requires robust institutional frameworks, resources, political will.

“Government must establish clear regulations, policies, procedures to ensure compliance as well as provide sufficient resources for monitoring and enforcement, and prioritize political will to hold violators accountable.”

Prof. (Mrs) Yinka Omorogbe, says that 14% of greenhouses comes from agriculture and therefore dealing with environmental issues is the same as dealing with real life issues. She stressed the need to achieving alternative paradigm in reducing the impact of climate change and other environmental challenges in Nigeria.

She further, noted that for this to happen, then there is a need for moderation in human consumption pattern, environmental stewardship.

Speaking on “Environmental Arbitration and Mediation: Practice and Procedure, Prpf. Yinka, said environmental disputes can be settled through a variety of methods, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

“Negotiation involves direct communication between the parties involved in the dispute in an effort to each a mutual solution.

“This can be a less formal and less expensive option than going to third party who helps the parties involved in the dispute to reach mutually later does not make any decisions or impose any solutions, but rather a negotiation between the parties.

“Most recently a series of cases have been filed against Shell, High Court in London, by over 13,000 residents for damages from Shell and calling for the dual oil and compensate.”

However, she noted that Arbitration has not been the best option when handling an environmental matter.

“Environmental issues are matters of life and it calls for human rights. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights which has been domesticated, shows that all humans have rights to clean environment.

“Environmental awareness must be created because most people are not aware. Issues have to be resolved before they go away,

“We that are in position need to recognize these issues and do something about them.

“We must be aware that unresolved environmental issue does not go away if not resolved,  a good example is the Ogoniland,” she added