The Nigerian Government has been tasked to adopt sustainable practices to reduce carbon emissions in the country.
National Executive Council Chairman, of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, Justice Bukola Adebiyi, made this known at the 22nd Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture in Lagos, May 28 2024.
The Annual lecture which brainstorms on solutions to contemporary environmental issues is in memory of the founder of the NCF, Chief S. L. Edu, a renowned conservationist, and Organised by NCF in collaboration with Chevron Nigeria Limited.
In his address, Justice Adebiyi said it is important everyone takes action on how to individually and collectively make a positive impact and difference in the
numerous environmental issues affecting the country.
He noted that people can be making
responsible choices by adopting sustainable practices such as reducing carbon footprint, protecting natural habitats and phasing out single-use plastics, amongst others.
“We all can by making
responsible choices, adopting sustainable practices; such as reducing our carbon footprint protecting natural habitats, phasing out the use of single use plastics.
“All these sustainable practices can be made towards safeguarding the earth for future generations,” she said.
Adebiyi stressed that environmental problems in the country are numerous and require urgent attention.
She noted with displeasure that forest cover in the country has reduced from 10 to 6 percent within the last three decades.
“Species loss remains on the increase as they lose their natural habitat, loss of biodiversity, Greenhouse Gas emissions; which leads to the trapping of heat and leads to global warming.
“Others are climate change, which
causes rising sea levels, extreme weather events, land degradation, fresh water shortage and food insecurity.
“Other human activities that affect the environment are industrialization, air
Pollution, water contamination and pollution, improper waste
management, urbanization to mention a few”.
She commended the efforts of Chevron Nigeria Limited in collaborating with NCF and Chief S. L. Edu Family in organising the lecture year on year.
The theme of the lecture is “Carbon Credit: Opportunities and Pitfalls”.
The Guest Lecturer, Mr Kevin Juma, who is the Africa Climate Director, at The Nature Conservancy, Nairobi, Kenya, explained that Carbon credit is a certificate given for helping to reduce or avoid emissions.
According to Mr. Kevin, the opportunities in the credit market are massive in Africa as the continent has untapped natural resources, which constitute 20% of the world’s forest.
“It is a one time certificate that represents emission reduction and avoidance tradable in a market place known as the carbon market .
“Africa should rightfully play a far bigger role in the global carbon markets, reflecting its significant contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change.”
“We have savannah land that is carrying most of our resources which has reduced due to urbanization.
“The market is untapped and there are a lot of opportunities. Remember Africans don’t rarely participate in a program like this and there is a need for voluntary participants.
“They need to be aware of the opportunities in order to tap into the global market, however, we need to develop high quality projects to achieve untapped opportunities”.
He said by compensating or encouraging those who participate in carbon credit, African nations have the chance to make their fertile lands even more productive and attract global funds meant for tackling climate change.
When asked how Nigeria can reduce carbon emissions, Kevin said that at first, a national evaluation and an examination of the threat level were required, adding that Non-Governmental Organisations can be very helpful in this issue by helping to restore natural areas and grasslands as well as conserving them.
He stated that the world must reach net zero emission by 2050 or earlier to keep global warming not more than 1.5C as recommended in the Paris Agreement.
“Emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050,” he said.
Shedding more light on the reduction of carbon emissions, the Director General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, said by strictly implementing its Nationally Determined Contribution, a voluntary decision made by the country for tackling climate change, Nigeria will significantly cut down carbon emissions.
“A decision by every country that signed on to the Paris agreement and one of the ways Nigeria has signed up to reduce those emissions is to look at different sectors.
“The sector in terms of transportation, manufacturing and as well as the agricultural sector.
“In fact, when you look at the agricultural sector, instead of cutting down trees to plant, there is what we call agro-forestry where you have to do it together .
“In terms of the transportation sector, you will look at the introduction of the CNG buses instead of continuously using fossil fuel buses,” he said.
“One of the major ways we citizens can perform our responsibilities is to plant trees.
“Apart from planting trees, we need to nurtured these trees and the ones that are standing we need to stop cutting them down because it is very important and that lies in our hands,” he said.
The event brought together big names in the environment circle, members of the diplomatic Corps, traditional chiefs, local and international journalists, policymakers and young people.
High point of the occasion was the award of research grants worth millions of naira to two PHD students.
Through the Memorial Lecture, the foundation has brought renowned speakers to share insights and proffer solutions to contemporary environmental concerns.
By Innocent Onoh (+2348034158834)
