SPOTLIGHTS
- The workshop aimed to localise Nigeria’s net-zero commitment at the LGA level
- Ms Everlyn Williams presented on climate change science and policy
- Connected Advocacy recommended establishing a climate change desk in Ahoada East LGA
By Henry Uche, Lagos
A civil society group, Connected Advocacy, has concluded a one-day capacity-building workshop in Ahoada East LGA, Rivers State, on carbon emission reduction strategies.
The goal is to localise the country’s net-zero commitment by devising achievable decarbonisation plans that are implementable locally.
At the session, staff and community representatives discussed climate change, emission reduction strategies, environmental impact assessment, and potential collaborative opportunities.
Prince Orehka, the Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, who presented an overview and objectives of the session, emphasised the significance of emission reduction and the role of the local government in scaling up decarbonisation.
Ms Everlyn Williams, in her presentation on ‘Nigeria’s Net-Zero Commitment’, explained the science of climate change, its impacts, and the importance of emissions reduction.
Read also: Climate change: Africa loses $15bn annually despite being region with lowest emissions — AfDB President
Ms Williams, who anchored the session, reviewed existing national and local climate-related policies and regulations, identifying gaps and opportunities for policy alignment. She emphasised the critical role of local governments in achieving Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.
She further explained the concepts of emissions inventory, targets, and strategies, and discussed the assessment of local emissions, stakeholders, and collaboration opportunities. She emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in developing effective climate action plans.
The facilitator explained the principles of developing an achievable climate action plan, integrating mitigation and adaptation strategies. She outlined the steps to develop an action plan, using emissions inventory, emission reduction goals, implementation strategies, and monitoring and reporting.
During the interactive sessions, participants in different groups practically identified the role of local governments in climate action, strategies for LGA climate action, and principles of effective climate action planning.
During the course of the training, questions were raised about the pertinence of environmental impact assessment. Ms Williams emphasised the critical role of environmental impact assessment in identifying potential environmental impacts and developing strategies to mitigate them.
The training achieved its objectives by boosting the understanding of council staff on climate change, emissions reduction, and Nigeria’s net-zero commitment. Participants gained insights into developing tailored climate action plans and aligning policies with national and international climate commitments.
The training recommended that: Ahoada East LGA should establish a climate change desk to coordinate climate-related activities and develop a climate action plan; the LGA should demand environmental impact assessment reports from investors and companies operating in the area, while Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative (CAYED) should provide technical support to the LGA in developing its climate action plan.
In his closing remarks, Mr Orehka implored participants to embrace the opportunity and develop a plan for the LGA towards emission reduction, aligning with Nigeria’s net-zero commitment.