Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Director General of Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Joseph Onoja, has clamoured for a united force to address climate change because it is amplifying inequality and affecting lives and livelihoods across the country.
He made the call yesterday at a workshop on strengthening civil society voices on climate justice and the inauguration of Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance.
Onoja said the coalition of voices which is funded by Ford Foundation and UNDP as a hub, decided to come together because climate justice was affecting the dignity of human kind.
He stressed the need to evaluate the concern from all areas because climate change has implications in terms of the environment, food security and human health.
“Climate justice is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of social equity and human rights. The issue of climate change is everybody’s concern. There are people denying the impact of climate change and there are people facing its real impact. Everybody has to be involved in the business and that is why we want to create the awareness and advocacy to be able to push it. The consequences of climate change disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and marginalized populations, amplifying existing inequalities,” Onoja said.
He called for policy advocacy on climate justice that will reduce the country’s carbon footprint and support initiatives that empower marginalized communities, stressing that it is possible to forge a path towards a just and sustainable future, leaving a legacy of positive change for generations to come.
Also, the National Coordinator for UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, said that it is obvious that climate change is impacting on the country negatively.
She said Nigeria, as the biggest nation in Africa, will require about four times the resources of every other African nation to be able to get the message across to the people and to create awareness on the need to address climate change.
She said of the solutions to address climate are natural to use technology to enhance them.
