The Director General of Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Dr Joseph Onoja, has called for improved collaboration mong relevant stakeholders in the fight against climate change which according to him is amplifying inequality and affecting lives and livelihoods across the country.
Onoja made the call at a workshop on strengthening civil society voices on climate justice and the inauguration of Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance.
He was quoted as saying that 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, stressing 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,’ the DG said.
Speaking further, he said “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,”.
He also 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.
On her part, the National Coordinator for UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme, Mrs Ibironke Olubamise, said that it had become obvious that climate change was impacting on the country negatively.
She said that Nigeria, which is the biggest nation in Africa, will require over four times the resources of every other African nation to get the message across to the people as well as create awareness on the need to address climate change.
Story was adapted from Thisday.
