Nigeria: Climate Change No Longer Political Issue, Says Group…Demands Creating Consciousness Among Policy Makers, Citizens

Participants at one day Round Table on Climate Change, in Gombe, North East Nigeria have said that the issue is no longer a political one, but an unpleasing reality staring residents at face.

They therefore Called for expedite action towards creating Consciousness among policy Makers and the citizens.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting noted that the State has plans to develop a climate change work plan and urged the State House of Assembly to create a budget line to ensure adequate funding of activities of the work p!an.

The Communique also called on the Government to Intensify action against deforestation, use of firewood and charcoal as a source of domestic energy for cooking.

Policy Makers in the State, the Participants said, should open their doors and provide information on climate change to journalists and also strengthen Climate Change Unit in the State Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources.

Other recommendations include, the need for farmers to cut down on the use of inorganic fertilizer and embrace organic fertilizer, the importance of tree planting by Government and citizens towards curtailing soil degradation as well as the commencement of annual tree planting campaign exercise starting from 2018 raining season.

Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, the Communique said, should encourage the establishment of tree planting clubs and associations in schools at all levels.

The Round Table was organized by an NGO, Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF to sensitize journalists on development and investigative journalism, especially as it relates to Climate Change in Gombe state.

It was attended by government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, the academia and security Agencies.

HERE UNDER IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF A ONE DAY MEDIA ROUNDTABLE

ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN GOMBE STATE NORTH EAST NIGERIA ORGANIZED BY AFRICA MEDIA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (AMDF) ON TUESDAY 8TH MAY 208 AT CACTUS HOTEL, SHONGO HOUSING ESTATE GOMBE.

Background

The meeting was organised to sensitise journalists on development and investigative journalism, especially as it relates to climate change in Gombe state and the need for media to create awareness among citizens on effects of climate change and action needed in line with current global realities.

Participants of the meeting include Government Officials, Journalists, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), The Academia and Security Personnel.

The meeting identified journalists as the major driving force in projecting issues surrounding climate change through adequate news reportage, feature stories, special reports and jingles.

Recommendations

Participants unanimously agreed that climate change is no longer a political issue as wrongly perceived in the past, but an unpleasing reality staring at residents of Gombe state at the face; and therefore, resolved to expedite action towards creating consciousness among policy makers and the governed on how to adapt and mitigate climate change collectively.

Participants suggested that the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) Gombe state council should commence annual tree planting campaign exercise, starting from 2018 raining season.

Noting that the state government has plans to develop a climate change work plan, the House of Assembly was urged to ensure creation of a budget line to ensure adequate funding of activities on the workplan.

Participants call on government to intensify actions against deforestation and use of fire wood and charcoals as a source of domestic energy for cooking.

The meeting re-echoed the importance of tree planting by government and citizens towards curtailing soil degradation.

The meeting call on Policy makers in Gombe state to open their doors and provide information on climate change to journalists, strengthening of the special climate change unit in the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources.

The Ministry of Education and other stakeholders should encourage the establishment of tree planting clubs and associations at schools at all levels.

The meeting also advised farmers to cut down on the use of inorganic fertilisers and embrace organic fertilisers.

The meeting advised journalists to always attend capacity building workshops and trainings to develop themselves professionally.

Participants implored media organisations to accord Development and human angle stories special privileges, rather than commercialising them.

Participants at the meeting also agreed that all recommendation made should be acted upon.

Signed

Abigail Kolo Maria James Iliya Kure

GMTV Amana Radio AMDF

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/03/29/climate-change/african-countries-to-discuss-paris-agreement-implementation-during-africa-climate-week-un/