TheCable

Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken toward limiting its impacts.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:

• The Lagos government, on August 15, said it will build infrastructure to mitigate the impact of climate change. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, said his administration intends to build embankments to protect vulnerable communities in the state from flooding. Sanwo-Olu said funding would also be provided to support climate resilience, adding that collective action is required to mitigate the crisis. The governor said the promotion of sustainable practices and policies will help to ensure a secure future for generations to come. Read more here.
• Meanwhile, over 400 civil society organisations (CSOs) said the African climate summit billed to hold in September has been seized by Western governments. The climate summit is aimed at championing a positive climate-compatible vision for Africa. The CSOs said the summit has been “hijacked by US and UK-based organisations. The group said the development could cause the summit to push a Western agenda with false solutions rather than an African interest. The CSOs recommended that the focus of the summit must be reset to withdraw all external influence and establish an African expert group to reshape the summit’s agenda. Find out more here.
• Henry Seriake, chairman of the senate committee on ecology and climate change, on August 17, said Nigeria’s response to extreme weather patterns would improve once the committee begins work. Seriake said he would use his position as chairman of the committee to advance the cause of the environment, as well as support communities devastated by the impacts of climate change. Read more here.
• At the 19th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, AI Jabar, COP28 president, said current global efforts are not enough to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Jabar said he would continue to put pressure on developed countries to deliver on the $100 billion climate finance pledge made to developing countries. Jabar said there is a need for urgent action, adaptation financing and energy transition. He added that Africa is well positioned as a continent on the frontline of climate change to lead the energy transition drive. Read more here.
• Also at the conference, Demeke Mekonnen, the deputy prime minister of Ethiopia, said Africans need to strengthen their collective voice on climate change issues. Mekonnen said climate change has serious impacts on different systems in Africa, adding that these effects inhibit the attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and agenda 2063. He said AMCEN was held at a critical time when climate change has become an emergency. Read more here. 
• The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), last week, said the protection of forests is important in absorbing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change impacts. Oladapo Akinyemi, FRIN director of planning, research and statistics, said the effects of climate change are increasing because of land degradation and the pollution of water bodies. Akinyemi said FRIN is committed to promoting afforestation through tree-planting initiatives across the country. Read more here.
• The Cross River government, last week, lifted the ban placed on logging in the state after 15 years. Owan Enoh, secretary to the state government (SSG), said the anti-deforestation task force on logging has also been dissolved. Enoh added that the state forestry commission should be informed of all farming and mining activities in the forest reserves for approval. Read more here. 
• While flagging off this year’s tree-planting campaign, Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano, warned residents against indiscriminate logging in the state. Yusuf said anyone found cutting trees without approval from the ministry of environment and climate change would face the full wrath of the law. The governor said the campaign is scheduled to last for two weeks, adding that seedlings would be distributed to communities and institutions across the state. Find out more here.