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 towards limiting its impact.

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

• Tackling climate change through the use of renewable energy would not only benefit the environment but can also help create wealth. This was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s advice to Nigerians last week. He said the adoption of renewable energy and cutting down on carbon footprints can help the country earn money from carbon credits. Find out more about what he said here.

• Sharon Ikeazor, minister of environment, is elated about the signing of the climate change bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. She described the development as Nigeria’s “loudest” statement after COP26. The minister said it shows the country’s commitment to the Paris agreement on climate change. Ikeazor called on Nigerians to support the present administration in fostering a sustainable environment that would benefit everyone. Read more here.

• In another development, the minister made the case for reliable data-gathering to aid in the management of the environment. She said gathering and analysing data and information on environmental situations would provide viable statistics that can help in providing a better understanding for remediating and mitigating environmental challenges.

• Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, says his administration is collaborating with the federal government to develop autogas stations across the state as a way to reduce carbon emissions. While inaugurating the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation Plant in Ikorodu last week, Sanwo-Olu said the facility reflects the desire of his administration to align with the global action to considerably reduce carbon emissions and address the challenges of climate change.

• Also last week, Pope Francis called on young people to be the “critical conscience” of society in the fight against climate change and the efforts to protect the earth from environmental degradation. He said many young people have criticised environmental contamination and further encouraged them not to be weary but work to heal the wounds of God’s creation.