Why FG Is Reviewing National Climate Change Policy – Prof. Oladipo

By Chuks Ekpeneru

Stakeholders have met to review Nigeria’s fight against the effects of climate change and provide a cohesive implementation plan across all sectors.

The one-day Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on the Review of National Climate Change Policy Response was organised by the Department of Climate Change, DCC, Federal Ministry of Environment with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Abuja.

The meeting brought together all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Civil Society Organizations.

The DCC had earlier set up a team of experts to review the 2012 National Policy on Climate Change, leading to production of an inception report which outlined strategies and approach on how to deliver on the task assigned. 

Speaking on the meeting, leader of team of experts, Professor Emmanuel Oladipo said the meeting became necessary to look into emerging issues that didn’t exist before previous policies were formulated.

“We noted that there isn’t much in implementation in a cohesive manner.

“We want to make sure the area of policy formulation takes care of the need to evolve ideas from the people at all levels.

“Secondly, there is need to have a national programme on climate change which all institutions/agencies will be involved to ensure they have specific programme to be implemented. They can only do that when you have a national programme.

In her presentation, Iyabo Mustapha from the Department of Agricultural land and Climate Change Management Services said that the Agricultural sector which contributes 24% to the Country GDP according to the National Bureau of Statistics would come under risk, uncertainty and unpredictable situation due to extreme climate and weather events if appropriate action is not taken.

She noted that majority of farmers in Nigeria are smallholders  whom are particularly worst  hit by climate change. 

“They often lack knowledge about potential options for adapting their production systems and have limited assets and risk-taking capacity to access and use technologies and financial services.

“Climate change is likely to have a greater effect on food supply than any other factor. Although, substantial progress has been made in developing CSA transformative policies and adaptive farming systems, and agro-ecological technologies that are site specific for drought, flood, pest and diseases, the applications are often small in scope,” she added.

Earlier, DCC stated that the review exercise will help update the previous Climate Change Policy taking into account emerging issues in the various sectors that reflects the current realities on ground. 

“Also, it will enable Nigeria have a new National Policy on Climate Change that clearly indicates the pathway for climate resilient development in the country towards; – Improving the legislative and institutional framework for climate change response; Promoting low carbon climate resilient development, and Enhancing national capacity to mobilize international and national resources, both technical and financial, for investment in climate change, among others.   

“This meeting aims to involve MDAs and CSOs in the whole review process, by creating a platform for Stakeholders to make valued comments, suggest possible climate change mitigation activities or initiatives in Nigeria, that can be integrated into the final revised draft document.”

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