Climate Change: Fashola, envoy hinge human survival on mitigation

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, members of diplomatic corps and Dons yesterday said human survival on Earth revolved on its ability adhere effectively to climate change mitigations measures and develop new strategies to preserve the planet.

They spoke at the seventh annual Climate Change Summit, themed ‘7 years of Climate Change governance in Lagos: Celebrating success stories, reviewing challenges and setting agenda,’ held in Lagos, adding that all countries especially African countries should cooperate with one another in the fight against climate change.

Addressing the participants at the summit, Fashola said that nature has been existing before human existence. “And many who have used it before us have left. We have come and certainly we will go.”

According to him “As we have heard from conservation international, nature and the environment do not need us, but we need them. They will evolve, can we evolve? Nature and environment have been here long before we came. Many like you and I have come and gone; we have come and certainly we would go.

“The greater challenge therefore is for us to understand how to preserve nature’s gifts. To adapt to nature’s evolution, mitigates against the hazards of the environment and seek for sustainability in all that we do,” he added.

In order to preserve the nature, the governor said “we indeed need honest measures that will connect corporate interest and environmental realities. We also need to begin to look for climate finance and security funds.

“We must devote ourselves to enabling and accelerating that transition by developing the technologies, policies and practices that will make it possible-if we are to mitigate the damage rising greenhouse gas level are inflicting on the plant.

Fashola reiterated “through improved technology and policies, more ways to achieve rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emission; the main contributor to global warming and climate change even as we discover newer and cleaner energy sources.”

However, as “part of the strategies to mitigate the effect of climate change in the state, we have started reviewing existing urban plans and physical and the Lagos building codes initiative, in a bid to promote climate resilient and eco-friendly housing.”

..Energy relations between Nigeria, Germany yielding success, German Consul General

Earlier, representative of the German Consul General, Mr. Mitchel Deruz while harping on the need for corporation between countries, said “the relationship between Germany and Nigeria in the area of renewable energy has increased tremendously.

“Over the last seven years, the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany have increased considerably. And one of the areas which the relations has been boosted was the energy partnership between both countries which was first signed in 2008 and renewed in 2015.

“It is based on an MOU which serves as a platform for the bilateral exchange on sustainable energy solutions. One issue that is important is the vocational training on renewable energy. I hope that we can count on the interest of the new government that would be sworn-in in few days.

“A lot has to be done by everyone in mitigating against the threat pose by climate change. For instance, the threats pose by gas flaring. There is need for African leaders to corporate and show more commitment in the fight against climate change in the continent.”

…..Countries must transition to low carbon economy-Don

Director of Research, Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University, Professor Richard Beardsworth lamented that the Super Power countries like United State of America and China failed to show much commitment to the 2009 Kiyoto protocol, saying “this affected the commitment of the smaller countries in implementing the recommendation.”

Beardsworth added “The impact of climate change on the world is now clearer than in 2009. And within six years, the cognitive environment has changed completely. Since 2009, the energy consumption has increased.”

After realizing the impact of the global warming, he said “the USA government in 2014 committed itself to be between 26 and 28 percent of Carbon dioxide emission reduction by 2025 while China has committed itself to 20 percent renewable in its policy by 2030.”

The Don however urged “All countries must transition to low carbon economy system in order to reduce the threat pose by climate change. They must embark on this in order to ensure sustainable development in the continent.

“The 21st century is will be decisive for our civilization. And the major tool of climate diplomacy and global governance is peer competition and peer pressure leading to increasing cooperation.

“With the price of renewable energy provision is becoming relatively cheaper compared to global carbon fuel provision, and then greenhouse growth present a feasible post 2020 strategic opportunity for all government and market actor,” Beardsworth added.