On Tuesday, 19th March, 2019, experts and professionals on climate change from across the globe gathered at Alex Ekwueme, Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, to brainstorm on implications of the Katowice Climate Package, for Nigeria. The event which took place at Needs Assessment Lecture Theatre of the University, was organised by Centre for Climate and Development, AE-FUNAI, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, said that university exists to generate knowledge, especially in active teaching and research and rendering service to communities. He noted that the university should not be different from the demands and change of time. “We are supposed to be the brain of our society. In AE-FUNAI, we do not only talk, we walk the talk,” he enthused.
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The key facilitator at the workshop, Emmanuel Oladipo, a Professor of Climatology at the University of Lagos, led the discussion on the way forward for Nigeria after the Katowice Climate Package. While making his presentation on the topic: Implementation Process of The NDC and Practical Actions and Activities Needed to Enhance Its Implementation, he laid emphasis on the fact that Nigeria’s first NDC outlines the country’s change priorities for post 2020 period, including targets and strategies for addressing the causes of climate change and responding to its effects
In his presentation, Prof Chukwumerije Okereke of the University of Reading explained that there was difference between weather change and climate change. He posited that weather could be hot or cold and can stretch for a day or two but climate change lasts for a very long period of time.
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The presentations by the numerous scholars in attendance, highlighted the actions and inactions that constitute threat to our environment especially the gas flaring and emissions, indiscriminate felling of trees, use of generators, fossil gas, bush burning, and deforestation among others as these activities increase heat on the environment. They posited that to maintain the National Green Bond, all hands must be on deck as collective effort will underscore the relevance of fighting climate change globally.
Other facilitators at the workshop included Dr. Robert Onyeneke, who made a presentation on the Context and Justification for the Roundtable, emphasised that: “Collaborative efforts at all levels (International, Regional, National, Sub-national) and working in partnership with stakeholders, (communities, households, individuals, private sectors, civil society and the academia) are needed to address Climate Change.”
