ActionAid tasks youths on climate change solutions
The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the nation’s youths to embrace climate solutions to improve their livelihood and reduce the effect of carbon and methane emissions in the environment. The Governance Manager of AAN, Judith Gbagidi, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a one-day programme, themed: “Youth and Climate Change Innovation Lab: Creating […]
The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the nation’s youths to embrace climate solutions to improve their livelihood and reduce the effect of carbon and methane emissions in the environment.
The Governance Manager of AAN, Judith Gbagidi, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a one-day programme, themed: “Youth and Climate Change Innovation Lab: Creating Opportunities and Energising the Future.”
It was organised by the AAN in collaboration with the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and other stakeholders.
This event was part of the AAN commitment to addressing the climate crisis by empowering youth and women-led initiatives.
Gbagidi said that Nigeria loses about $100bn annually due to the effect of climate change, which has affected the livelihood of Nigerians especially youths and rural farmers.
“According to the World Bank Nigeria loses approximately one hundred naira billion dollars due to climate change which is about 11 percent of GDP. The Agricultural sector which employs 70 percent of our rural population is severely affected and destroyed by the flood and you can imagine the effect as it pushed people below the poverty line,” she said.
The National Project Coordinator of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape, Abdul Hamid Umar said that the Youth and Climate Change Innovation Hub project was implemented in 16 countries with a focus on youths in the country to address the issues of climate change.
He said, “The project is to arrest climate change we must devise local strategies to be able to mitigate the activities and actions of sustainability so that our nation and youth unborn would not suffer.”
Also, the communique of the event, listed Mr Donald Ofoegbu in his presentation highlighting the widespread poverty and lack of electricity access in Nigeria, with nearly half of the population affected.
He also noted the negative impacts of illegal mining on food security and communities, as well as the inefficient and harmful agricultural practices, particularly in palm oil production.
The forum recommend engagement, by encouraging collaboration with farmers, private sector, government MDAs, and scientists to understand the impact of climate change on agriculture.
“Funding by ensuring statutory budget allocations for research, including dedicated national budget lines and mandating organizations to allocate a percentage of CSR funds for research.”
It also recommend database creation, by developing a simplified and digital unified database to consolidate all available data on climate change and its effects; and focusing on effective implementation of research findings and recommendations.
It also recommend youth inclusion in budgeting, access to financing for youth, alternative energy solutions; and community and environmental protection among others.