Post-Copenhagen summit: Nigeria in perspective

However, there is a problem with the concept of unlimited economic growth as it affects other areas of development concerning environmental sustainability. This continuous search for economic relevance puts in jeopardy other areas in the life of man that the gains in economic development cannot substitute. This is why man’s activities in the pursuit of […]

However, there is a problem with the concept of unlimited economic growth as it affects other areas of development concerning environmental sustainability. This continuous search for economic relevance puts in jeopardy other areas in the life of man that the gains in economic development cannot substitute. This is why man’s activities in the pursuit of better life and better living account largely for the climate change challenge.

Denmark has played host to the rest of the world, but it will go down in history that the decision on the challenge of climate change was reached by the whole world in that country. Climate change is indeed a global challenge with a rather more devastating effect on the poor economies of the world and the very careless countries that will not respond adequately to the measures that can ameliorate it, particularly in Africa and other such governments out there with careless approach to life issues are the ones that will suffer most from its devastating effects.

The Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change is said to be the most important international conference in fifty years. It could be critical in determining the future living conditions of our planet, says Ottmar Edenhofer, one of the world’s leading climate scientists.  It is not in doubt that the conference is critical to the future and the wellbeing of the countries of the world in every respect – especially if we consider the enormousness of the global challenge it poses.

Moreover, leveraging on the platform of Lisa Jackson the USEPA Administrator in the Obama Cabinet who  captured the fact that: “The effects of climate change observed to date and projected to occur in the future – including but not limited to the increased likelihood of more frequent and intense heat waves, more wildfires, degraded air quality, more heavy down pours and flooding, increased drought, greater sea level rise, more intense storms, harm to water resources, harm to agriculture, and harm to wildlife and ecosystems – are effects on public health and welfare”.  The truth is that climate change poses very severe macroeconomic, fiscal and financial challenges for low-income countries like Nigeria because of their vulnerability to climate change since most of them are located in already hot tropical regions and are more reliant on climate sensitive sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and tourism. Africa is one continent that is most vulnerable to climate change as they have a more limited capacity to adapt to its challenge, given their lower income levels and weaker institutional frameworks.

The issue of food security which is a key item in thpte 7-Point Agenda of the Yar’ adua administration is heavily threatened with drought, which is an environmental horror as far as the wellbeing of the citizenry is concerned. Moreover, this further translates to be an emergency and disaster issue in terms of its impact on the country and its people at large if we fail to adopt the right approach.

The meeting was a key opportunity to address climate change; this is one challenge with varying socio-political and economic implication on the condition of life on this planet. As it is, certain fundamental issues are germane to the success of the outcome of the meeting. This is why the issue of climate change must not be handled in the African nations with kid’s glove, especially in an already poor economy like Nigeria’s.

However, with some of the highly industrialized nations that are major polluters refusing to adduce to the Kyoto Protocol which could have bound them to adhere to conventions and in a situation where a country like the US refused the Kyoto tie, it leaves other poor economies to suffer more in the long run on the damage created through the emission of the green house gas responsible for this global problem. It is unarguably true that China, which is the world’s biggest emitter and the country in the spotlight in the climate change debate, has committed itself to cutting down the carbon-intensity of its economy by 40-45% by 2020 but where is America in this commitment trust, being the second major polluter. So, making politics out of the summit only further denigrates the position of the African states and other poor nations around the world and will further pauperize them due to lack of adequate economic power that could help bail them out of the climate change quagmire they are in and will further be immersed.

The attitude of government playing lip service to the problem of climate change must end now. There is the need for them to take bold steps to tackle this problem – it is real.

 Imohiosen writes from [email protected]