Doha climate conference diary: youth activists bring energy and urgency

When the US university student Anjali Appadurai lambasted diplomats from 194 countries for their lack of action and ambition at last year's climate talks in Durban, she shocked the UN and galvanised the meeting. She told them:

"I speak for half the world. We are the silent majority. You've given us a seat in this hall, but our interests are not on the table. What does it take to get a stake in this game? Lobbyists? Corporate influence? Money? You've been negotiating all my life. In that time, you've failed to meet pledges, you've missed targets, and you've broken promises, but you've heard this all before."

Young People To World Leaders at COP18: Your Climate Legacy Shapes The World We Inherit.

On Monday morning, negotiators from around the world poured into the Qatar National Conference Center for the first day of the COP18 United Nations Climate Talks, prepared for a long day of speeches on the technical details of multilateral environmental diplomacy. However, as they travelled down the moving walkway between security and the plenary hall they were confronted with the human face of climate change.’

Young people from around the world had flanked the walkway holding signs in multiple languages that reminded negotiators of the terrifying consequences that runaway greenhouse gas emissions have already begun imposing on people and the planet; droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, desertification, rising seas, biodiversity loss, and more.  At the bottom of each sign the youth posed the question “Will This Be Your #ClimateLegacy?”

Chart: Among youth, unemployment is not always the issue

From the World Development Report 2013

621 million young people are “idle”—not in school or training, not employed, and not looking for work. Rates of idleness vary across countries, ranging between 10 and 50 percent among 15- to 24-year-olds.

Source: http://blogs.worldbank.org  

Counting Costs of Climate Change. By Stanley Ijeoma

CLIMATE change has finally come home; yes our lives have been invaded by floods of fury and other freak weather events that we currently grapple with.  From Lokoja to Onitsha, down to Yenogoa and moving north of the Niger to Makurdi, Adamawa and Taraba; it has been tales of woe, sorrow, anger and disappointment.  Confusion and utter bewilderment were clearly written on the faces of the governors of these states–I do not know of any state governor or minister in Nigeria today, including the Federal Capital Territory, that has appointed a cabinet level Adviser or Special Assistant on Climate Change –strictly climate change, specifically! Climate change deserves to be unbundled from the environment portfolio –at least at advisory levels -because of its cross cutting nature that requires specialized multi-sectoral knowledge.

For Nigerian Women (and Girls), It Will Take More Than YouWin. By ZAINAB SANDAH

Except for when the camera generally sweeps through the Federal Executive Council seating, you hardly see or hear from Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development. That is, until she was recently reported by Daily Trust as saying that ‘the YouWin program is aimed at facilitating women’s transition from informal to formal sector of economic development’. (Thank God it’s that simple!) But perhaps not so, and Honourable Minister underestimates the daily challenges being faced by women and girls across the country and needs reminding why empowering 6,000 (or 1,200?) out of 80 million women, 54 million of whom are rural and mired in backbreaking and unskilled labour should not presuppose an automatic facilitation of transition to formal sector of economic development.

BMC task FG on entrepreneurship mentorship for youths

Business Management Conference (BMC), a non-governmental organisation, has called on the Federal Government to create centres across the country where youths could be properly mentored on how to be successful entrepreneurs. This, according to the group, would help bridge the unemployment gap.

The call was made in Lagos at a seminar organised by the organisation, themed, ‘Emergence of Giant Entrepreneurs.’

How Can Africa’s Resources Profit Its People? By Katherine Lay

Tune in to the BBC’s Africa Debate and Make your Voice Heard.

Whether Africa will ever harness the full potential of its natural resources to combat poverty is a question that is more relevant now than ever, as new discoveries of coal, oil and gas look set to transform global energy markets and – we hope – the economies of resource-rich African countries. It’s a question the BBC will pose to global experts in the AfricaDebate in Addis Ababa at 19:00 GMT/UTC on 26th October. ONE will be participating in the debate and citizens across the continent will be airing their views.  We’d like to hear yours.

Award Winning Group Makes Song on Co2 'Me & My Bike'

T-S-1 from Nairobi, Kenya, made a song about Co2. They are already winners of four awards.

Rap Ojuki and MaryX chorus Ester

Enjoy!!!

Lerics

Bicycle Song -Me and My Mike

Mobile Technology and Social Change. By Ryan MacLean

The opportunities for youth to be agents of change are increasing in number dramatically, with the spreading use of mobile technology and pace of its innovative applications. Twelve youth across nine countries – Canada, the US, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Italy, Belgium, and the UK – were convened by TakingITGlobal on September 4th, 2012 to discuss some vibrant examples of recent mobile web technologies that are facilitating social change, many of which are being created or used by these same participants.

The youth climate movement was well-represented at this Cisco-enabled teleconference, as these young leaders build upon the momentum of Rio+20 and look ahead to the COP 18 Meeting in Doha.

Women and Youth as Catalyst for Agribusiness Development and Growth.

On October 6 – 9, 2012, the leadership of UNIDO Regional Office in Abuja-Nigeria in partnership with IFAD, UNWoman, FAO, UNDP, Songhai Centre & OXFAM organised a four day workshop in Port Novo tagged ‘Youth & Women As Catalysts For Agribusiness Development And Growth in West & Central Africa’.

The event started with a trade fair showcasing agribusiness produces and processing machineries and culminated in a consultative forum which explored strategies for attracting more women and youth in agribusiness - as a credible job and wealth creation option for the sub region.

Earth Hour Unveils 2013 Official Video :)

Earth Hour is organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.

Globalisation of floods: The start of hundred years of change in Nigeria. By Dele Sobowale

“Climate change is more threatening than people realize”- Dr Kim, CNN, October 12, 2012.

Another climatologist has gone further by stating that climate change and the advent of perennial floods are already reshaping civilization as we know it and very few countries will emerge intact from the impact of climate change. Nigeria is no exception. Countries with long coastal regions and many rivers, which hitherto had benefited from water provided by rivers, seas and oceans will be the hardest hit.

It was in the 1980s that globalisation of markets became the mantra of the leading thinkers in management studies. “In today’s market you don’t have to go abroad to experience international competition. Sooner or later, the world comes to you”. “Harvard Business Review, March-April, 2002”. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p75). That explains why no sooner than a new product is released in America, Japan, China, etc, and it is available in Nigerian  markets.

Climate Conversations - Why millions still don't use clean cookstoves. By Jerome Bossuet

There may be plenty of exciting ideas around that could help solve hunger, poverty and lack of access to energy. But the problem is persuading people to adopt them and roll them out on a large scale in poor, marginalised communities.

For instance, at the Convergences 2015 Forum in Paris last month, a photo exhibition entitled Innovate against Hunger, by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), presented several agricultural innovations that are helping farmers cope with drier weather and more unpredictable rainfall. Low-pressure drip irrigation, small seed packets, and bio-reclamation of degraded lands are all boosting yields and incomes, while boosting people’s resilience.

Go Green or Die! By Mukosha Funga

Imagine the world 50 years from now if people do not take an active role in fighting climate change.

IMAGINE the year is 2060 and you have finally managed to get enough money to visit the 7th wonder of the world; the Victoria falls. As the guide leads you to your destination, you have high expectations.

Before you realise it, you ground to a halt and hear the guide saying 'this is it'. You discover you are standing at a deep narrow steep-sided valley; a ravine. It is a lifeless place.

No water cascading over masses of rocks. No lush greenery on the banks. Coarse dried up grass and grey-brown rocks are all that meet the eye.

#NGFloods: THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SOUTH-EAST RESPONSE. BY Akachukwu Okafor

The floods are finally here, no doubts about that.  It has come with its full rage totally submerging communities, farmlands, destroying lives and property along its path, with thousands rendered homeless, now taking shelter as Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) and over 25 million predicted to be affected. No thanks to the increase in annual rainfall this year that caused excess water at Lagdo dam in Cameroun, Kainji, Shiroro, Jebba, Warama, Kiri dams in Niger, Kwara Kano, and Adamawa states respectively to be released. This resulted to over flow of the River Niger and River Benue in the form of flash and massive flood into communities along its plains and tributaries. Affected states includes: Niger, Kogi, Benue, Delta, Anambra, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Katisna, Imo, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Rivers, Cross River, Ondo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos. The magnitude of the devastation can only be expressed by calculating the total land mass of affected area, number of persons killed and displaced, impact on affected population, worth of property destroyed, impact on local and national economy and post flood recovery costs.

National Climate Change Policy and Nigerian Floods.

Climate change, Floods and government responsibility.

Climate change is no longer an issue that is only discussed by a few elite groups in Nigeria. An ordinary Nigerian is currently facing the impacts, making life harder than it already was and governments keep saying that they are doings something about it. Well yes there are.

My New Nigeria. By Precious Arutase Forcados

A day after our great country's independence I decide to write you this. I want to advocate for my client Nigeria, and plead her case before those (NIGERIANS) who had charge her to the noble courts of COMPLAINTS (that might included you & me).

One of my teachers, Wale Salami, said ''Nigeria does not have a problem, Nigerians do''.

Before now we would have thought about so many things about our country, if we where to debate against the country you can outline flawlessly so many points to convince me and others not to live in Nigeria.

Ghana Celebrates International Peace Day.

Mr Lovans Owusu Takyi, Executive Director of Youth Volunteers for the Environment (YVE) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on the youth to pursue peace in order to sustain their future.  

He said it is also of essence for them to eschew ethnic, religious and political strive, stressing: “The future of the youth largely depends on how we pursue peace and come together within our communities, understanding of peace building and sustainable lifestyles.”  

Mr Takyi made this known when he addressed a number of schools and community leaders at Dansoman in Accra as part of activities to observe this year’s International Peace Day.   

Youth Meet-Up on MDGs & SDGs in Nigeria #EducationFirst

EDUCATION IN CRISIS AND THE POST-2015 FRAMEWORK 

#EducationFirst #yahuzameetup 

On June 22, 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO+20), governments of countries agreed on a Future We Want outcome document which includes commitments to certain sustainable development goals. However, how ambitious these commitments are still remains a point of arguments amongst concerned parties, and as we approach the post-2015 era we hope to amplify the voices of people directly affected by poverty, injustice and their perspectives on a future global post-2015 framework.

The role that quality education (one of the SDGs, paragraph 229) plays in development emphasizes its capacity to reverse the rate of poverty in Nigeria, while in recent years key correlates of fragility in Nigeria include education.

On Climate Justice We Stand. By Friday Nathaniel Efik

Can Kyoto Protocol Be Doha Protocol or Doha Accord?

There’s no gainsaying the fact that some developed countries are plotting the death of the Kyoto Protocol; to say the obvious, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark also known as the 15th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP15), would have indeed laid a foundation of a new treaty to either replace the Kyoto Protocol or become a Post-Kyoto agreement; Perhaps the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ which was the outcome of COP15 would have completely become a ‘sealed deal’ as it was originally proposed, but unfortunately, the truth came as no surprise as Article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol (with emphasis added) which provides that: “Commitments for subsequent periods for Parties included to Annex 1 shall be established in amendments to Annex B to the Protocol, which shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of Article 21, paragraph 7” was used as a political tool in the hands of some ‘senior’ Annex 1 Part(ies).

You(th) and Post MDGs.

Hey Guys, I just got this useful information from my very good friend Divine Ntiokam who has recently been appointed to the UN Clusters to join and help work in mapping all networks who can  help us (youth) at  United Nations to get our voices heard as young people who are passionate about sustainable Development.

A Press Release by the International Youth Leaders who recently met in Turkey.

I hope you would be inspired as I am :).

   Youth Voices Post-2015

The Task Belongs to the Youth to Save Nigeria. By Rayyan Umar

I AM 24 years old; I hold a BSc. as well as an MSc., from a reputable business school in England; I am well on my way to making the transition from “student member” of the ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants) to full membership; I am a couple of months away from finishing up my Youth Service in a government agency. In an ideal world, I would be the poster boy for optimism with regard to my future, yet I find that this is not entirely the case.

Traditional Stoves Detrimental to Heath, Environment in Nigeria

After malaria and AIDS, Nigeria's number one cause of death is diseases associated with traditional cooking.  

Activists say nearly 100,000 people die yearly in Nigeria from what they call a "silent energy crisis."

400 children die from lead poisoning in Zamfara

Source: zainabusman.wordpress.com 

An estimated 400 children have died from the inhalation of lead poison in six communities in Zamfara state, Nigera, due to improper mining practices.

Mr. Hamzat Bala Lawal, the National Coordinator, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), Nigeria chapter, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen yesterday in Abuja.

Lawal, who is also the Advisor, Nigerian Youth Climate Action Network (NYCAN), said that the root cause of the lead poisoning was unsafe mining and ore processing.

Whatever you do, do it well – Olumide Idowu

Olumide’s story is associated with a student network (Aiesec) that has been in existence in Nigeria for over 50 years. This 25 years old graduate of Statistics from the University of Abuja is occupying several leadership positions and he is making a difference in Nigeria and overseas.

He tells Youthful Vibes in this interview about his enthusiasm for sustainable development and his interest in providing support and training for young people on several issues not limited to Environmental issues. Olumide is responsible for the Communications & Public Relations for AIESEC Nigeria.

Climate Change: Medical students want volunteer groups for rural communities

MEDICAL students in Nigeria have called for the engagement of young medical practitioners to volunteer in rural communities' on climate change awareness creation, the effects of global warming and green house effect.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the summit tagged 'Climate Change; A Global Menace That Can Be Halted Locally; organized by the Nigerian Medical Student Association in Abuja.

A statement from the association signed by Ubong Anyang, National Director, and Etuk Eno-Abasi Etim, National Secretary, said the summit which held between September 6-7, was organised with support from NESREA, NIMET, WEP, ICEED & CEASEI.

Zero Carbon Africa Organizes “ARTing CLIMATE CHANGE”

Sequel to the BBC World Service Trust 2008 report which states that climate change awareness in Nigeria could be as low as 1%, Zero Carbon Africa – an alliance of youth-led/focused organisations and young individuals committed to championing grassroots innovative solutions to climate change and empowering young people on environmental sustainability issues across Africa have come up with a coordinated approach to educate Nigerians on the dangers posed by climate change through an event tagged “ARTing CLIMATE CHANGE”.

Nigeria & Climate Change Adaptation. By Stanley Ijeoma

Climate change is on the minds of every country, but perhaps nowhere will the effects be so dramatic or potentially calamitous as in Africa. Stanley Ijeoma, a foremost "Enviropreneur" and one of only two Africans on the Board of World Council for Renewable Energy, shares his vision for what will be necessary for Nigeria to adapt to the impending impacts of climate change. 

The article identifies a set of eight strategies that involve both governmental action as well as private sector investments and address economic, infrastructure, education and social aspects of Nigerian life.

Young Climate Activist Decide

The Nigerian chapter of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) votes for its national leaders. The elections would usher in a new team to lead this awesome network for the next two years (2012-2014) with a clear mandate to position AYICC as the Nigerian/African youth network supporting Nigerian/African governments in proffering sustainable solutions to problems attributable to climate change.

Enhancing Nigeria’s response to the environment

Lawal

Youthful Abuja-based Information Technology analyst and advocate for change, Hamzat Lawal, makes a case for the National Climate Change Commission, urging the Presidency to give the proposal a second look.

Over the last four years, I’ve poured my energy into helping design and enact Africa’s first national climate change legislation for my country, Nigeria. While this enormously important task isn’t yet complete, I want to share how things have gone so far and where we need go from here and need for young people around the world to take actions most especially in Africa to tackle our climatic threats.

Advisor Tasks Youths On Climate Change

Hamzat

Advisor, Hamza Lawal, Nigerian Youth Climate Action Network (NYCAN) , an NGO, says the effective combat of climate change and improved environmental sustainability rest on the shoulders of the youths.

Lawal, who is also a member, Steering Committee SustainNIGERIA, spoke at the children’s’ day celebration and the introduction of the Abuja Rio +20 on Sunday, at the Millennium Park, Abuja.

He said that this was so because children and the youths constituted more than 60 per cent of the total population of Nigeria and represented the generation mostly affected by climate change.

“Though climate change affects everyone, we bear the greatest brunt of its impact because it is in our time and in our children’s’ future that the full consequences would be felt,’’ he said

Climate of Change

Author:         Elaigwu Ameh

Reviewer:     Yemi Adebisi

Publisher:      University Press Plc.

No of pages: 71

Struggling for survival in most of the third world countries has sent several innocent souls to the great beyond. While many great minds have passed away through the strokes of poverty bedevilled by societal norms, others have crossed the boundary of life to death by the harsh lashes of those disgruntled leaders in the corridor of power in the name of ruling their world by force.

In Climate of Change, set in an imagined land of Bagada village, the untold stories of the despotic and unruly behaviour of politicians, who pitch their nest with greedy leaders of the masses, desperately unveil the mass injustice in our society.

Tweet-Meet on Oil Spills in the Niger Delta

The Niger Delta is the location of massive oil deposits, which have been extracted for decades by the government of Nigeria and by multinational oil companies. Oil has generated an estimated $600 billion since the 1960s. Despite this, the majority of the Niger Delta’s population live in poverty, with crumbling social infrastructure and services, high unemployment, social deprivation, abject poverty, filth and squalor, and endemic conflict. The majority of the people of the Niger Delta do not have adequate access to clean water or health-care.  

Lawmakers pass National Climate Change Commission Bill

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed a Bill for the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission.

This is the second time the House is passing the Bill after the harmonised version that was sent to the President was not assented to before the expiration of the last assembly.

Reacting to the bill’s passage the Nigeria Youth Climate Action Network commended the determination of the House for giving legislative backing to issues of climate change.

A case for youth participation in climate change policy process.

Unico

By Unico Iregbu Kalu

Climate change is fast introducing an alternative pathway to both national and global development. Twenty years ago, an average young man would engage on any available practice to eke out a living, without giving a thought to the impacts of his actions on both the environment and the climate. The effects of climate change are already here with us and it is the young people who will bear the greater brunt of the effects. As such, lifestyles and attitudes are gradually moving towards reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Globally, young people are becoming aware of their roles in the fight against climate change and possible effects of their actions and inactions. Their contributions range from advocacy, public enlightenment, research, to actual demonstration of low carbon path through either engaging in recycling, planting trees or getting involved in the development of solar technologies.

Nigeria’s climate of violence | RTCC – Responding to Climate Change

Source: Re: Hot Spots of Global Change….(Photo Essay)

By Jack Hamilton

Last week a ten year old boy was killed after a rocket was fired at a school in the Nigerian city of Jos.

Over one hundred more people have been killed in the past two weeks amid the ongoing ethno-religious violence in across Plateau State, of which Jos is the capital.

Responses and accusations have abounded over the political and cultural reasons for the violence but little attention is being paid to one of the chief catalysts behind the conflict: climate change.

Climate change is a driver of conflict.  Scarcity of resources, be they farmable land, water or livestock, is creating mass migrations and antagonising pre-existing tensions in a vicious circle.

Reps pass bill on climate change

The House of Representatives has passed the Bill for the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission. This is the second time the House is passing the Bill after the harmonised version that was sent to President Goodluck Jonathan was not assented to before the expiration of the last Assembly.

Document management system for sustainable future

Maureen Chinweokwu of Young & Bailey Nigeria Limited and Hamzat Bala Lawal of the International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development (ICEED) stress in this piece that every business should strive to have a positive impact on the environment and its community by adopting and implementing sustainable policies that improve the quality of life for its customers and employees.

Everywhere, on the news; the internet; adverts; politics; social movements; entertainment and even in technology, environmental friendliness is being promoted. So we engage ourselves by using energy saving bulbs, planting trees and flowers, eating less of processed foods and recycling.