Climate Change: No Longer in the Future

Since 2014, Nigeria has been within top ten of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries with Lagos coincidentally ranked as 10th most vulnerable city in the world. With global waste population predicted to surge by a whopping 70% margin come 2050 per the World Bank, and the Sub-Sahara region being one of the ‘hot spots’ that is likely to experience severe impacts of climate change, there is no question as to fact that there is the urgent need for actions across board to realise the goals of the Paris Climate accord.

At the maiden edition of the Dialogue on Waste Management in Nigeria – a seminar series that is focused on gearing actions towards addressing the impact of climate change in Nigeria – tagged Waste Management, experts have identified sustainable and resourceful waste management systems as veritable tools to mitigate the effect of climate change in Nigeria. The seminars were held in Lagos on Wednesday 26th September 2018, at the Westwood Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos and in Abuja on Friday 28th September 2018, at the German Embassy, Maitama, Abuja.

The objective of this newly launched seminar series is bringing together key climate and environmental professionals, urban practitioners, decision-makers, civil society organisations (NGOs), private sector participants (PSP) and the media for regular discourse and exchange of ideas on how to improve the overall performance of the waste sector in Nigeria.

Financed by the Foreign Climate Policy Fund of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the seminars were facilitated by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, the Energy and Environment Desk of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Lagos and the German Embassy Abuja.

Speaking on Climate Change and Waste in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities, Maria Yetano Roche from the Wuppertal Institute raised concerns that the impact of climate change is no longer distant as many often think, but it has arrived in Nigeria with evident proves spread across the six geographical zones ranging from flooding, rising sea and temperature levels, and food insecurity etc.

Maimuna Maibe, Head – Product Development, Sustainability & CSR, Visionscape Group Nigeria highlighted sustainable approaches to breaking the link between resource generation and economic growth while creating inclusive employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youthful population. And Funto Boroffice described positive outcomes that economic incentives attached to proper waste disposal at the local level could yield if properly harnessed and managed by the responsible government agencies.

While speaking on the subject of Handling Plastic Packaging Waste in a Circular Economy, Olawale Adebiyi, Chief Executive Officer, Wecyclers stressed the fact that adopting circular economy principles could play a major role in reducing waste from material flows across key sectors of the economy, hence plummeting the total energy demand for production and enhancing efficiency across the entire value chain.

The Deputy Delegate of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Duke Benjamin, and Alexandra Herr, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany Lagos, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy Abuja, Regine Hess reiterated Berlin’s commitment to creating awareness on the impact of climate change and promoting inclusive dialogues between key stakeholders and players active in the waste sector to ensuring a safe environment for all.

The sessions were moderated by Ms. Adiza Ujo, who is the Founder of ”Stop Don’t Drop, Abuja.

For further information, please contact Akindele Olasunkanmi of the Delegation of German Industry & Commerce in Nigeria vie email at akindele@lagos-ahk.de.