Council approves climate change education in schools

Towards creating awareness on climate change, the National Council on Environment has approved a special academic programme, which would promote renewable energy initiatives in schools and colleges in the country.

Besides, the Council has proposed a roadmap to increase consciousness on the issues of global climate change as well as the need for sustainable management solutions to address them.

In its communique, it states that country’s Internally National Determined Contribution (INDC), would be explored to reduce Green House Gas, GHG, emission and to implement projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

It also agreed to take up the issues of poor solid waste management, sanitation, environmental pollution such as oil, and to review regulations, existing policies and laws to address emerging global trends and international best practices.

The Council also urged states of the federation with increasing land degradation problems, which requested for approval for funding of erosion control and afforestation projects to embark on bilateral consultations with Ecological Fund Office.

To it, this would help in the mitigation and adaption of the impacts of climate change such as adoption and implementation of renewable energy programme, and repositioning them in the ministries, department and agencies, MDAs.

Moreover, it would be engaging the private sector in renewable energy programmes through public-private partnership, PPP, arrangements and there would be regulations to support these programmes in future.

“The Council, therefore, approves that Forestry Department and afforestation programmes should embark on tree planting in forest reserves nationwide in order to enhance the use of alternatives source of energy. It suspends further exportation of Pterocapus Spp in Taraba State in interim.”

It also urges the 11 participating frontline states to strongly support the National Agency for the Great Green Wall,NAGGW,programme by making fund available in  their annual budgetary to enhance sensitization, mobilization and technical support.

They have approved installation of automated web based flood earl warning equipment in flood prone communities nationwide, where none is presently, and re-introduction of National Monthly Environment Sanitation Day.

The council urges the state governments to relocate Forestry Department and other related environmental departments in Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Health Officers in Health Ministries to State’s Ministries of Environment.