Nigeria CSOs Demonstrate Strong Commitment to Climate Action at COP28

Posted on December 8, 2023December 8, 2023 by c21stnigeria

Dubai, December 6, 2023

The first half of COP28 negotiations and events were held from November 30th to December 6. 2023, saw an active and impactful participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from Nigeria. During the first half, Nigerian CSOs actively engaged in approximately 30 side events, with representatives delivering impactful speeches on various climate-related topics.

The mobilization of CSOs at COP28, led by the Centre for 21^st Century Issues (C21st), Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), and Environews Development Network (Endenet) with support from Foreign, Commonwealth and Department Office (FCDO), British High Commission (BHC) in partnership with the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA) has been remarkably phenomenal. The collaboration between these organizations has continued to facilitate daily briefings and regular updates for CSOs on the ongoing negotiations and events at COP28. This enabled the Nigerian CSOs to stay abreast of all streams of developments and make their voices heard and visible.

One notable highlight of the first half was the invitation extended to the CSOs leadership to participate in the first-ever Nigeria Day celebration at COP28. During this momentous occasion, the Nigerian CSOs position was successfully conveyed to Dr. Salisu Dahiru, the Director-General of the Nigerian Climate Change Commission (NCCC). The Director General, who was excited by the activities of the CSOs committed to transmit the CSOs position to the Nigerian President. This recognition of the CSOs’ efforts signifies a new impetus for collaboration and affirms the importance of their role in shaping climate policies and conversations at such a global level.

The positive momentum gained at COP28 will be continued through the remaining days at COP28 and a post-COP28 meeting, which aims to further enhance cooperation between CSOs and the Nigerian government to foster global engagement. This opportunity will also allow for the exploration of new avenues to advance climate action and achieve meaningful progress in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change at the national and subnational level in Nigeria with CSOs as frontiers of development.

The collective efforts displayed so far by Nigerian CSOs at COP28 demonstrate their unwavering commitment to climate action and their determination to contribute to a more sustainable future for Nigeria. These efforts and dedication are commendable and one can only look forward to their continued endeavors in driving positive change in Nigeria and beyond.

Nigeria’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) deeply regret the media’s negative portrayal of the country’s delegates to COP28. This portrayal, viewed as misinformation, has the potential to undermine the progress made in opening up the climate space that CSOs have tirelessly fought for over the decades.

It is crucial to note that some Nigerian CSOs have achieved observer status with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This acknowledgment highlights their credibility and expertise in matters related to the climate crisis. As observers, they possess the authority to register participants for COP and actively contribute to shaping the climate agenda.

Nigeria’s Govt Participation:

Nigeria’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) commend the Government of Nigeria for its active participation in COP28, marking a significant turning point in the country’s commitment to climate action. For the first time, Nigeria has sent a strong signal to the global community, showcasing its readiness to mobilize climate finance and collaborate with stakeholders to address the impacts of climate change within Nigeria.

During the first week of COP28, Nigeria achieved several notable milestones, marking quick wins in its pursuit of climate action. These achievements include:

Launching of Nigeria’s Long term Low Carbon Emission Development Strategy
Nigeria Carbon Market Activation
Signing of MOU with Siemens
Promising Discussions with development partners and investors to mobilize climate finance for Nigeria

Statement on Key Climate Agenda Items

Loss and Damage

Nigerian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) warmly welcome the early operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund during the first week of COP28. This significant step highlights progress in addressing the losses and damages experienced by communities on the frontlines of climate change. However, Nigerian CSOs emphasize the urgent need for expeditious establishment of the fund’s operational details, particularly the swift submission of pledges. The current pledge of $655 million falls far short of the actual finance required, which amounts to trillions, to adequately address the daily sufferings of affected climate-vulnerable communities.

Adaptation

On the agenda of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), Nigerian CSOs advocate for increased efforts to ensure the realization of doubling adaptation finance by 2025. It is imperative that an action plan, clearly outlining the path toward this goal, be developed. While a commitment of $14 billion to adaptation finance has been made, it remains insufficient compared to the actual requirements.

Mitigation

Regarding mitigation, Nigerian CSOs acknowledge the progress made by many countries in delivering Low-Carbon Development and Just Transition strategies. However, they emphasize the importance of incorporating gender equity and addressing existing vulnerabilities and marginalization. It is crucial that the transition to a low-carbon society actively includes and safeguards the rights and well-being of all, particularly the most vulnerable populations and a specific definition of Just Transition for the developing countries.

Climate Finance

Recognizing the vital significance of climate finance, Nigerian CSOs stress that the current pledges are inadequate. The global goal on climate finance requires urgent and serious attention, with the realization of fair and realistic metrics that can effectively address the world’s response to climate change. Adequate financing is the lifeblood of climate action, and urgent action is needed to achieve the scale required.

Conclusion

As the negotiations enter the second round, Nigerian CSOs call for concrete action and heightened commitment across all negotiation streams. It is crucial to align the discussions and decisions with the temperature goal outlined in the Paris Agreement and deliver climate finance at a significant scale.

Nigerian CSOs remain steadfast in their dedication to pushing for meaningful outcomes during COP28. They call upon all stakeholders to demonstrate real commitment and take decisive steps to address the pressing challenges of climate change. By working collaboratively, we can build a more sustainable and resilient future for Nigeria and the global community.

Signed

Titilope Gbemisola Akosa

Executive Director

Centre for 21^st Century Issues (C21st)

For Convening organizations

Dubai, December 6, 2023

Nigeria’s Govt Participation:

During the first week of COP28, Nigeria achieved several notable milestones, marking quick wins in its pursuit of climate action. These achievements include:

Launching of Nigeria’s Long term Low Carbon Emission Development Strategy
Nigeria Carbon Market Activation
Signing of MOU with Siemens
Promising Discussions with development partners and investors to mobilize climate finance for Nigeria

Statement on Key Climate Agenda Items

Loss and Damage

Adaptation

Mitigation

Climate Finance

Conclusion

Signed

Titilope Gbemisola Akosa

Executive Director

Centre for 21^st Century Issues (C21st)

For Convening organizations

Nigerian CSOs storm COP28 to advocate for global climate policy

Posted on November 30, 2023 by c21stnigeria

A delegation of Nigerian civil society groups is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), as they look forward to actively participate in this year’s 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will take place from Thursday, November 30, to Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

The body, led by three non-profit organisations—the Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st), the EnviroNews Development Network (Endenet), and the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), will harmonise the activities of CSOs, governments, and other important stakeholders at this global conference to ensure Nigeria receives the best outcomes that will protect its people from the disruptive effects of climate change.

Supported by the British High Commission (BHC) in Nigeria under a project named “Strengthening Nigeria’s Civil Society Organisations’ Engagement with Global Climate Change Policy,” this group will additionally advocate, lobby, and enhnace communications in order to promote Nigeria’s effective participation in the various COP28 negotiations.

The coalition of environmental rights activists has proposed many strategies for achieving this goal following the COP28 thematic programme and plan of action. One of these tactics is to measure Nigeria’s success during the international meeting by having daily in-person involvement as well as online monitoring and reporting of all the conversations. Others are online advocacy campaigns to engage the public in the several negotiating streams and global days of action to assess the momentum and achievements of the overall goal of COP28.

These discussions, which will centre on specific solutions that need to be scaled up this decade to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, build resilience, and mobilise finance at scale, they hinted further, will help bring together a diverse range of stakeholders around the loss and damage fund, global stocktake, global goals on adaptation and finance, energy transition and renewables, phase down and phase out, as well as agriculture and food systems. The idea is to create an understanding of where the world stands on climate action and support, identify the gaps, and work together to agree on solutions and pathways to 2030 and beyond.

A group of carefully chosen Nigerian journalists and communication experts has been assembled and constituted. They will boost CSO participation with policymakers, gender mainstreaming in the UN climate negotiation, and help spread awareness of the full range of discussions.

Earlier in the project’s first execution phase, the three implementation partners carried out a scoping study on the role and participation of Nigeria’s CSOs in climate change negotiations over the previous two years in order to identify the problems and bridge the gaps to strengthen CSOs’ engagement in global climate change policy at COP28.

The scoping research findings were used to develop a capacity-building programme and to promote pre-COP28 multi-stakeholder conversations with relevant government agencies and climate change institutions.

Beginning on Friday, November 10, and ending on Friday, November 24, the virtual and physical training and knowledge-sharing exercise gave the beneficiaries the tools they required to understand how to navigate the UNFCCC’s multiple negotiation streams, investigate the various negotiation interests, and clearly define Nigeria’s position within the African climate change arena.

Titi Akosa, executive director of C21st, believes that the capacity-building engagement has better prepared Nigerian CSOs to advocate for their interests, impact policy results, broaden their network, and generate meaningful change.

“This timely training programme has equipped climate-focused CSOs in Nigeria with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of UNFCCC negotiations,” she said, emphasising that, if properly informed, CSOs can effectively contribute to global climate policy discussions.

C21st Program Intern Simileoluwa Joshua Adewale Chosen as A Youth Delegate for Climate Justice at COP 28

Posted on November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 by c21stnigeria

Simileoluwa Joshua Adewale, the program intern responsible for C21st’s Climate School Club initiative, has been chosen by the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA) as one of their delegates to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of Parties (COP28). Simileoluwa is one of the Seven Civil Society Climate Justice advocates who are being supported by the National conservation Foundation (NCF) in partnership with the Ford Foundation to participate in COP28. This support aims to enhance the participation, visibility, and engagement of underrepresented groups who are members of the NCJA. Simileoluwa, alongside other selected delegates of NCJA will have the opportunity to meet with world leaders and add their voices to advance the cause of climate Justice.

organized by the Climate Justice Alliance. This includes attending meetings, workshops, and various events where he can contribute meaningfully and participate in fruitful discussions.

Simileoluwa will also join the Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC to advocate for the youth’s issues and concerns in the negotiations and to push for outcomes at COP 28 that prioritize the inclusion of young people in all aspects of climate action.

In addition to these responsibilities, Simileoluwa will be supporting the advocacy efforts of the Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st), including providing communications assistance in coordinating Nigerian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at COP 28. He will also be participating in the #Women4ClimateFinance Campaigns of C21st and engaging in events organized by the women and gender constituency.

Furthermore, Simileoluwa looks forward to the opportunities provided by COP 28 to share his own experiences as a young climate advocate. He is eager to amplify the youth perspective and inspire others with his journey in working towards climate justice.

Why Do Women Need Moustaches To be heard?

Posted on November 10, 2016 by c21stnigeria

On Thursday, November 10 2016 the Women and Gender Constituency of the UNFCCC hosted an interactive ACTION at COP22 to highlight institutionalized barriers to women’s participation in climate decision-making at household, community, institutional, national, regional and international levels.

Despite women’s disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, women are marginalized from climate decision-making bodies and generally do not hold positions of leadership or authority. Women and other civil society groups demand that governments and institutions ensure women’s full and equal participation in all levels of decision-making, and reach the goal of gender balance through targeted resources and capacity building efforts.

Women and other civil society organizations from around the world are also demanding that structures of power are transformed with participatory, rights-based decision-making processes for climate policy that are inclusive of all peoples, particularly women and men in frontline and Indigenous communities in

the economic South and North. Women demand to be equally and fully engaged in all levels of climate change decision-making! We should not need moustaches to be heard!

wgc3 — Women demonstrating at the action

Message To World Leaders On Earth Day And The Signing of The Paris Climate Agreement

Posted on April 22, 2016 by c21stnigeria

Today, as we celebrate the Earth Day, 2016, World Leaders will gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York to sign the Paris Agreement that was adopted on 12th of December, 2015 at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of Parties ( COP21).

It is an epoch making event which not only prepares the ground for other formal processes as required by international law for the agreement to enter into force but it significantly, reminds us that It is our collective responsibility to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C for the people and planet to have a chance at survival.

It is a wake up call to #keepFossilFuelsInTheGround, #BreakFreeFromFalseSolutions, #MoveAwayFromDirtyEnergy, embrace clean and 100% renewable energy and set the world on the pathway to climate resilience and sustainability. It is time to strive harder to deliver Climate justice to those who are on the frontlines of climate change, majority of whom are women and children.

World leaders should remember that signing, ratifying is one of the first steps to set the tone for implementation of the agreement. Implementation is key to averting the dangerous consequences of climate change. Bearing in mind that the submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which is now part of the Paris agreement is not sufficient to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C. We need ambitious policies and actions beyond what is in the NDCs to keep the world safe.

Celebrating the” feat” of reaching the Paris agreement is good but genuine and effective actions are better. Genuine leaders act and stand on the side of the people and the planet.

Happy Earth Day, 2016

Gbemisola Titilope Akosa
Executive Director
Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st)

Women Climate Justice Advocates Arrive in Paris For COP21

Posted on November 30, 2015 by c21stnigeria

Ahead of the 21^st Conference of Parties (COP21) taking off from 29^th of November 2015 , the Women climate Justice Advocates supported by Women Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) under the Mobilizing Women for Climate Justice Program arrived in Paris on 27^th Of Novembers to strategize with the broader Women Gender Constituency (WGC) of the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change (UNFCCC) on how to advocate for Gender and women in the climate Negotiations.

with the objective of building the capacity and increasing the participation of women advocates in international climate change negotiations with a particular focus on women from civil society organizations and frontline communities who have experience with issues regarding gender equality and climate justice.

Since September 2015, the women climate advocates have been participating in the AD Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2) negotiations leading up to COP 21

In Paris, at the WGC strategy meeting the women discussed their key demands and positions on issues like, Mitigation and technology, Finance, Adaptation and loss and damage for the climate agreement. Other issues on communication, climate justice actions, side events and other events that will happen during the two weeks of the negotiations were also discussed.

The WGC agreed to participate in the Human chain event which replaced the climate march that was cancelled due to security reasons. The Human Chain action for climate justice was successful with about 20, 000 people participating including the women advocates, Indigenous peoples, frontline communities and civil society groups.

The women climate Justice Advocates specifically had their space with the women groups displaying their banners and chanting gender and climate justice messages prepared by the women’s Global Call for Climate Justice.

The women Climate justice advocates are going to be busy throughout the negotiations lobbying country delegates and engaging delegates with the women’s demands to ensure a gender just climate agreement .

Ms Titilope Gbemisola Akosa and Ms Edna Kaptoyo are women climate Justice advocates from Africa and they will be reporting Gender and women’s issues throughout the COP21. Follow us on twitter @titiakosa, @ednakaptoyo @c21stnigeria on facebook Centre for 21^st Century Issues and Indigenous Information Network.

Ms Titilope Gbemisola Akosa-Centre for 21^st Century Issues

Ms Edna Kaptoyo- Indigenous Information Network/ International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal peoples Of the Tropical Forest

Women and Gender Constituency : Position Paper on the 2015 New Climate Agreement

Posted on June 24, 2015 by c21stnigeria

June 1 2015

A just and gender-responsive climate agreement can take different forms, but fundamentally it will; respect and promote human rights and gender equality: ensure sustainable development and environmental integrity; require fair, equitable, ambitious and binding mitigation commitments in line with the principles of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR); call for urgent and prioritized adaptation action and resources that respond to the most vulnerable countries, communities and populations; demand a sustainable energy paradigm that prioritizes safe, decentralized renewable energy systems that benefit people and communities; ensure adequate, new, additional and predictable climate finance for developing countries; provide resources to reconcile loss and damage already incurred from climate inaction; and, ensure full, inclusive and gender-equitable public participation in decision-making, with increased mandatory ex-ante and periodic human rights and gender equality impact assessments. It must ensure that gender equality, equal access to decision making, and benefit sharing are integrated into all its provisions, including through gender-responsive means of implementation. Sex and gender disaggregated data and analysis of the underlying causes of any gender disparities must be mainstreamed in all information, communication and reporting systems.

READ the full WGC Position Paper on the 2015 Climate Agreement http://womengenderclimate.org/

Developing countries’ fund key to climate pact

Posted on October 1, 2014 by c21stnigeria

BY ZACK COLMAN | SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 | 5:00 AM

NEW YORK — What once seemed a harmless token of good will from rich countries to poor ones could derail negotiations over a global climate deal next year.

Developing nations want industrial countries to contribute the $100 billion they promised for a Green Climate Fund by 2020 to pay for clean energy and other projects meant to help them adapt to a changing climate.

That $100 billion was never realistic. The fund has $2.3 billion, of which $1.3 billion was raised at the United Nations climate summit last week in New York. Rich nations that were expected to contribute when the U.N. started the fund in 2010 aren’t feeling rich anymore.

Unless developing nations drop their demands, negotiations over a binding climate pact next year in Paris might be over before they really begin.

“The United States and other Western countries and other industrialized countries need to indicate that that amount of money won’t be forthcoming. We can’t allow this funding issue to sabotage an agreement on emissions,” said Paul Bledsoe, senior fellow on energy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Inking a deal would be difficult anyway. Theoretically, nations want commitments to cut enough greenhouse gases by 2020 to avoid a 2 degree Celsius global temperature rise by 2100. Most climate scientists say not enough is being done to curb the emissions they blame for stoking climate change. They argue that even some steps that have been considered bold, such as President Obama’s proposed rules on power plant emissions, are too tame.

The existence of yawning gaps between rhetoric and reality is routine at the U.N. And the hot air is no less plentiful on the subject of climate change than it is on other issues.

The Kyoto negotiations in 1997 set the precedent. They failed because China and India, hewing to their plans for economic growth, refused to participate. The United States balked at signing the treaty without them. The same nations also doomed the 2009 negotiations in Copenhagen, the last major attempt to secure a climate treaty.

India remains obdurate. New Delhi has candidly expressed skepticism about the concept of climate change. It said bluntly last week that its emissions would continue to rise and it would not offer a plan to reduce them before the Paris negotiations.

Although the Copenhagen talks collapsed, the Green Climate Fund was one of the few tangible results of the negotiations. It is symbolic for developing nations and crucial for keeping them engaged in climate talks.

A key moment will come in November, when nations meet specifically to make pledges to the fund. U.N. officials have reduced their first-round goal to $10 billion from $15 billion.

“A strong fund mobilization in November is critical because it’s seen as part of the original deal,” said Lou Leonard, vice president for climate change with the World Wildlife Fund. “If it is not lived up to, then it will be hard to convince the developing countries to live up to the Paris deal.”

In 2040, developing nations are expected to emit 127 percent more carbon dioxide from energy than the world’s most developed countries, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Even though they’re projected to contribute more emissions in the future, developing nations consider the Green Climate Fund a matter of fairness. They point out that they are expected to deal with the consequences of climate change even though a great proportion of the heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere were emitted by rich countries that developed earlier. Many undeveloped nations are ill-equipped to bear the consequences either financially and functionally.

But many rich nations aren’t feeling so wealthy these days, noted Deborah Gordon, energy and climate director with the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace. For all the idealism and global cooperation that those leaders aimed to highlight at the climate summit, economic realities might prevent significant financial pledges.

“Whose responsibility is it to act?” Gordon said. “In a perfect world it would be on the shoulders on the developed world … but these countries are going through their own changes, which are expensive.”

Bledsoe said developing nations shouldn’t overplay their hand or they would risk being left out of negotiations while bigger economies search for solutions.

It will be difficult even for big economies to agree to a deal by themselves. Canada’s economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, for example, and its concerns are therefore radically different from those of Latin America, where deforestation is a much bigger issue.

“It’s a hard one to slice and dice, which is why they probably looked at a global accord,” Gordon said.

Leonard said there is hope of keeping developing nations on board.

While the fund was originally pitched as a rich-to-poor donation, Leonard noted that some developing countries such as Mexico and Indonesia said they would contribute. He also noted that the United States, European Union and Japan haven’t put down any money, but probably will.

Leonard thinks the $100 billion is possible, but November’s pledges will give a better indication. If the commitment is weak, he said, it could reduce the chances of inking a legitimate draft accord in Lima, Peru, in December.

Gordon says getting to $100 billion is unlikely.

“The deadlines that were set from Kyoto and the U.N. leading up to now — 2020 seemed like the future. 2020 isn’t the future now,” she said.

Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/developing-countries-fund-key-to-climate-pact/article/2553989

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