Delta Launches Policy On Climate Change

Governor Emmanuel
Uduaghan of Delta State has launched the state’s climate change policy and integrated territorial climate plan, to enable the state mitigate the challenges of global warming.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Prof Amos Utuama, said that the launch of the two documents were crucial for addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in the state.
He said that the aim of the programme was to reduce the vulnerability of the local communities to the impact of climate change.
The governor said that the policy would also help the communities to develop a low carbon and climate-resilient economy.
The governor said that the policy was a testimony of the state government’s efforts to protect the environment and people of the state, especially the most vulnerable.
He said that the state government had been collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international bodies, to explore opportunities for renewable options for small-scale businesses.
Uduaghan pointed out that an Executive Bill on climate change would be forwarded to the state’s House of Assembly for consideration and passage.
He commended the state’s Ministry of Environment for evolving the policy, adding that the state was the first in the federation to develop a policy on climate change.
In an address, the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, said that the state was committed to addressing the challenges of climate change and had committed much resources to it.
Omare said that the policy documents had gone through various processes before the presentation.
He commended the governor for being focused on environment issues and called on the Federal Government and other international agencies for support.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs Felicia Adun, said that many people had become “climatic refugees” due to the impact of global warming.
The permanent secretary noted that one-third of Delta land was flooded in 2012 due to its coastal nature.
Adun said research had shown that if nothing was done to mitigate the challenges of global warming, the entire state stood the risk of being submerged between 2019 and 2059.
She urged the Federal Government to co-opt state governments into its climate change programmes, and stressed the need for effective use of data, for proper programme planning and implementation.
Our correspondent reports that many speakers at the occasion stressed the need for Nigerians to plant trees and save energy.