Climate change officers play role in translating global goals – FG.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari, said subnational climate change officers play an important role in translating global climate goals into actual actions and policies that are relevant at the local level.

Kambari stated this during the launch of an inaugural State Climate Desk Officers’ Coordination Meeting, convened by the Department of Climate Change held via Zoom recently.

“Your work on the frontlines of climate action, implementing mitigation and adaptation measures, is essential in building a more sustainable future for our citizens and safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come.

“The onset of climate change presents an unprecedented threat to our planet, with far-reaching consequences for our environment, economies, and societies,” he said.

The permanent secretary said the purpose of the launch was to re-enact and foster existing synergy of the national and subnational towards aligning and meeting the Ministerial High Impact Deliverables in line with the Presidential Transformative Agenda.

He also stated that the gathering was an opportunity to relaunch the Toolkits for the States’ Climate Action Communication, which the ministry has produced and will soon be sent to the 36 states and the FCT to improve reporting on national climate action.

Kambari said the coordinating conference provides a unique opportunity to foster collaboration, exchange best practices, and forge partnerships that will strengthen our collective impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“By coming together as a community of dedicated professionals, we can leverage our expertise, share lessons learned, and explore innovative solutions to address the complex challenges posed by climate change in our regions and states,” he stated.

In her remarks, Director of the Department for Climate Change, Dr Iniobong Abiola Awe,  said the meeting was a critical platform for implementing the outcome of the 17th Session of the National Council on Environment (NCE) Resolution 9Ai, which states “the need for effective communication, collaboration, and synergy between the federal government and states in all environmental issues to enhance performance and better implementation of national environmental policies.”

He said the platform is expected to serve to bridge the existing communication gap, provide a platform for knowledge-sharing and capacity development, and an enabling effective reporting of climate action and, overall, it seeks to jointly synergise efforts at national and subnational levels to achieve climate commitments.

Meanwhile, the President of Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, said the initiative and platform will go a long way in helping to plug the current gap in climate change governance in Nigeria by promoting stronger climate action.