From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Network of Civil Society in Environment has expressed deep concerns over climate change while reviewing the draft climate change policy for Kaduna State.
The review was in collaboration with the Open Government Innovation Hub Kaduna, and Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism.
At a one-day Technical session to review the state’s draft climate change policy on Monday in Kaduna, the Coordinator of the network, Gloria Bulus, recalled that in 2023 the Kaduna State Government developed a climate change policy document.
She explained that the review was to see through the opportunities and gaps in the documents and come up with observations.
“The documents were validated last year where there seems to be no consultation with the CSOs. We feel we are critical stakeholders in terms of developing any document within the state which upholds participatory governance through the Open Government Partnership,” she said.
She added that the review would provide an avenue to develop key observations and recommendations to influence the
policy document, while assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the policy in addressing the current and projected impacts of climate change in the state and its people.
Bulus, who doubles as the Executive Director of Bridge That Gap Initiative, stated that in proffering solutions to climate change issues, all hands must be on deck, adding that the policy document did not come about through wider consultation.
“The critical things we need to see in the documents were not there; there are a lot of irregularities, it is not rushing to have a document, but to ensure quality and a document that reflects a true reality,” she said
Speaking further, the Coordinator explained that the issues of climate change were crossing, which calls for multi-sectoral synergy to address it.
She mentions the health, agriculture, education, transportation and other sectors which are affected by climate change.
Also, Mr Abel Adejor, the State Lead of Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn (PERL), said the environment is full of opportunities, and the world emphasis is on it globally.
He added that even development partners are emphasizing climate change because they understand its impact and the roles it plays in different sectors.
“Programmes that have components of climate change keep coming in, where some come solely on it. There are quite a lot of opportunities for the government, individuals and CSOs to also tap into it.”
