The issue of climate change is at a global level but its consequences are far more reaching in developing countries particularly Nigeria, a country whose biodiversity and environmental stability are already faced with other threats like habitat degradation, soil contamination and increasing population growth. Among others, climate change is the most dangerous environmental challenge as a result of human activities which could result to massive destruction of the ecosystem, change in human behaviors etc. This understanding therefore underscores the danger associated with climate change and the need to act fast before it is too late.

Nigeria being a vulnerable country, it is necessary to embark on  environmental projects and activities that will improve the environmental status of the country as the country is one of the developing counties that has little or no input to ensuring proper conservation of the environment. 

Supporting the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) strategy, which is focused on policy advocacy, working on adaptation and mitigation measures, promoting networking and partnership on climate change issues and embarking on fact finding measures to support baseline information and data management on climate change, I strongly believe that if properly implemented and executed, Nigeria’s environmental condition will drastically improve. The NCF have therefore put in place 5-point mitigation and adaptation strategies to victoriously combat climate change in Nigeria. These are enlightenment campaign, mitigation strategy, adaptation initiatives, policy and advocacy, and carbon finance.

1. Enlightenment Campaign

With its impact on us and our daily activities, many Nigerians are not aware of the climate change so that no much attention or consideration is paid to the increase in flooding occurrences, high temperature and desertification. 

NCF therefore has therefore decided to embark on climate change enlightenment campaign strategies to sensitize Nigerians, particularly youth across the country and women in rural environment who are the most vulnerable groups to climate change and its attendant impact. 

2. Mitigation Strategy

As tropical forests play a very important role in environmental conservation and management, it is very necessary that the rate of deforestation in Nigeria is grossly reduced. Nature has already blessed Nigeria with materials for carbon sequestration.

3. Adaptation Initiatives

Due to the serious threat climate change poses to food production and the nation’s economy, NCF climate change adaptation initiative therefore seeks to assist communities especially those around our intervention sites to increase their resilience to climate change induced challenges such as food security, agriculture, watershed management, and natural systems (i.e. ecosystems and biodiversity) conservation

4. Policy Advocacy

Nigeria is yet to be at the forefront of climate change policy forum at regional and international levels despite the alarming effect of changing climate on lives and livelihoods across the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria. We are constrained by resolution of international agreement that we are party to despite little or no technical input to adopted positions.

Hence, NCF plans to gather relevant technical information required for holistic climate change policies in Nigeria and also support Nigeria’s position at regional and international climate change forums.

5. Carbon Finance

Going forwards, NCF plans to raise funds to support climate change projects through 1% support for climate change campaign. The campaign seeks Government injunction for private sector to contribute 1% net profit to fund climate change agenda in Nigeria. Individuals will also have opportunity to offset their carbon footprint and join the global league of carbon neutral scenario.

I hope the Federal Government of Nigeria will strongly assist NCF to successfully implement their strategies, because I believe that with these strategies, Nigeria’s environmental condition will be internationally attractive. 

Article extracted from Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) page: https://www.ncfnigeria.org/programmes/climate-change

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