Nigerians should prepare for more deadly heat from climate change – National Academy of Sciences

A new study has reported that deaths related to extreme heat are expected to keep rising, even if most nations are able to contain global warming at agreed-upon levels. The new study was published online March 27 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Nigerians should prepare for more deadly heat from climate change, which could lead to rise in cases of illness and death. Already, meningitis which is heat-related has killed 211 persons and affected 1,407 others within three months.

The researchers warned that by 2050, more than 350 million people living in ‘megacities’ would be hit with deadly heat waves every year – regardless if nations reach climate change targets.

Lead researcher and an applied climatologist at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, Tom Matthews, said: “As the climate warms, the number and intensity of heat waves increases. Research has shown this to be the case for the global warming experienced to date, and our research is the latest to show that we can expect even larger increases as the climate continues to warm.”

Even if global warming is halted at Paris goals, the megacities of Karachi (Pakistan) and Kolkata (India) could face annual conditions similar to the deadly heat waves that gripped those regions in 2015.During the 2015 heat waves in those areas, about 1,200 people died in Pakistan and more than 2,000 died in India.

To examine the impact of global warming on human heat stress, the researchers used climate models and looked at how global temperature change could affect heat stress projections in the world’s largest cities.

The investigators concluded that it is likely there will be more land surface area exposed to dangerous heat stress. They also noted that areas already experiencing heat stress would have more frequent and longer heat waves.

The researchers at Climate Central explain that when temperatures reach those experienced on ‘danger days’ – when the ‘feels like temperature exceeds 104 °F (40 °C) – it becomes difficult for the body to cool itself. This can lead to dehydration, exhaustion, dizziness, and other problems in the body – and often, even death.

During danger days, people are at risk of sunstroke and heat exhaustion, and physical activity or extended time outdoors could even lead to heat stroke. The combination of high heat and humidity poses serious risks to many people, especially infants and young children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

The Paris Agreement was passed with no objections in 2015 by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, bringing to an end four years of discussions and debates.

Nearly 200 nations adopted the global pact, calling on the world to collectively cut and then eliminate greenhouse gas pollution – but imposing no sanctions on countries that don’t.

Countries that signed the 31-page document will be expected to work towards limiting global warming to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2C) above pre-industrial levels.

 

Source: The Guardian

Buhari Travels To Morocco For Climate Change Conference

President Muhammadu Buhari will attend the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22, in Marrakech, Morocco, from November 14-16, 2016.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said Buhari would participate in the official opening plenary on November 15 where he would deliver a national statement during the High Level Segment of COP 22.

The statement said the presidential address would highlight, among other key issues, Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and policy actions aimed at tackling climate change through environmental sustainable efforts.

It also said Buhari would use the occasion of his speech to rally international support for the clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta and the resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin.

“While in Marrakech, the President is scheduled to attend the Africa Day Commemoration at COP 22 with the theme, ‘Moving from Commitments to Action with Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and African Renewable Energy Initiative’”, the statement added.

Adesina said Buhari would also attend the Summit of African Heads of State on the sidelines of the Climate Change conference.

COP 22, which will be attended by representatives from 197 countries including world leaders, environment ministers, government officials as well as a wide range of representatives from civil society and the private sector, is the first meeting of State Parties since the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement on November 4, 2016.

The legally binding international Agreement on climate change, among others, addresses issues of global warming, including its impact on food security and agriculture.

Buhari signed the Paris Agreement on September 22, 2016 at the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Credit: thisdaylive

Buhari Signs Paris Pact On Climate Change

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, saying it demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to the global effort to reverse its effects.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement yesterday, quoted Buhari as  saying this while addressing the opening of the meeting on “Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development” in New York, co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the side events of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said President Buhari had shortly before the event, signed the Paris agreement where he committed Nigeria to reducing green house gas emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent, in line with Nigeria’s nationally determined contributions.
The president described the pact as historic and expressed confidence that with support from development partners, Nigeria would meet the defined targets.
He promised to ensure the ratification of the Paris agreement before the 22nd Conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016.
Credit: dailytrust

Climate Change: Nigeria Submits Its INDC To UNFCCC – Presidency

Nigeria has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to address climate change to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 

This followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the exercise on Nov. 26.

 

This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

 

He said that Nigeria’s INDC was approved by the President and submitted to the UNFCCC on Nov. 28, ahead of Monday’s opening in Paris of the UN Climate Change conference, widely known as COP 21.

 

It stated that the Federal Government’s policy to address climate change, as espoused in the country’s INDC, committed to 20 per cent unconditional and 45 per cent conditional Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission reduction post 2020.

 

According to the statement, the action plan announced by the Federal Government represents a fair and meaningful contribution to address climate change.

 

It said that the plan also reaffirmed President Buhari’s commitment to an economic transformation which placed inclusive, green growth as key priority for his administration.

“President Buhari is fully aware of the acute threat that climate change poses to Nigeria’s development through flooding, desertification and insecurity, and many of these accrue from weather-related natural disasters,’’ it added.

The statement said while in Paris, President Buhari would participate in a meeting on Lake Chad’s current depletion, which had become a cause of international concern.

The meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Summit of Heads of State and Government, which the President would attend with Nigeria’s delegation, is slated for Dec. 1.

The Lake Chad is currently less than 10 per cent of its original size and little of the remaining waters is in Nigeria.

About 11.7 million of an estimated 20 million people that lived on the Lake Chad Basin as at 2013 were in the North Eastern region of Nigeria.

Also during the conference in Paris, President Buhari is scheduled to participate in the launching of International Solar Alliance by the Indian Prime Minister and the French President.

The statement said that President Buhari would also seek international partnerships to deliver Nigeria’s climate change response.

 

 

(NAN)

Buhari, 150 World Leaders At Opening Day Of Climate Change Conference In Paris

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday left Malta for Paris where he will present Nigeria’s statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to begin in the French capital today.

President Buhari had last Thursday left Abuja for Malta where he participated in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting which ended yesterday.

He was scheduled to join about 150 other world leaders today at the Leaders Event on the opening day of the climate change conference to be hosted by President Francois Hollande of France and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon.

Buhari was also billed to participate in a summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic which has been scheduled to take place on December 2 in Paris on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.

Deliberations at the Paris meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic will focus mainly on the war against Boko Haram and other security issues of common interest to participating countries.

President Buhari was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed and the National Security Adviser, retired Major-General Babagana Monguno.

Credit: DailyTrust

Buhari Departs To Malta Tomorrow For Commonwealth Summit & UN Climate Change Conference

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Thursday for Malta to participate in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which begins on Friday.

The Commonwealth is made up of Britain, Nigeria and 51 other countries that work together to pursue common goals and promote development, democracy, peace, security and good governance.

President Buhari and other Heads of State and Government, who will be in the Island nation for this year’s summit, are expected to deliberate on fresh Commonwealth initiatives on development and climate change with a view to adding greater value to ongoing global efforts in these areas.

At the summit, a new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, who will take over from the incumbent, Kamalesh Sharma, will be announced.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Participate In The Climate Games Nigeria Competition And Win Cash And Prizes Worth N150,000

The Climate Games Nigeria competition is organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation and is open to all interested persons.

The competition is aimed at inspiring young Nigerians to discuss climate change and adaptation solutions as they affect them in their lives as the Global Climate Talks tagged COP21 takes place in Paris, France from 30th November to 6th December, creating a debate that links the global climate talks to Nigerian reality.

To participate, individuals should send in an entry of a short story (1000 words maximum), short video (3 minutes maximum) or a picture story that shows the effect of climate change in their environment around any of these four themes:

  1. Flooding
  2. Desertification
  3. Erosion
  4. Gas flaring

The winner of the competition wins an all-expenses paid trip to participate in and speak at the Abuja Climate March on 30th November, 2015, have their entry published on the website of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and win a cash prize of N50,000.

The more creative and informative your entry is, the higher your chances of winning.

The competition runs from 10th – 22nd November, 2015.

All entries should be sent to climategames@ng.boell.org

For more details, call 0809 990 5175 or visit https://www.facebook.com/Climate-Games-Nigeria-178977505778082/

What PMB Will Be Discussing In New Delhi

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Tuesday for New Delhi to participate in the 3rd Summit of the India-Africa Forum.

This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The statement read: “President Buhari, the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi and other participating Heads of State and Government at this year’s summit, which follows the 2nd Summit held in Addis Ababa in 2011, will deliberate on issues currently of common concern to their countries such as climate change and international terrorism”.

They are also expected to discuss “additional measures aimed at boosting joint collaboration to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development in Africa and India as well as further cooperation for the alleviation of poverty, and the eradication of hunger, disease and illiteracy”.

“President Buhari will be accompanied to New Delhi by the Governors of Kano and Delta States, the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Defence, Power, Communications Technology, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Investment”, the statement read.

Credit: ChannelsTV