Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Civil society groups have begun hunger strikes in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital to demand actions on climate change especially as world leaders and policymakers gather in Abu Dhabi, for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Conference of Parties is an international event where countries, governments and other organizations come together to discuss and take action on climate change, and also review their progress in meeting the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and discuss how to accelerate climate action. COP28 is ongoing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates since November 6-17, 2023.
The hunger strike jointly embarked by YEAC-Nigeria and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre in Port Harcourt on Monday, saw to the peaceful gathering of CSO members at Kaduna Street, D/Line by CFC flyover with banners and placards bearing different inscriptions such as “FG create more awareness on climate change”, “Climate Issues: we want action, we want change”, “Climate Change: not taking action is a big risk”, “We demand action for a cleaner environment.”
Others are, “We demand speedy implementation of renewable energy plans”, “COP28: world leaders address climate issues”, “President Tinubu take action on environmental issues”, “impact of climate change is dangerous”, “illegal refineries contribute to climate change”, “oil companies stop gas flaring, pollution”, “Tinubu stop environmental pollution, stop gas flaring, save the climate.”
Speaking, the Executive Director, of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, YEAC-Nigeria, Mr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said the hunger strike was imperative for the government to address the issue of climate change since President Bola Tinubu was attending COP28.
Fyneface said the hunger strike was a global wave which began on November 1st, 2023, and will continue till December 12th, 2023, adding that since climate change was affecting Nigerians, the government needed to take action that will guarantee a safer environment, health and livelihoods.
He said, “We need a systemic change that will address climate change, we need a comprehensive implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we need a stop to gas flaring that is contributing to climate change, we need a safer environment because the impact of climate change is affecting the people and affecting the environment.
“What we want President Bola Tinubu to do when he gets to the COP28 is to call for the implementation of the document of the Paris Agreement. Nigeria is working towards net zero by the year 2060, this is the time to take action that will lead us to net zero. Nigeria also recently launched the energy transition plan; Mr. President should take steps to address the issue of gas flaring in the Niger Delta. We have been shifting the goalpost against gas flaring and we need to address gas flaring holistically.
“There should also be a stop to environmental pollution. I believe that the residents can put in place policies that will address these issues. Nigeria cannot be polluting and contributing to climate change here and be talking about addressing climate change at the same time. So we are calling for systemic change.”
Also, the Programme Officer of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Ms. Idongesit Smart, lamented that women were the most affected by the impact of climate change like flood, drought, wildfire, pollution, etc.
“The Niger Delta terrain is peculiar and our livelihood, especially that of women depends on the environment. Niger Delta women are mostly fisherwomen and farmers. But if you look at the issues surrounding our environment you will see that women’s livelihoods have been severely destroyed as a result of climate change.
“Constant oil spills pollute the environment and our waters. Women don’t have water to drink because even when they dig boreholes what comes out of it is benzene and women cannot make use of this water and we know that women can’t do without water. We (women) use water to cook, wash and do everything.
“Look at deformed babies everywhere. We have cases of women having constant miscarriages, we see women going into early menopause, and we see that glaucoma is very common among women. All these are as a result of climate change. That is why we have embarked on this hunger strike. If you destroy the environment you have automatically destroyed women because their lives depend on the environment.
“Today, we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he attends the COP28, should address the issue of climate change. We need systemic change, not climate change. If our system changes, automatically the issue of climate change will be addressed.”
For her part, a volunteer with YEAC-Nigeria, Ms Onuoha Oloachi, blamed the rising unemployment and youth restiveness on the impact of climate change and urged the federal government to come up with a sustainable development plan.
“Because of climate change, our youths cannot farm. Most of them would like to stay back in the villages to farm to contribute to the food security of this country and take care of their parents. But because of flooding they have left the rural areas and they are concentrating in the urban areas where they don’t want to be. And because there are no jobs, they become a nuisance, they become area boys, and they become criminals because there is a job for them.
“Climate change has also affected fishing. When you go to the Niger Delta communities, they can no longer fish. So as we go for the COP28, we want our government to give us sustainable development plans. What do they want to do for us, what are their plans for climate change because things are going overboard.”
