An environment advocate and the sponsor of Climate Change Bill that later became an Act in the ninth National Assembly, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has urged Nigerians to make efforts to protect their environment to enhance the healthy living of humans.
Onuigbo a member of Governing Board representing South East and the Chairman committee on Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions of North East Development Commission (NEDC) spoke on Wednesday at an event to mark the 2024 World Environment Day Celebration organised by National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in Umudike.
He said the event was designed to encourage communities to take actions towards protecting the environment adding that the objective is to advocate for policy changes and promote environmental policy at local, national and international levels.
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Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives said it is an important day in the life of humans, animals plants seas and lands, applauding the Institute for playing vital role to protect the environment.
“This institute is situated in local government, playing pivotal role in bringing development to this very part of the country
“I recall that during the civil war this institute played a very Important role for the people of the eastern region.
“I also know that I lived on this campus at some point in my life I will like to remember one sad aspect in my life, during the civil war I lost a relative here on this campus that was killed during a fight so for me NRCRI extend to MOAU, government”.
He noted that the theme of this year’s event, “Restoring Nature: Our Path to a Sustainable Future,” which focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience is apt.
“In that part of the country a challenge that has even spread to other part of the nation. Legal frameworks and bylaws on environment and climate change action in Nigeria are generally predicated on the mandate of the United nations environmental program UNEP, United Nations framework convention on climate change UNFCCC and Paris agreements, conventional on biological diversities, United Nation convention to combat desertification, the climate change at 2021, the Nigerian constitution etc”.
Climate change biodiversity and desertification convention were directed outcomes of its summits held in reo de genero in June 1992 populary referred to as the reo triplets “.
He noted that UNEP was given the mandate to “provide leadership , deliver size and develop solution on a wide range of issues including climate change the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystem and green economy development “adding that the UNFCCC which currently has 198 parties (country that belong to the convention) was established by countries to combat dangerous human interference with the climate system.
The conventions main objectives as contained in its article 2 is the “ stabilization of green house gas consecration in the atmosphere at the level that it would prevent dangerous human cost interference with the climate system.
The UNCCD as 197 parties coming about as a direct recommendation of the real conference as the only international legally binding frame work set up to address desertification.
It anchors activities on good governance on sustainable development using the principle of participation, partnership and decentralization, sustainable development code 15 focused on protecting restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem which helps to convert desertification and reverse land degradation and prevent biodiversity loss.
