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… Urges Rivers Govt to assent to Soot Bill
By Paul Williams
As people in over 150 countries marked the World Environment Day on 5 June 2022, the Rivers Network of NGOs RINNGOS/CEDSI Nigeria has stressed that “collective action” is necessary to “create the transformative environmental change we need, so we can advance to a more sustainable and just Earth, where everyone can flourish.”
In a release signed by its chair and chief operations officer, Prof Magnus Chidi and Dr Mina Ogbanga respectively, RINNGOS noted that the World Environment Day is a platform for inspiring positive attitude and behavior towards a cleaner and healthier Earth.
According to Prof Chidi and Dr Ogbanga, “World Environment Day is the biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually since 1973, the event has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach, with millions of people from across the world engaging to protect the planet.
“World Environment Day is a global platform for inspiring positive change. With over 150 countries participating, this UN international day engages governments, businesses, civil society, schools, celebrities, cities and communities, raising awareness and celebrating environmental action.”
They noted that individuals can be drivers of change through their businesses and actions, while pointing out RINNGOS’ activities and achievements in relation to theglobal celebration.
Prof Chidi and Dr Ogbanga said “Rivers State Civil Societies are not left out as with support from the European Union Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation and the British Council, RINNGOS is implementing the Climate Action for Sustainability and Environmental Protection-CASE. This comes as a direct response to addressing Climate Change Impact.
They noted that citizens and residents of Rivers State have been exposed to alarming impact of Climate Change especially, concentrations of black soot that compromise their respiratory health, especially pregnant women, children and the elderly.
“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution constitutes the largest among all of the environmental risks; 3 million annual deaths are associated with outdoor air pollution exposure.
“Studies show that the magnitude of black soot in Rivers State is causing loss of livelihood, principally fishing and farming which are the predominant occupations in the state. Black soot has adverse effect on health, causing underlining illness that escalates the severity of COVID-19 infection. Children, pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk of these infections.
“That climate change is a real and undeniable threat to Rivers State in particular and entire civilization in general could not be over-emphasised.
“Today, the story is different as with support from the EU-ACT, British Council in collaboration with the Rivers Network of NGOs (RINNGOS) and the implementing partner Centre for Development Support Initiatives (CEDSI), a transformative change is taking place to restoring our earth.
“Indeed, with nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day 2022, wants us all to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action.
“While our individual consumption choices do make a difference, it is collective action that will create the transformative environmental change we need, so we can advance to a more sustainable and just Earth, where everyone can flourish.
“We call on the Rivers State Government to assent to the River State Soot Bill to bring Sucour to citizens,” they said.
Prof Chidi and Dr Ogbanga stressed that the goal of CASE project “is to combat climate change and its impact, strengthen resilience, climate literacy and advocacy amongst children and youths in Rivers State
“The purpose of this project is to increase support for and the participation of CSO’s,
CBO’s and youths to accelerate action in tackling the most pressing environmental problems e.g. air pollution, inadequate knowledge and skills in environmental protection.
“The expected change for this project includes but not limited to improved availability and use of empirical baseline climate change data, improved climate literacy, improved skills building and gender mainstreaming, more participatory and meaningful stakeholder engagement on environment, improved peer learning and mentorship opportunities and platform, increased youth knowledge in advocacy and club governance and improved advocacy skills and more importantly improved participation of youths as Environmental Champions to support project thematic sustainability. A network of these clubs will be registered under the Club17africa initiatives,” they said.
Prof Chidi and Dr Ogbanga said the project has been delivered through various means such as: Strategic baseline survey for empirical data done in 14 locations; 720 club members inaugurated as direct beneficiaries; 240 peer educators empowered; 12,000 youths reached; 1 Zero-soot-app launched; 24 club coordinators strengthened with IEC and resources to sustain the clubs and design, development and production of gender responsive climate change pack done to aid climate and environmental education.
Other means include the conduction of several high level training of trainers to build capacity of women, PWDs, youths and communities; conduction of environmental education, peer education and learning to support peer education for 240 exco members; legislative advocacy commenced in earnest; 240 club excos and members trained on advocacy and leadership; establishment of environmental clubs in schools and out of school in 14 locations of Ogu, Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor LGAs; design and launch of Climate change advocacy plan on strategic and design and deployment of the Zero-soot-app.
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