Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has been urged to assist the State secure up to $20 million in climate change adaptation funds during his tenure.
Climate experts, under the aegis of Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development Outreach (PASDO), made the appeal during an outreach to commemorate the World Environment Day tagged, “Only one earth”.
Addressing reporters in Awka, the group’s Organising Secretary, Chidimma Uwakwe, said the exercise was targeted at drawing Soludo’s attention and to prevail on him to take climate change adaptation seriously.
She said the adaptation funds were funds developing countries could access to assist them tackle impacts of climate change in their areas.
According to her: “It is sad that Anambra State suffers the worst impacts of climate change in Nigeria and Africa, but doesn’t make efforts to access the international climate change adaptation funds to help it tackle the problems.
Delivering the lecture titled: “Harnessing adaptation funds for tackling climate change effects in Anambra State”, a climate change expert, Elochukwu Ezenekwe regretted the negative impacts of climate change across most government ministries in the state.
“We encourage the Governor to set a target of securing up to $20million in climate change adaptation funds for people of the State during his tenure. He should not be scared to set an ambitious target and challenge the experts to work,” he said.
He pledged volunteering his expertise acquired through years of handling climate change-related assignments for several international organizations, including the world’s largest climate change research body, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu agreed with the experts on the need for the State to go after such opportunities.
He said: “I know about climate change. It is something that is affecting everyone and it is a big issue internationally. We have a Climate Change Desk in the Ministry and I have had several discussions with the staff.
“But this is the first time I am hearing about the Adaptation Funds. I didn’t know such funds exist but I will like to make my own investigations.
“We need to change from being passive, from waiting for these things to come to us; we need to start going after these funds and opportunities wherever they are.”
