Delta State and climate change-induced threats

Governments all over the world have fully woken up to the reality of a world under threat. All kinds of threats exist, mostly human-induced. Some may argue that the biggest threat to advancement of modern society is terrorism. Valid as it may sound, however, it is important not to undermine threats occasioned by the abuse of the environment and the resultant effects of climate change which is even indirectly linked as one of the causes of terrorism.

During the administration of Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State emerged as first and only state in Nigeria, at the time, to develop and launch a comprehensive climate change policy and framework of action to mitigate climate change’s growing negative impacts in the state. It is important to highlight that Delta State is one of the most volatile coastal regions with some worsening levels of ecological hazards in sub-Saharan Africa. These policy initiatives were expected to set in motion efforts towards ensuring a steady evolution of an environmentally friendly clean energy and a green economy that would see the state emerge as one of the most proactive and ‘smart state’ in Nigeria, and indeed Africa, within few years.

The government of Uduaghan was also in the frontline in promoting the vision of a Delta State beyond oil which was linked to the government’s determination to reduce the state’s continued over-dependence on oil as primary and only major source of revenue. It was also intended to indirectly, on a medium-to-long-term basis, offer some breather from the overwhelming degradation of the environment which is a fallout of years of oil exploration and environmental negligence by the big multinationals aided by their local collaborators.

Niger Delta region of Nigeria is characterized by lowlands with most of the delta being less than 6m above sea level, making the region very much exposed to rise in sea level. The abundant rivers, creeks and streams expose the region to adverse environmental negative impacts with significant flooding resulting from inland surface waters and the boundary coastal shelf. Food production has been adversely hit by the recurring climate change-induced flooding in most parts of Delta State.

Tracing back to its early days, oil exploration in Niger-Delta has been on for nearly 50 years without any corresponding effort to clean up or renew the environment and for this reason the region has become one of the most degraded and endangered in the world. Bear this in mind that the oil and gas industry is the most vibrant industry in Nigeria and it contributes over 85 percent of total income of the country, yet there is no corresponding growth, with regard to fiscal and physical development, in this region that produces the wealth of the nation.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on environmental degradation in Nigeria’s oil-rich but infrastructure-poor Niger Delta region exposes not only the highest levels of neglect and abandonment but (un)conscious abuse of the very resources and the environment that ultimately decides the fate of all human beings within its remote or immediate influence. There are yet to be concrete response action to clean up oil spillage in the region amidst unending blame game going on among key stakeholders.

With the recent events of dwindling crude our revenue due largely to dipping demand for crude by international buyers, the situation will become worse as the federal government revenue source is strongly weakened, demanding much more of accountability and probity. And with a government led by a frugal President Muhammad Buhari, it will require a robust thinking and strategic action to manage the implications of falling revenue allocations.

The commitment of Delta State towards addressing many of the environmental challenges facing the state through a well thought-out policy and enabling laws is very expedient. It is on record that the previous government led by Uduaghan, who is a co-founder of R20, a coalition of 50 sub-regional leaders and governors from around the world with the goal to develop policy instrument and response actions towards addressing climate change and other environmental problems globally, started off on some good notes and high promises and expectations, but failed to actualize many of its lofty ambitions as far as mitigating the impacts of climate change was concerned in Delta State. It all ended as talk-talk without much action to back it up.

The new government led by Ifeanyi Okowa has its task very well defined. The government must begin by acknowledging that climate change is a serious global problem that cannot be ignored.

The government must institute a policy framework with the objective of reducing the vulnerability of the local communities to the anticipated impact of climate change and also develop a low carbon and climate resilient economy. Governor Okowa should recognize that the devastating impact of climate change on all human systems were seen in the ravaging and unprecedented floods, which had hit the world in recent times, including extreme weather situations such as heat waves, typhoon and tsunamis hence the state should further collaborate with relevant agencies and especially the UNDP, with respect to an initiative referred to as Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC) which was signed on to by the previous government.

The TACC is part of a partnership between the UN and sub-national governments for fostering climate-friendly development at the sub-national level. The partnership which is a collaborative effort involving UNDP, UNEP and eight associations of regions was signed in December 2009 between Delta State and UNDP as part of efforts to tackle environmental devastation arising from climate change. It is reasoned that being an oil and gas producing state, Delta State is well positioned to seize opportunities from climate change mitigation actions. And at the same time, being a coastal state, it is particularly vulnerable to sea water rise and therefore has to develop a strategy to analyze the present and future vulnerability of the state.

Delta State anticipated that the partnership with UN through TACC will assist the state government in developing capacity to assess the level of environmental damage caused by oil pollution and rising sea level. The goal of the initiators, at the time, was that the TACC project would support the integration of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures into sustainable development planning and programming in developing countries like Nigeria.

Not only is Delta State under threat from the heavy negative impact and consequences of climate change, the state may certainly lose huge revenues in the future toward solving social and economic problems that will arise from climate change-related crises. It is hoped that the Ifeanyi Okowa government will take the bull by its horn in launching a robust action plan toward mitigating the growing impact of climate change by initiating and fine-tuning new and existing policies and laws relating to the environment in Delta State. It is a collective wish that the Okowa administration will be able to demonstrate the sufficient level of zeal, energy and commitment required by paying urgent attention to climate change-related issues as it is with other countries and regional governments facing the same level of threats as Delta State.

Victor Ikem