Stakeholders call for effective enforcement of Climate Change Act

Some stakeholders have canvassed for the support of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), non- governmental organizations and others for initiatives to drive Climate Change Act effective enforcement and engender sustainability.

They made the advocacy at the American Business Council (ABC) and Lagos Business School (LBS) Sustainability Law Review with the theme: “Pathway to Implementation for a Successful Energy Transition”. The event held in Lagos state.

The former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Climate Change Act to provide a framework for Nigeria to achieve climate goals, net zero emissions, long-term social and economic sustainability, and resilience.

Prof. Bankole Sodipo, Senior Partner, G.O. Sodipo and Co., said that effective enforcement of the law was critical to achieving the goals.
Sodipo also emphasised the need for massive trainings for regulators of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to handle the oil and gas sector more effectively.

He urged the OPS, governments and other stakeholders to enlighten Nigerians on best practices to preserve the climate.

“It is commendable that government has passed both bills into law; so, the work ahead is to ensure implementation.
There is need for campaigns, documentaries and movies that break down the impact of climate change on the environment, the country and the world at large.

“There is also need for tax rebates, incentives for people that are compliant to the Climate Change Act, to encourage organisations to adopt sustainability into their operations,” he said.

Ms Damilola Alada, Associate, Bloomfield LP, said that the Climate Change Act served as a mechanism to influence change, show more commitment, give direction and ensure awareness by everyone, of government’s position on sustainability.

She, however, noted that enforcement of both laws could not be left to the government alone.
According to her, everyone with the capacity should take the initiative to actualise the objectives of the laws.

Alada urged that action plans on climate change agenda should be broken down into phases and timelines to achieve desired results.

“There is also need to diversify energy mix in Nigeria to reduce reliance on fuel; there is need to improve investment in technology, develop local capacity and carry more people along. These same regulators are not going to be there by 2060, and the understanding, knowledge and technology need to be shared to carry on the goals and objectives of sustainability,” she said.

Ms Lovelyn Aniekwe, representative of Punuka Attorneys, called for incentives for companies with a carbon capture system and utilisation for gas.

Aniekwe said that capacity development for stakeholders was important to inform them about the laws and help them to know where they were headed with regard to sustainability.

“It is also important to have mechanisms to implement the frameworks in place and begin to ensure that all laws across sectors of the Nigerian economy are climate-proof. Nigeria must also get the judiciary involved, develop a registry, methodology and system that help to track reporting and verification of emissions.

“It is important to begin to guarantee every citizen a right to clean environment by allowing the right kind of investment that shows a shift from fuel to renewable energy, putting in place adaptive measures to drive the transition,” she said.

Mr Oludare Senbore, representative of Aluko and Oyebode LP, said that legal frameworks would facilitate achievement of the goals.
He said that there was the need to create a structure to drive carbon trading and set up a body through which the market could manage gas emissions.

“It is important to begin to guarantee every citizen a right to clean environment by allowing the right kind of investment that shows a shift from fuel to renewable energy, putting in place adaptive measures to drive the transition,” she said.

Mr Oludare Senbore, representative of Aluko and Oyebode LP, said that legal frameworks would facilitate achievement of the goals.

He said that there was the need to create a structure to drive carbon trading and set up a body through which the market could manage gas emissions.

“We must all collaborate on the plan to set up a carbon market. Nigeria, however, needs the right technology base to drive transition, and there is also need for public enlightenment,” he said.

Mrs Margaret Olele, Chief Executive Officer of ABC, said that the council would continue to remain the voice of American businesses in Nigeria and work hard to drive trade between Nigeria and America.

Olele urged the private sector to adopt sustainability practices, harness opportunities in it and collaborate with the public sector and the academia to drive implementation.

Responding, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr Salisu Dahiru, said that plans were underway to decarbonize the Nigerian environment and ensure energy transition.

Dahiru was represented by Mrs Jummai Vandu from the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment.

He said that NCCC was prepared to work with the LBS, ABC and other stakeholders willing to drive energy transition and achieve Nigeria’s climate change agenda.

“Climate change requires strategic partnership, shared solutions and shared interest to drive sustainability. Nigeria is committed to the carbon market, and part of the NCCC mandate is to drive low carbon emission via a carbon trading mechanism.

“We are proposing a carbon chart and emission trading system, and we are ready to partner to ensure it is achieved,” he said.

NAN / Foluke Ibitomi