Federal Ministry of Environment Sensitizes Media on COP 19

[The InfoStrides]

Nigeria as one of the participating countries to the Global Climate Change Conference coming up in Warsaw Poland from 11th to 22nd November, 2013, has, as part of its preparation by the Federal Ministry of Environment, held a one-day round table interactive forum for the Media with the theme "Strengthening Media Capacity on Climate Change Reporting/Communication" at Gombe Jewel Hotel, 29th October, 2013 in Abuja.

  The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Environment, Taiye Haruna, represented by the acting Director, Climate Change Department, Dr. S.A. Adejuwon, in his opening remarks said the meeting became imperative to bring together members of the press and Media on climate change with the aim of getting acquainted with them and to also provide opportunity for in-depth review of issues for negotiation at COP-19 Conference in Warsaw which is the major objective of the round table meeting.   He said, the meeting will avail the opportunity to evolve and articulate Nigeria's position giving the present environmental and political circumstance and share responsibilities to participating delegates on the issues to be considered during COP-19.  The overall goal therefore, is to ensure that the Media as stakeholders in Nigeria are well acquainted on the issue of Climate Change which is expected to be articulated and harmonized are incorporated in the regional and global decisions.   The Permanent Secretary recalled that the COP-18 which focused on ensuring the implementation of agreements at the previous conferences also included amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to establish its second commitment period, having been launched at first commitment period (CMP1) in 2005, Ad-hoc Working Group on Long term Corporative Action (ANG-LCA) and negotiations under the Bali Action Plan were also terminated at the conference.   He expressed disappointment that Nigeria even though a developing country lack ambition in the outcome on the part of the Annex 1 countries mitigation and finance commitment and however, acknowledged that the conference had paved way for a new phase focusing on the implementations under the ANG-LCP and AWG-LCA, and advancing negotiations under the ad-hoc working Group on Durban Platform (ADP).   He further said that the key elements of the outcome also included agreement to consider Loss and Damage "such as" institutional mechanism to address loss and damage in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.   Mr. Haruna said, Nigeria's participation at COP-19 will not only enable the nation ensure that our concerns as a developing country and an oil producing nation are effectively guided and presented but will further assist to strengthen existing partnerships/network and establish other appropriate ones to move us forward.   He further said that the meeting will create the opportunity to tackle issues including the effect of social Media on development of small scale adaptation projects for local communities and the politics of climate change especially at the concluded COP-18 and also said the prospects for the upcoming COP-19 which negotiations are centered on the successful agreement to be reached, the Press and the Media will be on the forefront.          While welcoming the participants, the Acting Director, Climate  Change Department, Dr. S.A. Adejuwon, said the meeting is to update participants on some activities lined up towards attendance and participation of Nigeria in the upcoming COP-19 taking place in Warsaw-Poland. He said the Ministry has set up a planning committee to undertake some of the activities. The committee he said, has commenced work by holding an inter ministerial meeting on climate change consisting of relevant MDA's, academia and NGO's and has also undertaken training of home negotiators to familiarize and refresh  them with all the strategies needed to be put in place during the participation in Warsaw.           He said meeting the Media as is the practice, is to refresh their memory about their role in covering the activities both at home and if opportune to, cover internationally.          The Director appreciated comments made by the participants and promised that more light will be shed after the COP-19 after which the Media and other participants must have gathered experiences from the conference.          Commenting on their expectations, participants in their various views sought to know the role Nigeria is playing during the COP-19 and what we stand to benefit, others stressed the need for proper awareness and understanding of issues relating to climate change especially in the grass roots while others asked for collaboration between the Media and negotiators at home before going for the Conference.