The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Edo State Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (ICCC) to complement the government’s efforts at protecting the environment and mitigating the negative impact of climate change.
Obaseki, while inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Benin City, said the team, which is drawn from the government’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) will help reduce the negative impacts of climate change across different sectors, including agriculture, forestry, power, transportation, and waste management, among others.
The governor, represented the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani said, “Our state is now poised to take very strategic steps in fighting against the negative impacts of climate change by first taking inventory of GHG Emissions across the state which is normally termed Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs).
“Necessary and possible mitigation measures are to be put in place through emissions reduction strategies and creating an adaptation action plan to protect the vulnerable population exposed to the negative impact of climate change.”
“It is clear that climate change brings about damaging and irrecoverable effects on infrastructure, food production and water supplies as well as precipitating natural resource conflicts, which makes it a critical challenge that must be responded to by any emerging economy seeking to attain sustainable growth and development in this present world,” he added.
Obaseki further noted, “It is expected that there would be capacity building to enhance the level of knowledge and understanding of the members of the committee on various issues concerning climate change so as to improve the quality of deliverables to be obtained from the committee.”
On his part, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, an expert on environmental issues, hailed the governor for his administration’s commitment to ensuring environmental sustainability, adding, “l must commend Mr. Governor for his developmental strides in the state. What you are doing today is a landmark. There is nothing we can do to separate climate change from our development, rather we must accept the fact that climate change is a reality and has come to stay. What we can do is to mitigate it.”