The recently concluded COP 28 in Dubai has continued to generate concerns among environmental activists in Nigeria.
At a recent conference in Abuja, key actors in the sector are of the opinion that Nigeria’s participation at the event was a mere futility as most of the decisions reached may likely end up in the archives without being implemented.
At a collequim organized by Social Action and CAPPA, one of the lead speakers, Nnimmo Bassey holds the opinion that when Nigeria talks about fossil fuel, it remains only as academic exercise without efforts at its implementation.
He said, COP 28 has three significant accomplishments, around each are bubbles of uncertainties and loopholes.
According to him, ” after kicking and screening for decades, cop has agreed to acknowledge that burning of fossil fuels must end as it leaves an ocean- wide space for industries to keep prospecting for, and extracting resources”.
He said the wordsmiths of the forum play with imaginary of the world and argues that it is time to wake up to the fact.
Bassey further maintains that the outcome of the forum gave options on how to phase out fossil fuels.
However, in his lead address, Isaac Osuoka, argues that COP 28 made slow advancement and reprised the challenge previous cops in not adequately facing the dangers that are obvious. He also said the call for the transition from fossil fuels in energy systems but failed to make an explicit commitment to phase them out.
He said, however in financing, the UAE announced a significant amount for global climate solutions, aiming to catalyze further investments, to assist lower income countries with climate induced loss and damage.
On the whole, the conference calls for sincerity among government functionaries in the handling of matters concerning the environment.