By Shuaib Sadiq
A group, Climate Action Advocates, has called for engagement of citizens in afforestation activities to re generate green environments so as to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The group, comprised of Anvil Research Center and the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day sensitization workshop in Kaduna.
“Afforestation and agroforestry has been identified as the major entry points to combat climate change and its impact on the environment.
“Planting trees as the government of Kaduna State had begun is a step in the right direction that non-state actors can engage,” it said.
The workshop which involved non state actors on environmental sustainability in Kaduna State, advised the state government to return its Department of Forestry, currently in the Ministry of Agriculture, to the Environment Ministry for effectiveness.
The Communique, made available to the News of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday was signed by Dangwa Abbas Danjuma, Jonathan Umaya and Okechukwu Enechi.
It noted that since 2015 when Nigeria signed and committed to combatting climate change, the nation has supported the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals at sub-national levels.
“Currently the State Development Plan of Kaduna State is built around the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The perception of citizens about the SDGs is equally important in accelerating the SDGs especially Climate Action.
“The role of non-state actors in creating and implementing actions has not been properly appreciated which calls for bottom-top approach of achieving the SDGs.
“ In adopting the bottom to top approach, citizens as non-state actors, will inform the creation of policy and implementation of initiatives towards accelerating the SDGs. “
It appealed to governments to accelerate the adoption of the Open Government Partnership at State and Local Governments to enhance transparency, accountability and sustainability of programs.
“It would also serve as available avenues for citizens to engage climate governance and actions as well as other global goals.”
The participants called on the State Government, Department of Forestry and Federal College of Forestry to produce forest seedlings and seeds for non-State actors to obtain and plant in all parts of the state.
They also called to residents of the state to monitor and evaluate government performance on SDGs implementation through various available online platforms created to receive reports of non-State actors’ activities on climate action at sub-national levels.
NAN reports that the session attracted participants from the Federal College of Forestry and Mechanization, Kaduna State Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, that of Agriculture and Forestry, SDGs Department in the state Planning and Budget Commission, as well as health ministry and the media.
Others at the workshop were CSOs, youth groups, various Smallholder farmers and community groups. (NAN)
