Media
and civil society organisations in West Africa have committed themselves to
complement the ongoing efforts of the Ecowas Commission in fighting climate
change through advocacy and awareness creation.
The
business community, too, has promised to play its part by introducing and
strengthening efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas and to
financially support local initiatives to protect the environment.
The
representatives of the media, CSOs and the private sector in West Africa
identified their possible contributions and actions at both regional and
national levels in the fight against climate change after participating in a
three-day seminar on climate change on 13 - 15 July at the Ecowas Commission in
Abuja, Nigeria.
The
three groups of stakeholders were sensitised on the Paris Agreement, an
international agreement committing all signatory countries to a stronger action
in the fight against climate change.
Adopted
in December 2015, the agreement lays the fundamentals of a new global climate
regime committing all countries to showcase their best efforts against climate
change.
At
the end of the three-day forum, the stakeholders, particularly the media and
CSOs, committed themselves to contributing to the sub-regional and national
advocacy to reduce vulnerability and increase adaptation to climate change in
West Africa.
They
also expressed their resolve to embark on resource mobilisation from
climate-related funds such as the Green Climate Fund and the Climate Fund for
wider involvement in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
They
vowed to reinforce the various actions conducted in the region to combat
adverse effects of climate change with emphasis on the implementation of the
Paris Agreement.
The
three-day workshop dealt extensively on climate major issues and challenges
including linkages with the sectors of economic development, international
negotiations on climate change up to the Paris Agreement (and lessons learnt).
The
presentations and interactive sessions helped the participants to deepen their
understanding of the challenges of climate change including the outcomes and
implications of the Paris Agreement.
The
group work and exercises were handy in identifying regional and national
contributions and possible actions to be taken by participating stakeholders in
the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change in West Africa.
The
Ecowas Commission organised the workshop as part of its strategic programmes to
reduce vulnerability and increase adaptation to climate change in West Africa.
The
media, CSOs and the private sector were specifically targeted for the seminar
because of their contributions and facilitation in the success of the
negotiation process that led to the Paris Agreement. Such contributions are still needed for the
ratification and effective implementation of the agreement.
