IYD: NGO advocates investment in youth capacity devt on climate action

IYD " >The Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative, an NGO, has advocated for investment in youth capacity development for climate actions in Edo.
Mr Israel Orekha, the Executive Director of the initiative, made the call on Friday in Benin during a policy dialogue for intergenerational solidarity on climate change.

The dialogue was organised by the NGZO to commemorate the 2022 International Youth Day (IYD).

Orekha noted that it has now become a necessity for the stakeholders to engage and collectively strategise to address environmental issues.

He, however, expressed worry that there was a gap in the capacity of the youth to mitigate climate change despite the urgent need to address the issue.

“Edo State like other states in Nigeria is currently threatened by climate change with growing evidences resulting into extreme temperature that results to excessive heat, decline in annual rainfall and flood, amongst others
“The unpredictable weather conditions, air polutions, energy poverty, frequent flooding incidence have further widened the poverty gap in the country.

Jonathan Lawani the state Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability lauded the initiative for engaging the youth on solidarity to protect the environment " >“This is now undermining the state contribution to both local and national development including the wellbeing of the people,” he said.

The executive director explained that the dialogue was convened to bring together the youth and other key stakeholders to discuss the vulnerability of Edo in relation to threat on environmental issues and balance up by developing realistic mitigation plan for young people that best suit the state.

Mr Jonathan Lawani, the state Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, lauded the initiative for engaging the youth on solidarity to protect the environment.

The youth, Lawani said, must wake up to be responsible to the environment, policy and politics as climate change was real, practical and affecting everybody.

“Life is about balancing.

Allowing carbon dioxide to override oxygen due to emissions is a threat to our lives.

Babawale Obayanju of Creative Lead called for the adoption of circular economy model as against the linear model that was constituting to climate change in the world " >“The havoc caused by our forebears where they went into the bush, cut trees for cooking, is what is responsible for climate change today.

“Youth must therefore be ready to play a critical role to protect the environment for ourselves and the coming generations,” he said.

NAN " >In his presentation, Mr Babawale Obayanju of Creative Lead called for the adoption of circular economy model as against the linear model that was constituting to climate change in the world.

Circular economy, he said, involved production and consumption which shared, leased, repaired, refurbished and recycled existing materials and product as long as possible as against the linear where just 8.6 per cent get recycled and used again.

NewsSourceCredit: NAN