SIGN THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD NOW

I have read the contributions of three staff of the Internationa Center for
Environment Energy and Development(ICEED) namely Precious Osamede,
Iregbu Kalu and Uloma Onuma in the environment columns of the Daily Trust
under various captions in connection with climate change mitigation advocacy.
I run an NGO in Benue State that is involved in climate change mitigation
advocacy and sensitization, and therefore the articles immediately captured my
interest and I wish to send my reactions to your Paper for publication as
feedback.
I beg to disagree with Precious Osamede’s opinion discouraging the
Nigerian Government from signing the Copenhagen Accord. Precious is
apparently oblivious of the antecedents of the Copenhagen Accord. The
Copenhagen Accord stands out as a more ambitious climate change
agreement which is expected to succeed the Kyoto Protocol which expires in
2012 baring any renewal. Precious Osamede may be reminded that the
Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Accord are climate change mitigation
treaties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) which Nigeria is a signatory. among other 154 nations that
signed the treaty in June, 1992. The Kyoto Protocol which came into force in
February 2005 was also ratified by Nigeria among 184 other parties. The
Kyoto Protocol and the Copenhagen Accord are both international
agreements linked to the United Nations Framework convention on Climate
Change which Nigeria is a signatory to.
The significance of the Copenhagen Accord is born out of the “thinking that
The Kyoto Protocol is generally seen as an important first step towards a
truly global emission reduction regime that will stabilize GHG emissions,
and provides the essential architecture for any future international agreement
on climate change. By the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol in 2012, a new international framework needs to have been
negotiated and ratified that can deliver stringent emission reductions”
It is therefore my considered opinion that it will be unwise at this critical
stage for Nigeria to renege on its commitment to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change by refusing to sign and
becoming a convention party to the Copenhagen Accord. Perhaps
Osamede’s fears are expressed in Iregbu Kalu;s article where he says ‘The
Copenhagen Accord did not produce the desired results for Nigeria’. But let
us be reminded that these treaties do not carry any legally binding
commitments. Besides, Nigeria is neither an Annex I nor Annex II group of
countries that have committed themselves to specific reduction limits in their
greenhouse gas emissions limits. The UNFCCC treaty itself has not yet set
greenhouse emission restrictions on developing countries so what’s the risk
or threat to Nigeria if the Accord is signed now?
The approach to Nigeria’s commitment on climate change mitigation is
captured in Uloma Onuma’s article captioned “Domestic action now”. The
government should not procrastinate on mitigation action if it intends to
draw down on the international carbon funds. But Nigeria is still a far cry
away from developing a national mitigation policy. What is urgently needed
now is for the country to hasten legislation setting out emission standards for
any form of technology that is using fossil fuel.
This should apply to manufacturing industries, automobiles, generators and
other machinery. And of course the campaign against gas flaring and
deforestation should be intensified through appropriate legislation. The
enactment of strong legislation to back mitigation campaigns is the sure way
of expressing commitment to climate change mitigation.

John T.Chen

(CHAIRMAN VOLUNTEER CARE TRUST FOUNDATION)