Nigeria is fourth in the world’s most climate vulnerable countries, with Lagos ranking 10 most vulnerable cities in the world since 2014, the German Missions in Nigeria said Wednesday.
Nigeria is followed among the top 10 by Haiti, Bangladesh, Senegal and Sudan. Philippines tops the list, with Cambodia, Vietnam in the second and third positions respectively.
The Mission stated: “With global waste growth predicted to increase by 70 percent in 2050 per the World Bank and the Sub-Sahara region, one of the ‘hot spots’ that is likely to experience severe impacts of climate change, there is urgent need for actions across board to realise the goals of the Paris climate accord.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Maria Yetano Roche from Wuppertal Institute, Germany, said during a waste management seminar in Lagos: “The impact of climate change is no longer distant as many often think.
“It has arrived in Nigeria with substantial evidence spread across the six geographical zones, ranging from flooding, rising sea and temperature levels, and food insecurity, among others.
“There is need for the adoption of domestic and industrial biogas technologies with link to agriculture and rural development: data, access to finance, awareness, and skills.
“The waste sector should be included in 2019 revision of Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs: build skills on keeping inventory of waste emissions and identify mitigation options.”
She said Nigeria should capture higher-value, employment-generating opportunities for collection, reuse and recycling of waste.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Deputy Consul General of Germany in Lagos, Alexandra Herr, said: “There is a connection between efficient waste management and climate protection. It’s not always something that people think about, it is a reality. This is why we are harping on this.”
She stated that Berlin was committed to promoting dialogues, awareness and engagements with stakeholders and local players active in the Nigerian waste sector to ensure a safer environment for all.
Other experts at the seminar also identified sustainable and resourceful waste management systems as veritable tools to mitigate the effect of climate change in Nigeria.
