Youths Hold Climate Caravan Walk In Ibadan, Demand Justice, Compensation For Africa
Mosope Kehinde
Some youths in Ibadan have demanded climate justice for Africa and Nigeria in particular, calling on developed countries to make immediate compensations for their contributions to the effect of climate change.
The youths who took to the streets of Ibadan, from UI gate through Bodija-Ashi Junction also demanded the immediate implementation of COP28 climate change conference promises, access to climate finance by vulnerable communities, cancellation of debt burden used to address climate crises, grants, and immediate climate action.
One of them, Miss Jumoke Omodeni, Executive Director, Eco Science Generation Initiative advocated the need for wealthy developed countries to strenghten climate resillience for vulnerable communities, citing recent droughts, floods, hunger and displacement in Nigeria as some of the effects of the menace.
She said “this is not the time for talks, not the time for papers, we need actions, we need climate justice and climate financing for the sustainable development of our communities across africa. The signs are there and climate crises keep affecting our communities, we cannot adapt to the consequences of climate change and we are not asking for loans, we need grants because you cannot give loans to someone that is already suffering from climate change.”
Also speaking, a climate change enthusiat, Mr. James Alabi and a renewable energy advocate Mr. Adeyemi Adebisi of the Climate Solutions Limited who believed that addressing the impact of climate change is a collective responsibility said it was unfortunate that africa is negatively affected by the climate change largely created by developed countries, hence the need for proper climate finance for the continent.
“Africa constitutes less than 20 percent of the emission in the global world, and that is why countries that are contributing to the emission are to be compelled to contribute to financing mitigation measures, especially in Africa, because climate does not know who is contributing more or not, we can see the effect, excessive temperature rise, ocean rise which has led to flood as we see in different part of Nigeria.
Earlier, the convener and climate youth ambassador, Ojuoluwa Oluwatobilola who explained that said Africa has suffered enough with the effect of climate change, challenged policy makers attending the coming COP 29 to negotiate well for African continent and make climate action demands
Mosope Kehinde reports that others who spoke at the advocacy walk tagged “Ibadan Climate Caravan Walk, Climate Justice For Africa” emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than mere advocacy, urging strategies that enhance climate adaptation for developing countries.
