CSOs, Experts Push For Climate Adaptation

• Experts and civil groups call for shift to adaptation from mitigation at National Council on Women’s Affairs in Calabar
• Dr. Saadatu Umar Baba emphasizes need for increased funding in climate adaptation to address vulnerability in Africa

Experts and civil society groups have urged the federal government and stakeholders to shift their focus from mitigation to adaptation.

The decision was made at the 23rd National Council on Women’s Affairs in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.

A civil society coalition led by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) made the position known during a panel discussion organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Nigeria’s readiness to mobilize resources for climate adaptation for women in the agricultural sector and economic empowerment.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Saadatu Umar Baba of Kaduna State University’s Faculty of Environmental Sciences stated that Africa and Nigeria’s focus on climate mitigation remains the wrong priority because both the continent and the country produce only a small amount of global emissions but suffer significant damage from climate change as a result of developed countries’ actions.

Although Africa strikes a better balance between adaptation and mitigation than other regions, mitigation accounted for 49 percent of climate finance flows, followed by 39 percent for adaptation and 12 percent for dual benefits. This contrasts with other regions globally, where adaptation represents only 7–16 percent of total climate finance.

Accordingly, this is a positive trend, given that Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change, yet funding for both adaptation and mitigation must increase by at least six and 13 times, respectively, if the continent is to make any significant progress, she said.

She urged the federal and state governments to invest more in climate adaptation by funding the necessary national adaptation framework, which will define the country’s approach to its national adaptation process and serve as a reference point for bringing various adaptation strategies from various sectors together for decision-making.