By Pius Dukor,
Port Harcourt
As environmental experts predicted that some coastal communities in the Niger Delta and other African communities will be submerged by 2030 – 2050 due to the hard climatic conditions from climate change, some community stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations are seeking ways to combat the menace.
The decision was taken at the two days Learning And Sharing Workshop On Impact Of Climate Change As A Cause Of Conflict In Coastal Communities, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital over the weekend.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of Academic Associates Peace Works, Chief Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni explained that the idea of doing a project on the intersection of climate change and sharing workshop on impact of climate change as a cause of conflict in coastal communities is to seek possible ways community can avoid conflict caused by climate change, especially in the Niger Delta.
Dr. Asuni maintained that their work with the militants then prepared them for the peace process of 2016 which eventually led to the creation of the Niger Delta Dialogue.
“This was sponsored by the European Union, chaired by HRM King Alfred Diete Spiff, and facilitated by Amb Nkoyo Toyo, Amb Godknows Igali and myself” she stated.
The Executive Director further explained that their good track record with the European Union (EU) led them to their recommendations to other organisations working on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, while also working with the Italian shipping academy, where they brainstormed on how to address climate change in West Africa.
She stated that her organisation, the Academic Associates Peace Works used its decades of experience in community conflict to see how climate change can impact community dynamics as reports and Handbook have been produced, saying that the workshop is mixed with journalists, academicians, community leaders and Civil Society Organisations that are qualify enough to amplify and excalate the issues relating to climate change and how scare resources can lead to conflict between communities if not properly handled, while urging the participants to use their wealth of knowledge to seeks ways communities can overcome climate change without generating conflict.
In his Presentation on Overview of Climate Change Impact on Coastal Communities, Mr. Raynus Ebiegeri who is the Coordinator of Community Network in Akasa Bayelsa State said that climate change have impacted many people negatively and if the people did not seek solution by 2030-2050 many coastal communities will be wiped away by the negative effects of climate change. ” Many communities will vanish due to flooding arising from climate change, due to deforestation, constant decrease in mangrove vegetation and sand mining” he said.
He told participants that it is the carbon emission and the fussil fuel that is the major contributor to the climate,saying that home grown solutions can help mitigate the impact, since there is increase in global warming.
In his contributions, Isu Menidin, the Project Manager of AAPW, said climate change has caused many conflicts in coastal communities and if not manage it can lead to lost of lives and destruction of properties. He explained that 10 communities where selected with the aim to enhance the resilience of coastal communities.
