Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of ladies affairs, has disclosed that 80 p.c of ladies and youngsters are affected by local weather change globally, underscoring the urgency for focused interventions.
The minister referred to as for elevated investments in ladies and youngsters to deal with the influence of local weather change on these weak teams.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim acknowledged this on the ongoing United Nations Conference to Fight Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Highlighting the important position of ladies in international meals programs, the Minister famous that ladies account for 70 p.c of meals processing and 60 p.c of smallholder farmers worldwide.
“Given their important contributions, empowering ladies to take part in land restoration and sustainable practices is important,” she mentioned.
The drew consideration to the well being dangers ladies face resulting from reliance on conventional cooking strategies. “Analysis reveals {that a} girl utilizing wooden or charcoal for cooking inhales the equal of 40 cigarette sticks per meal, which poses extreme well being dangers and shortens life expectancy,” she acknowledged.
She additional identified that Nigerian ladies make up over 50 p.c of the inhabitants and are answerable for 70 p.c of agricultural actions, making them key stakeholders within the inexperienced economic system. “With their numbers and willingness to adapt, ladies are well-positioned to harness alternatives within the inexperienced economic system,” she mentioned.
The minister additionally elaborated on the extreme socio-economic penalties of land degradation and desertification throughout Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. She highlighted the challenges within the Northeast, the place local weather change exacerbates battle within the Lake Chad Basin, displacing tens of millions and growing the dangers of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), compelled marriages, and disrupted schooling for girls and youngsters.
Within the Northwest, increasing desertification undermines agriculture and water sources, whereas within the South, notably the Niger Delta, rising sea ranges, coastal erosion, and flooding devastate communities.
The Southeast continues to grapple with gully erosion, which has displaced 1000’s and precipitated important financial losses.
Commending the Nigerian authorities’s local weather initiatives, Sulaiman-Ibrahim praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for enacting the Local weather Change Act, establishing the Nationwide Council on Local weather Change (NCCC), and launching the Power Transition Plan.
She additionally highlighted the latest unveiling of Nigeria’s Nationally Decided Contributions (NDC) Implementation Framework for 2023–2030, aimed toward mitigating local weather change via innovation and adaptation.
The minister emphasised the significance of the Local weather Gender Coverage in strengthening ladies’s roles in local weather motion. “Empowering ladies to take part in local weather motion catalyses revolutionary options and builds group resilience,” she remarked.
She urged worldwide organisations and growth companions to offer ladies with the instruments and platforms wanted to drive options to local weather change. “If we’re to reverse the results of local weather change, ladies should be on the forefront, driving sustainable options to attain the related Sustainable Growth Objectives,” she concluded.
The UNCCD COP16, hosted in Riyadh, continues to deliver international leaders and stakeholders collectively to deal with urgent environmental challenges, with Nigeria’s participation highlighting its dedication to combating desertification and selling inclusive local weather motion.