Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has advocated subnational governments to play a frontline role in the fight against climate change.
He said state governments in Nigeria are at different levels of reaction and action on the climate challenge, advising that rating states must start with a benchmark analysis of their peculiarities.
The governor, who made the observations while hosting a delegation of the Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network, posited that states must be fully engaged in the review process beyond desk research and called for direct interactions between reviewers and state desk officers to assess developments in each state correctly.
Expatiating on his government activities in the field of climate change, Adeleke advocated for a renewed focus on the subnational governments in the fight against climate change.
Also speaking at the event, state consultant on Climate Change and Renewable Energy Prof Chinwe Obuaku rejected Osun’s recent rating on climate change, positing that publishing the outcome without engaging the state is the wrong methodology.
The carbon finance expert wondered how the review could be conducted without calling for submissions and direct involvement of those being rated in the review process.
She emphasised that most of the review’s headings did not consider that most states start from different positions on the climate war.
Earlier, the executive secretary of Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network, Dr Adedoyin Adeleke, noted that his group has watched the state government’s activities in climate adaptation and resilience, assuring that they are prepared for a long-term partnership with the Osun State government.
