Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has advocated a frontline role for subnational governments in the fight against climate change even as he defended the commendable records of his government in that sector.
Governor Adeleke who made the observations on Monday while hosting a delegation of the Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network in Osogbo said state governments in Nigeria are at different levels of reactions and actions on the climate challenge.
The governor also advised that rating states must start with a benchmark analysis of their peculiarities.
The governor, who further posited that states must be fully engaged in the review process beyond desk research, called for direct interactions between reviewers and state desk officers to correctly assess developments in each state.
Expanding on his government activities in the field of climate change, he advocated for a renewed focus on the subnational governments in the fight against climate change.
“It is time for all stakeholders to accept the pivotal role of subnational governments in the climate war. The present focus on international and national platforms can not produce the desired results.
“Climate change is local as politics is local. The climate crisis is manifesting directly on the ground across the grassroots of the global world. Actions to remedy the situation should be redirected to the local level. That is the only way to halt the growing climate rupture.”
Governor Adeleke who revealed that his administration is developing a carbon finance template to ensure the state benefits from the new world of carbon credit asserted that his government is a green government pursuing a robust climate change agenda.
Also speaking at the event, state consultant on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof Chinwe Obuaku rejected the recent rating of Osun on climate change.
She posited that publishing the outcome without engaging the state is a wrong methodology.
Wondering how a review can be conducted without calling for submissions and direct involvement of those being rated in the review process, Prof Obuaku emphasised that most of the headings for the review did not take into account the reality that most states are starting on different grounds on the climate war.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network, Dr Adedoyin Adeleke, applauded the deep interest of the governor in the climate struggle.
“We are here to commend the state government for its plans and programs in the field of climate change. We seek partnership and collaboration with the state for the implementation of innovative climate projects,” Dr Adedoyin posited.