The Senator Ademola Adeleke-led government in Osun State has said work is progressing on its first Climate Action Plan which would provide a guide for public, private businesses, and households on actions needed to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Commenting on the plan by the state governor, Ademola Adeleke’s administration in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Saturday, the Consultant to the state governor on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development, Chinwe Obuaku, said the document would also assist in protecting the environment from negative effects of climate change.
Obuaku also said work commenced on the plan in the year 2023 with the governor’s creation of an Advisory Council and the state’s representation at COP28, adding that the plan would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for adoption by November 2025.
Obuaku further noted that work done on the action plan during the 24-month drafting process includes; broad research using the best available science, extensive public engagement, and strategic problem-solving to develop a plan that reflects various state priorities and values, and meets the state’s emissions commitments.
She added that the Office of the Consultant in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change within the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation would organise and prioritize a range of actions and policies that would help the state climate goals align with other states and national plans, and build on the long history of stewardship the state has already demonstrated over the past few decades.
The statement reads in part, “Osun state’s Climate Action Plan is currently in the developmental stage. It is a document that guides the government, businesses, and households on actions needed to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect our environment.
“We have started with some Early Actions and need lots of participation from the people of Osun State. Current campaigns include; the Osun State Climate Challenge; and the Campus Recycling Initiative; among others.”
In August 2023, the Senior Special Assistant to Adeleke on Climate Change, Moruf Adedapo, described the state’s climate change agenda as compatible with national and international best practices to mitigate the ravaging impact of climate change in the state.
Speaking after a visit to the headquarters of the National Council on Climate Change in Abuja, Adedapo commended Adeleke’s foresight and advanced understanding of the climate crisis even before he took over the leadership of the state.
Credit: punchng.com
