In the climate debate, the media must be at the forefront of the narrative change, particularly in telling Africa’s sustainability stories, says Dr. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, the regional director, West Africa at Ford Foundation.
She made the remark while delivering a keynote address at the maiden edition of Sahara Group‘s Asharami Square; an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability through effective advocacy, stressing that such media narratives shouldn’t focus primarily on Africa reducing carbon emissions, rather holding all ‘entities’ responsible for responsive actions towards better climate sustainability.
Recall, the year 2023 is on record as the hottest year since global records began in 1850 and 1.18 Celsius above the 20th century average of 13.9 degrees Celsius.
Scientists report humanity has drastically cut carbon emissions before damage to the Earth is irreversible.
“And to do that we’re required to transition from our over reliance on fossil fuel to energy for energy is a cleaner, greener energy.
“In Africa, we have to pay higher taxes based on this. We need to shift the narrative; Africa, you know, should not be dictated to and will use its natural resources because everybody else uses it to develop. We have to use some fossil fuel and we’re going to develop at our own pace.
“The second narrative is the one that focuses on reducing carbon emissions. The challenge with the first narrative is that unfortunately, because of the transactional nature of our government and private sector, we don’t produce what we need.
“And so whether we like it or not, if the world decides that, you know, fossil fuels are not going to be there anymore, Africa will not be able to continue to produce it because we don’t produce the same amount.
“So the technology comes from the West and if they say that it’s done, that’s it. So that argument is unfortunately dead on arrival.
“The second argument of focusing on carbon emission, which is what I was going to rely on, really, is that, you know, Africa should join the bandwagon…but I argue that even for the whole world is focusing on reducing carbon emission which shouldn’t be made a priority for Africa because Africa’s contribution to carbon emission is about 4%.
“Some studies would say 2.6% with average emissions per person is only 0.8. Nigeria is about 0.2% of carbon dioxide per year compared to the global average of 4.8.
“Well, in the rest of the world, each is producing about 4.8. You will agree with me that if the world was at 4%, there’ll be no energy transition campaign, rather the world will be congratulating itself”, she said.
Dr. Aniagolu-Okoye, noted that Africa contributing very little to climate change does not mean that climate change does not affect Africa, or that Africa doesn’t have to do anything about climate change.
“On the country, the continent is experiencing the consequences of climate change, just like everyplace else, crops are failing. The weather is changing; water is drying up and so forth.
“Nonetheless, the challenge of energy transition for Africa is more of a justice issue. And our narrative should be to identify and highlight these justice issues, which are hardly making it into the international conversation about transition.
“For me, therefore, the climate change and energy transition narrative in Africa should be around three main issues with Justice question, resilience and adaptation, and participating in the green economy sector”, she said.
The keynote speakers urged the media to highlight the ecological and devastations faced by Africa as part of the climate conversation.
“And then ensure these companies are held accountable for the environmental damage they have caused, as part of the conversations on mitigation. So I’m not against divestment, but I’m saying like under the belly of divestment you know, is an African story.
“And the African story is a story of communities being devastated. So when companies divest from onshore for the Niger Delta, who pays that price, and why is that conversation not getting into the climate conversation? Why is it a different type of conversation?
“Climate change solutions include embracing solar and wind generated electricity to end our dependence on fossil fuels.
“We cannot afford to replicate the Niger Delta, environmental and ecological tragedy across the nations in search of transitional minerals.
They also have to be extracted. So in West Africa, we’re technically not transitioning, because we’re moving from fossil fuel extraction to the extraction of green minerals; cobalt, lithium, and graphite.
“And if care is not taken the same challenges a community is faced with fossil fuel production, extraction, environmental pollution, conflict, community exploitation, and so on, will replicate.
“Again, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t exploit our natural resources, but I’m saying that the consequences of exploitation for Africa go beyond the economic question. There is a cost justice question. There is a community question and most times we are not highlighting that especially with a climate conversation, because we are not paying attention to what are our issues, we must bear in mind that in most resource dependent economies like Nigeria, extraction and industrialization have a long history related to colonial dominance and slavery.
While commending Sahara Group for instituting Asharami Square, she called on other organisations to enumerate the group by taking actions required to drive and address climate change.
“Therefore partnerships across different stakeholders, government private sector communities CSR and media is important and of course, getting our political, traditional and faith based leaders at all levels, local, state and national levels to be committed to climate change initiatives and policies is also critical,” Aniagolu-Okoye, said.
Earlier, Bethel Obioma, head, Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, said Asharami Square aims to support media organisations and journalists covering these issues through capacity building programs.
According to him, “This would help journalists achieve a clearer understanding of the issues and empower the media to play the critical role of monitoring, agenda-setting, transparent reporting, awareness creation and galvanising collective action from the public on how best to approach the subject-matter of sustainability”.
Themed ‘Carbon Footprint and the African Narrative’, Asharami Square featured speakers from the energy and media sector, including, Foluso Sobanjo, Head, Downstream Africa, Sahara Group; Ejiro Gray; Bethel Obioma; Wole Ajeigbe, Group Projects Manager, Asharami Energy (A Sahara Group Upstream Company); ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Regional Director, West Africa, Ford Foundation; Ogochukwu Onyelucheya, Chief Commercial Officer, Ikeja Electric; Prof. Sunday Adebisi, Professor of Entrepreneurship Hub & Strategic Management, University of Lagos; Dr. Marcel Mbamalu, CEO Newstide Publications Limited; Mokhtar Bounour, CEO Egbin Power Plc and Eugene O. Itua, CEO Natural Eco Capital.
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