The Children’s Parliament has called for more concerted efforts to reduce deforestation, promote reforestation and afforestation, and implement sustainable agricultural practices to enhance carbon sequestration and improve soil health.
It also called for he integration of climate change education into school curricula and community programs to raise awareness about sustainable practices and climate impacts.
The Parliament made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the Climate Action Grand Finale with National Child Parliament Mock Council organised by Save the Children’s Generation Hope Campaign in partnership with Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) to celebrate 2024 World Environment Day.
It also called for the development of robust early warning systems and community-based disaster preparedness strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
Clerk of the National Children’s Parliament, Fatima Umar further urged the active participation of children and youth in climate advocacy and action, empowering them to be leaders in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The Parliament also advocated for expanding renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, improved energy efficiency, and implementing carbon capture and storage technologies
The Parliament added that children should be actively involved in climate strategies, policies, and events, including the upcoming COP29.
On her part, he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Foundation has revealed that it has partnered Katsina State government to plant one million trees in the state, as part of our efforts to tackle desertification.
Its Managing Director, Emmanuella Arukwe said Nigeria, according to the United Nations, has the highest deforestation rate in the world, with an estimated 3.7 per cent of its forest lost every year.
Arukwe added that 15 out of the 36 States, predominantly in the northern part of the country, are affected by desertification and 63.3 per cent of the country’s entire land mass suffers desert encroachment.
She revealed that the Foundation’s plan to mitigate land erosion, desertification and drought by vegetating the environment through aggressive tree planting campaigns and exercises, through collaboration and partnership with various and relevant government agencies.
Arukwe stated: “Our school tree planting campaigns will involve over 500 school children in select parts of the country who will be provided with tree seedlings for planting, which will be carried out simultaneously in the identified schools during the WED events.
“Based on criticality and needs assessment, we have commenced engagements with the Katsina State Government to plant one million trees in the state, as part of our efforts to tackle desertification. We will be embarking on the first phase in July this year.”