The second global climate summit summoned by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California will take off September 30th – October 2nd. The ramification of climate change is real and the world community must be organized and pro-active to tackle the effects and impacts of the climate change. At this rudimentary stage, the impact of the climate change might be minimal but continent of Africa is being impacted sternly. Africa is most vulnerable due to lack of leadership and resource to hold back the abnormalities that the climate change and global warming are introducing to the continent. Therefore it becomes imperative that African leaders and concerned institutions will participate on this forthcoming summit at California.
Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) promotes and advocates among other things, a sustainable green environment in Africa. Afripol organization is grateful to the Governor Schwarzenegger and other US governors for convening this important summit and inviting Nigerian governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. The Nigerian governor Uduaghan has been a credible voice on the peril of global warming, environmental degradation and gas flaring in his native land Nigeria. The dynamic governor came from the Delta region that has been experiencing turmoil and unrest including environmental degradation and immense oil spill on the ecosystem. Governor Udughan participation at forthcoming summit was well received in his region and Nigeria.
Emeka Chiakwelu, principal policy strategist at Afripol welcomed the participation of Africans at summit particularly on the invitation of the Nigerian Governor: " There must be a sense of urgency in Africa and Nigeria on global warming and effects and impacts of climate change. This summit is quite essential and important to Africa, for it can become a source of information and ideas especially brainstorming needed to tackle the perils of climate change in the continent. In some parts of Africa including southern Africa and northern Sudan there is drought and destruction of crops. Some rivers are dwindling in volume and seasonal weathers have become unpredictable. With deforestation raging across Africa compounded with encroachment of desert the picture is not very good. Therefore the global climate summit have become a must attend summit for African leaders, decision and policy makers and bureaucrats".
Gideon Nylan, an expert on political economy of developing nations at Afripol emphasized the disastrous effects of climate change on the waters of Africa: "The detrimental impact on the environment and the bodies of water in west Africa have been enormous. We know that body of water is cyclical thus feeding into one another, therefore as one body dries up it also impacts on the other. The shrinking river Niger, lake Chad, and others have affected the lives of millions of Africans who depend on these bodies of water for survival – for food (fishing), drinking and cooking. Other activities associated with water including laundry, construction, and commerce(livestock) are affected. The adverse impact of these dying rivers also create conflict among people as they move from drying rivers to another competing for space and livelihood".
Vincent Ogboi, a senior fellow and econometric expert at Afripol noted the significance of Africa’s participation at the summit: "Africa entrance into the global climate change debate at this time is a welcome development. This is strategic thinking on Africa’s part and especially developing nations like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and a few other forward thinking nations in the continent. It is our hope that African representation at the forthcoming global climate change conference holding at California is down payment that Africa must make in order to reap the immense benefit that Africa’s future development will bring. The summit can be success if the mistakes of the past and the negative environmental impact on the global can be avoided or at least minimized. Africa’s young and dynamic leaders like the Governor from Nigeria , Dr Uduaghan who will be speaking at the conference should be encouraged for their foresight and vision.
Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa. www.afripol.org
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