LAGOS/Nigeria: In anticipation of the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, a groundbreaking initiative, sponsored by the British High Commission (BHC), is underway to fortify the engagement of selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with climate policy.
Three prominent not-for-profit organizations, namely the Centre For 21st Century Issues (C21st), EnviroNews Development Network (Endenet), and the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), have joined forces in this strategic project.
The primary objective is to enhance the communication, lobbying, and advocacy competencies of CSOs committed to climate issues, ensuring their active participation at the global summit.
A joint statement by the CSOs, released to newsmen in Lagos on Saturday, revealed that the COP28, scheduled from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, is the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The BHC-sponsored initiative also aims to establish a harmonized engagement approach for CSOs in their interactions with governments and COP processes. The project seeks to create a robust synergy between CSOs and the government, along with other stakeholders at COP28, to secure optimal outcomes safeguarding Nigeria from the adverse impacts of climate change.
The statement highlighted the project’s plan to conduct a comprehensive scoping study on the involvement and roles of Nigeria’s CSOs in climate change negotiations and UNFCCC processes over the past two years. The findings will be utilized to design capacity-building initiatives, communication plans, and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to enhance joint advocacy and networking towards COP28 and beyond.
Virtual capacity-building and knowledge-sharing sessions, initiated on November 10, are designed to navigate UNFCCC processes, explore various negotiation interests, and crystallize Nigeria’s stance within the African climate change position. The sessions cover a spectrum of topics, including an overview of UNFCCC, climate justice, nationally determined contributions, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Titilope Akosa, Executive Director of C21st, emphasized the significance of the training program, stating, “This timely training program will equip climate-focused CSOs in Nigeria with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of UNFCCC negotiations. By participating in an informed manner, CSOs can effectively contribute to global climate policy discussions.”
The project’s communications plan focuses on campaigns addressing critical negotiation points for Nigeria at COP28, such as adaptation and mitigation priorities, loss and damage, climate finance, and the global stocktake. It aims to disseminate relevant information among CSOs, government officials, and the public before, during, and after COP28.
Moreover, the project will link participants to ongoing processes, including the Technical Committee on Loss and Damage, Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSOC), African Group of Negotiators (AGN), the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), Country BLOCS, and other pertinent climate change processes in Africa.
The statement emphasized the project’s commitment to gender awareness, with a dedicated output focused on implementing gender mainstreaming throughout the initiative’s implementation.
