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Although the country has not fully stopped its gas flaring, which occurs in the course of oil production, Nigeria does not belong to the internationally recognized “Climate Sinners”. Its CO2 emissions are relatively low.
Yet Nigeria is likely to become a victim of Climate Change: The North faces desertification and the South flooding. Internal migration would apart from ethnical conflicts intensify conflicts about resources and property rights. Pathogens could spread more easily and poverty would most likely further increase.
The consciousness for these possible scenarios barely exists for now. In a 2-days conference we bring together stakeholders from different socio-political areas to work out strategies for Nigeria. Apart from socio-economic, economic and political consequences of Climate Change, Nigeria’s own contribution will be discussed in the three panels. Especially alternative energies could play a substantial role for the further development of the country. Nigeria’s energy supply is completely insufficient. Hence, the missing capacities could be provided in an ecologically sensible manner from the very first beginning.
To do so, the state will also have to intervene with stronger regulations.
The Minister of Environement, H.E. Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia will open the conference. Nnimmo Bassey will give closing remarks. He received in 2010 the “Alternative Nobel Prize” for documenting the environmental consequences of Nigeria’s oil wealth.
This conference constitutes the beginning of a new focus area of KAS in Nigeria, which will be deepened in following events.