Environmentalists from the Niger Delta region have called for a transition away from fossil fuels, citing their devastating effects on both the environment and local communities.
The call was made at the 3rd Annual Niger Delta Climate Change Conference, hosted by the Leadership Initiative for Transformation (Ledef) in Port Harcourt.
The conference brought together experts and activists to discuss potential solutions to the climate crisis.
Ken Henshaw, the Executive Director of ‘We the People,’ delivered the keynote address at the conference, emphasising the complex nature of climate change.
He highlighted that those involved in extracting crude oil and making profits from it are also primary contributors to the problem. Henshaw advocates for a shift away from fossil fuels, stressing the need for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.
Henshaw also called on governments to offer strong support to communities affected by climate change. He underscored the importance of protecting the rights and interests of vulnerable communities, which are often the hardest hit by climate-related disasters.
”One contribution the government needs to make to stop climate change is by creating an economy that is independent of fossil fuels and natural gas, but there’s no attempt because our budget revenue is highly dependent on crude oil,” he said.
A member of the legal team from Leigh Day Solicitors, representing the Bille and Ogale Communities in their claims against Shell, Mr. Anthony Hayward, highlighted the resilience of the Niger Delta people while acknowledging their legal victories and the compensations they have received.
Mr. Hayward emphasised the importance of raising awareness and demanding accountability, advocating for more participation and similar conferences in the Niger Delta.
”Niger Delta people have been resilient to standing up to Shell, and they need more people and conferences like this, mobilising and spreading the word of climate change and demanding accountability,” Hayward said.
The Director of Lekeh Development Foundation and convener of the Niger Delta Climate Change conference, Mr. Friday Barilule, highlighted the importance of the event in fostering peace and solidarity within the Niger Delta.
He also called on governments to establish climate change offices at both the state and local levels to oversee and manage climate change-related crises.
”Though we have the national council of climate change but they need to bring it down to the state and even to the local level, where they have their desk office in each state and local government,” he said.
The conference provided a platform for discussing the impacts of climate change on the Niger Delta and exploring strategies for a sustainable future.
