Some women groups have taken to the streets in Kaduna metropolis to demand climate justice for women and affirmative representation at the 28th edition of the UN Climate Chance Conference.
The rally is organized ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, also referred to as the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), scheduled to hold from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The women from different parts of the state staged the street rally on Thursday, from the Ahmadu Bello Stadium through Ahmadu Bello Way to Leventis Underpass.
The women, dressed in green, proceeded to Yakubu Gowon Way, passed through Independence Way and Constitution Road and then back to the Gymnasium Hall of the stadium.
The rally was organized by the Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE), with support from the Global Fund for Women.
The founder and Programme Director of WISE, Mrs. Olanike Olugboji-Daramola, explained after the rally that the goal was to ask for climate justice for women and affirmative representation at COP 28.
Olugboji-Daramola pointed out that so many people were not well informed about the terrible impact of climate change on communities.
She also said that many residents do not know anything about COP.
“So, we are out today to create awareness about the conference of parties, create awareness about climate change, and call for climate justice for women.
“Because I have heard so many leaders say that women are the most impacted by the effects of climate change and that they are the first responders, but sadly, at the decision-making table, their voices are missing.
“So, we are out today to call for leaders—world leaders, national leaders, and leaders at all levels—to take cognisance of the fact that women need to be heard.
“The concerns of women need to be heard, as they concern climate change, because so many women are still using firewood to cook.
“It is one of the greatest causes of deforestation, and nobody is asking the women, What do you need? What alternatives are there?” she said.
She insisted that women needed to be visible in driving solutions, creating solutions, and whatever was possible, adding that women were the custodians of the future generation and should be carried along.
The programme director said that WISE had been building capacities and putting resources in the hands of women to drive solutions to climate change under different programmes and interventions.
“For example, we have the COVID-19 and Climate Resilience programme that focus on repositioning women at the frontlines of driving climate change solutions.
“We are raising their capacities in planting trees, producing briquettes, and offering them green microfinance, where we put resources in their hands so that they can establish clean businesses, among other interventions,” she said.
One of the women, Mrs. Hannatu Biniyat, who would be 70 years old in five days, called on policymakers to include women in the discussions to find lasting solutions to climate change.
Biniyat explained that women were the most affected by climate change and, as such, should be given a voice when deciding on what climate action to take.
Similarly, Mrs. Larai Bako equally stressed the need to carry women along in the planning and implementation of climate change programmes in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.
Responding, The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Kaduna State, Mr. Abubakar Buba commended WISE for mobilizing women to advocate for climate justice for women.
Buba pledged the government’s continued support to ensure the active participation of women in climate change programmes and interventions.
“The actions taken by these women are very encouraging. We will be there for them, we will support them, we will support climate action, and we will support climate justice for women.
“This is going to be part of the message we are taking to COP 28 in Dubai,” he said.
The commissioner said that the state’s climate policy was 90 percent complete, adding that the government had also created green economic zones to reduce carbon emissions and promote a green environment.
He said that the goal was to build a greener state with less carbon emissions and be part of the global community in the fight against climate change.
“These policies and programs are very sensitive to women because they are the bedrock for any development anywhere in the world.
“Kaduna State has a population of over 10 million, and half of the population are women, and these women are the ones responsible for taking care of the homes and children.
“So, we cannot afford to hand over a bad weather condition to our unborn children,” the commissioner said.
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We need affirmative representation of women and girls in decision making.