“Up to 40% of the planet’s land is degraded, directly affecting half of the world’s population.” UN Convention to Combat Desertification
“The number and duration of droughts has increased by 29% since 2000 – without urgent action, droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world's population by 2050.” UN Convention to Combat Desertification
In Nigeria, Children Parliament requested State Government to Include Climate Science Education into School Curriculum to Combat Environment Crisis in the country.
ABUJA, 5th JUNE 2024: While the global community commemorates World Environment Day, children continue to suffer the most from the effects of climate crisis, such as drought, flood, erosion, crop failure and desertification, - that in turn threatens the quality and quantity of food production, decreases the nutritional value of staple crops due to higher carbon dioxide concentrations and contribute to dire food insecurity and chronic rates of malnutrition for children.
The commemoration of World Environment Day 2024 focuses on land restoration, halting desertification and building drought resilience under the global theme, “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.”
In Nigeria, the Katsina State Children’s Parliament, during their recent sitting, has called upon the State government to design strategies and plans, including the inclusion of climate science education into the school curriculum, to address the increasing threats of environmental degradation to present and future generations.
The Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Zanna Sunoma, Deputy Speaker, Nigerian National Children’s Parliament, on his part, has called upon policy and decision-makers, “the government and stakeholders, restore our lands and build resilience against desertification and drought. The actions we take today will determine the legacy we leave for the future generations.”
The evidence paints a grim picture. Global warming is on the rise. We are already witnessing disruption in weather patterns that is exposing many communities, farmers and pastoralists, to displacement. In the coming years, rainfall variability is projected to increase, and extreme weather events will persist.
Duncan Harvey, Country Director, Save the Children International in Nigeria, said “The world is at a crossroad. Climate change is aggravating the state of the environment in myriad ways and impacting negatively on the human society, including children. The central message of this year’s World Environment Day resonates our collective agency to restore our planet. In this regard, Save the Children is campaigning for and with children to call for urgent action on the climate crisis as well as inequality to create a safe, healthy and happy future for all children.”
For Save the Children, “the climate crisis is a child rights crisis. The climate crisis is a grave threat to children’s survival, development, learning, protection and their other rights. Therefore, without addressing the climate crisis, we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and progress towards realizing children’s rights in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989) and/or the Child Rights Act (2003)” added the Country Director.
At the national and subnational levels, the Government of Nigeria has initiated and is implementing policies and programs towards addressing challenges related to climate crisis. Those federal and state governments initiatives need to be backed by strong state systems and sustained financial arrangements in order to restore the land, confront desertification, and build resilience to drought so that no more children will suffer from the current effects of climate crisis.
Besides government-led action, it is imperative for all community members to act against environmental degradation and work towards climate and biodiversity targets. Land restoration is essential to avert food and water crises, migration, conflict, and economic losses caused by ecosystem decline. This will ultimately lead to positive and lasting benefits for Nigerian children, particularly those from poor and vulnerable households.
SCI Nigeria recognizes the growing negative impacts of environmental degradation on children, the most deprived and marginalized people, thus reducing opportunities for children to survive, learn and be protected. Everybody has a shared responsibility to protect the environment, hence, we call upon all concerned stakeholders and individuals to develop a culture of responsible behaviour in protecting the planet Earth.
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About Save the Children
Established over 100 years ago, Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Nigeria and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. Save the Children delivers lasting results for millions of children, including those who are hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future that we share. Save the Children operates in over 120 countries worldwide and has been working in Nigeria since 2001.
For further information, please contact: Mogbonjubade Adesulure; Digital Media and Communication Specialist; Save the Children International Nigeria; Email: Mogbonjubade.Adesulure@savethechildren.org; Tele. +234 7069219642
