Climate Change: Uduaghan Blames It On Modern Technologies

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has decried the rise in effect of industrialization on the environment as well as the near neglect of superannuated technologies.

According to him, the effect which has taken its negative toll on the global climate is as a result of disinterest by the developed countries.

Speaking on Monday, April 29, 2013 in Asaba when he received a delegation of climate change experts who were on study tour of the state, the Governor said the State was committed to issues of the environment and the climate.

He said a situation where most outdated and harmful technologies end up in Africa and other developing countries especially, Nigeria was not acceptable, disclosing that it was one of the reasons his administration banned commercial motor cycles popularly called Okada in major cities of the state.

“Technologies that are not environmental friendly are brought to Africa,” Governor Uduaghan said, adding, that most of the equipment that were brought from the Far East were not friendly to the environment.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (2nd left), Mrs Felicia Adun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment (1st left), Mrs Denise Welch, Climate Finance Consultant, R 20 Regions of Climate Action and Prof. Rosemary Okoh during the TACC Team sensitization visit to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in Asaba.

“There are countries that are committed to industrialization but how they industrialize does not matter to them, hence our resolve to do everything to protect and preserve our environment.

“In Delta State, we are taking the issues of climate change in different strides, we are taking the issues of advocacy seriously at different communities, especially the issue of slash and burn.”

He disclosed that communities in the state were being made to understand that what they burn in their farms can be turned to manure and used to make their soil more fertile.

Head of the Delta State Climate Change team, Mrs Felicia Adum said the Territorial Approach to Climate Change (TACC) seeks to aid vulnerable communities on the impact of climate change to enable them adjust and engage in environment-friendly actions.

Climate change experts, including Dennis Welch, Prof. Rosemary Okoh observed that it was important to protect the environment and reduce gas emission to the environment, adding that it was advantageous to walk than use of vehicles.