THE QUEST FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE

FROM THE EDITOR

The search for climate justice has been brought about by the unequal and the inequitable effects of climate change on the vulnerable segments of the world. The reality of climate change is stark and unbearable for the poor and underdeveloped countries. What can be more inequitable than the reality of the countries that have contributed the least to the causes of climate change bearing most of its devastating effects? It should, therefore, go without saying that the countries that have contributed the most to global warming and consequently climate change should also contribute the most in mitigating the effects and also upscaling the adaptive capacities of the most affected countries.

The term climate justice emerged from the wider understanding that concern for the environment includes apprehension for the humans who depend on the environment; whose lives have depended on their interaction with the environment; whose lives are mostly affected by disruptions and volatility in environmental dynamics and unfavourable weather patterns or events.

It could be said that the plight of Africans consequent upon the phenomenon of climate change mainly gave rise to the quest for climate justice. It was in the early 2000s that the concept of climate justice began to be used.

“Africa is responsible for less than 4% of global emissions but suffers disproportionately from climate change.” (UNEP 2022). Despite this, the continent is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its geographical, social, and economic conditions.

“The concept of climate justice highlights the historical injustices that have contributed to the current climate crisis and by extension the continued underdevelopment of most African countries.”

The concept of climate justice highlights the historical injustices that have contributed to the current climate crisis and by extension the continued underdevelopment of most African countries. Industrialized nations have historically emitted the most greenhouse gases, benefiting economically while contributing significantly to global warming. Africa, with its colonial past and underdevelopment, bears the brunt of these emissions despite contributing minimally to the problem. The legacy of transatlantic slave trade and colonialism have battered the psyche of the African; while continued governance deficiencies evident in some aspects of the continent’s leadership only serve to worsen matters. All these have left the African continent weak and lacking in capacity to deal with phenomena such as climate change which intersects with issues of gender, age, and socioeconomic status. Women, children, and the poor are often the most affected by climate impacts. It then goes without saying that policies must be inclusive and consider the needs of these vulnerable underrepresented groups.

The promise made fifteen years ago by the rich and industrialized countries at the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen to provide US$100 billion annually in climate finance by 2020 to help developing countries respond to, and mitigate the effects of, climate change. That promise has still not been fulfilled. It has, instead, continued to be a subject of debate at repeated conferences. This, we have highlighted in previous expositions in Development Agenda. The truth remains that Africa needs resources, including financial support to ensure improved capacity for adaptation to and mitigation of the consequences of climate change.

“While the industrialized nations must fulfill their promises, all hands must be on deck in Africa. Conservation and environmental remediation measures must be taken seriously”

While climate change sticks out like a sore thumb in the injustice that defines modern-day global relations, it remains disheartening that Africa continues to hold the short end of the stick. While the industrialized nations must fulfill their promises, all hands must be on deck in Africa. Nature conservation and environmental remediation measures must be taken more seriously. Good governance and social justice must be promoted while development programmes must be inclusive and take account of the most vulnerable segments of society.

Climate justice in Africa must also aim to spread information and data about the climate debacles to various publics, accentuating the need for upcoming generations to live in ways that avoid the depletion of natural resources and maintain an ecological balance.

Economic Downturn and Uprising in Nigeria

Since the advent of the current administration in Nigeria, the economy in all facets has taken a turn for the worse. This is because the administration right from day one began to take certain bold steps which according to textbooks would bring about growth by fencing off wastages and leakages owing to and as well as institutionalized corruption. The President, on May 29, 2023, the day he was sworn into office, announced the removal of subsidies on petroleum products which have been a burden on successive governments and have been consuming more than 25% of annual government budgets. Subsequently, a raft of tax regimes followed as the local currency, the Naira, was uncaged against international market forces, as it were. Also, multiple foreign exchange regime was abolished by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The impact of these measures was as spontaneous as it was negative. The Naira went on a free fall, plunging in value by more than 100%. Food prices and those of other essential commodities soared as inflation rate stands today at 34.19%. The situation seems dire even as the government continues to renew its promise and hope that the long-term benefits of these drastic economic measures far outweigh the short-term pains.

But these pains are quite excruciating for a largely import-dependent economy. The situation is characterized by food shortages, paucity of input for the manufacturing sector, high cost of energy, divestments of foreign interests, job losses, and emigration of skilled workforce or brain drain. The government has been responding with palliative measures such as food importation, student loans, cash transfers, support for artisans, single-digit loans to manufacturers, an increase in the minimum wage, and measures to reduce fuel prices by incentivizing local refining of petroleum products.

All these have failed to assuage the hunger and anger of the people who took to the streets across the country on August 1, 2024 to protest against economic hardship and bad governance. While it is unfortunate that the protests which the government tried to forestall, spun out of control in some parts of the country and led to dozens of deaths and destruction of private and public property. There were also records of highhandedness on the part of security agencies even when miscreants infiltrated the ranks of the protesters.

…it has become imperative that the government listens to the demands of protesters and continues to do so. The cost of governance must be reduced as well as wastage and ostentation in the affairs of the leadership.

It is important to note that it has become imperative that the government listens to the demands of protesters and should continue to do so. The cost of governance must be reduced as well as other forms of wastages and ostentation in the affairs of the leadership. There must be practical incentivization of productivity and diversification of the economy. Any attempt at mismanaging the situation endangers democracy and the capacity to meet development objectives.