Civil Society Organisations in Port Harcourt, on Friday, September 15, 2023, took to the streets to mark the global climate action. The uniform National Climate March which happens in 10 other locations was championed by the Urban Tree Revival Initiative.
Port Harcourt Climate March
The Port Harcourt group led by Sustainable Actions for Nature in partnership with other organisations – Paradigm Initiative for Green Development, Right Minds Leaders Network, YALI Network, Rivers State Hub, etc. – had its awareness activity in Rivers State University and its environs.
According to Dr Grace Alawa, Executive Director of Sustainable Actions for Nature, the Climate Awareness March aimed “to educate the common man on the
impact of climate change in our environment, call out the government to keep to its commitment – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – of keeping temperatures below 1.5 degrees centigrade, as well as demand climate justice from Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOCs) regarding loss and damage and payment of climate finance debt. As a State, we’re constantly living with the stark realities of pollution in our environment caused by the use of fossil fuel; gas flaring, soot, illegal refineries, etc that have resulted in an increase of respiratory illnesses from newborns to older people, kidney and lung diseases, reduced fertility rates, etc.”
The Message…
Some of the awareness materials carried messages like: “We all have a responsibility towards ensuring a safe and sustainable environment”, “Climate Change Isn’t Coming, it’s Already Here”, “Invest in Low Carbon Emission”, Education not Extinction”, “Protect our Wetlands”, “Protect Mother Earth, There is No Planet B”, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, etc.
Dr Alawa further stressed that “as stakeholders, we’re constantly concerned about the state of the environment and the future of our children.”
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