‘Civil Society and Community Engagements with COP26: Roles, Challenges and Expectations; by Afrihealth Optonet Association

Conference Title: AFRIHEALTH Network's Conference on ‘Civil Society and Community Engagements with COP26: Roles, Challenges and Expectations         

Date:     10/29/2021        

Time:     04:00 p.m.          

Location:              Zoom    

Secretary:           Aina'u Musa Sarai           

Moderator    Prof. Hayaat Gommaa         

               

Introduction/Background            

               

Afrihealth Optonet Association is a community-focused civil society organization [CSOs] network/think-tank of more than 1000 members/partners with interests in the promotion of Health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and achievement/realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the global South. AFRIHEALTH Network and its members are involved in Health [Universal Health Coverage, HIV/AIDS, TB, FP/RH and Malaria - prevention, treatment, impact mitigation, care and support]; Vaccinations/Immunizations; Preventing/Controlling poverty-related Diseases; Nutrition and Food Security; Energy and Environment; and Empowerment, Gender/women empowerment, Good Governance and Human Rights. Incorporated in Nigeria as a not-for-profit, non-religious and non-partisan registered trustees in 2003, AFRIHEALTH uses Partnerships/Collaborations (PPP); Advocacy and Mobilizations; Research/Evidence-Generation (reviews, assessment, oversight, conferences, symposiums, seminars); Capacity Development/Training and Organizational Strengthening; Outreaches/Community Interventions; and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) - called PARCOM Strategy to achieve its objectives; while focusing on rural and poor urban communities, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged populations especially women, children, adolescents and elderly; and exploring the nexus/interlinkages between Health, Energy and Environment – including renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy conservation, climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems; Nutrition and Food Security, and Gender, Good Governance/Democracy and Human Rights. Its target beneficiaries include the poorest of the poor, children/infants and orphans, women, youth/adolescents, vulnerable population/groups and the elderly in rural and urban/suburban communities. Afri-health Optonet Association has a Consultative Status at the United Nations ECOSOC.

 

The primary objective of the conference was to bring together Civil Society and Community Engagements with COP26 Processes, Roles, Decisions and Actions.

 

               

               

Presentation Summary Dr Uzodinma Aderieje chaired the conference. The agenda and attendance are enclosed.

 

The CEO Afrihealth, in his speech reminds all present of the most important Climate conference taking place in Glasgow Scotland from 30th to 31st of October 2021, where world leaders and stakeholders are expected to present plans to cut emissions.

 

The goals of the event are:

•             Eliminating the world COP power plant.

•             Replacing gasoline vehicles with electric models

•             Reaching agreement for wealthy nations to provide $100, 000, 000, 000. support annually in finance and support climate transition in developing nations.

 

The Importance of COP26 will never be overemphasized as mass wildfire, unprecedented flooding, famine and record shattering heat in different parts of the world was witnessed in recent years.

 

The CEO call on all and sundry to look into issues below to provide collective answers from different perspectives especially how they affect us as an  individuals, people in civil society's, people in private sector and our communities.

 

 

Issues of concerns.

 

HOW DO WE:

•             create a global carbon market—in which a country or business could pay for projects that reduce emissions elsewhere and then count those reductions in their own targets (often known as “offsetting”); so called Finalize the Paris rulebook of Article 6 of UNFCCC Scaling up climate finance

•             Develop more robust resilience plans

•             Commit to putting an end to coal

•             Halt deforestation and improve protections for ecosystems

•             Expand electric vehicle adoption

•             Improve collaboration between the public and private sectors

•             Dramatically increase investments in renewable energy, among others

               

Participants Recommendations.

1. Prepare position papers to have one voice

2. CSOs to look into areas of carbon credit, foods prints and scale up climate finances

3. Halt commercial charcoal trades by International bodies.

4. Enlightenment campaigns and sensitization on dangers of deforestation

5. Empowerment as a solution to changing wrong mindset in areas that goes against our environment especially in developing world.

6. Moving out of the board rooms to the actual work on ground.

7. Putting pressures on the government to enforce laws that will protect our animals and wild animals.

8. Increase investment in renewable energy

9. Cooperation between public and private sectors on renewable energy.

10. Adding Deforestation in our curriculum.

11. Substitute wood and kerosene  with clean cook stove.

 

12. Community sensitisation on Climate change

13. Advocacy to the Ministry of education on climate education into the schools curriculum

14. The need to engage wind, hydro, solar energy as alternative sources

15. Sustained awareness raising at the grassroot level.

16. Behavioural Communication Change programmes at the lowest academic level, catching them young.

17. Work closely with the key players who are actually the biggest polluters. 

18. Intensify effort on project plant a tree

19. The restoration of Wetlands and forests with indigenous tree species

20. Advocacy visits to policy makers to get their buy- in and support

21. The policy makers and law enforcement agents to be carried along

22.  Initiate  recycling projects at community level which lead the  ways to help lessen landfill waste, conserve natural resources, save habitats, reduce pollution, cut down on energy consumption.

23. Bring deliberate action we to the table that that will strike a balance between Climate action and community livelihoods

24. Community engagement by structuring of Health and Environment Committees.

25. The  need for sustainability plan to conserve resources.

26. The need to address the issues of migration and shelters for the homeless

 

 

 

 

                               

                               

               

               

 

Challenges                                         

•            

•             Lack of political will

•             Poverty

•             Unemployment

•             Climate finances

•             Illiteracy etc                                       

Conclusions

Afrihealth CSOs COP26 conference focuses on the looming dangers associated  with climate change such as deforestation, climate finances, greenhouse emissions, renewable energy unemployment etc and proffer solutions to addressing them.

 

The conference came to an end with closing remarks from the Secretary Joint TAGs and PAPs Afrihealth Optonent Association.       

                                                                              

Participants:      

1. Dr Uzodinma Adirieje, Chief Executive Officer [CEO] Afrihealth Optonent Association [CSOs Network]

2. Prof Hayaat Gommaa; Focal Person, Family Welfare, Afrihealth Optonet Association [CSOs Network]

3. Aina'u Musa Sarai, Secretary Joint TAGs Forum, Afrihealth Optonet Association [CSOs Network]

4. James Lott, Future Enactment Initiative Liberia.

5. Catherine Kariuku, Kenya

6. Suzanne BILO'O, POWER Cameroon

7. Catherine Etondè, Prèsidente Action-Santè Education, Douala Cameroon

8. Jack Park, TopicQuests Foundation, Southern California USA

9. Anima Sharma, India

10. Zainab Suleiman Muhammad, Youth and Environmental Development Association [YEDA]

11. Ijeoma O. Nweke, Nigeria

12. Akhigbe Amarachukwu Miriam, Help Me To Succeed Foundation Edo State Nigeria.

13. Janet Schempt, Soroptimist Int'l Alaska

14. Bettina Hausmann, San Diego California

15. Olga Djanaeva, Women's Association Alga Kyrgyzstan

16. Comfort Quarshie, Eden Spring of Hope Ghana

17. Mossima Nijie Eddie Frank,  Cameroon

18. Sarbyen Sheni, Education As A Vaccine Nigeria

19. Hussein Kalolo Mwale, Director Save The Community Foundation Malawi

20. Prof. Josephine Alumanah, Caritas University Enugu, Action In Distress [AID] Foundation Nigeria

21. Dr Charles Ukauwa, Public Enlightenment Project Nigeria

22. Monica Mesame, Director Our Health Foundation Cameroon.

23. Haspeck Thanga, Malawi

24. Ogochukwu Okoli, Organization For Social Programmes and Healthcare Nigeria

26. Ayi Okelana, Cleannation Foundation Nigeria

27. Amarachi Brendan-Otuojor, Development Impact Pathfinders Initiative Nigeria

28. Angel Boris Ngono, POWER  Cameroon

29. Nicolas Meylan, Remote Human Help , Universal Basic Telehealth

30. Marsh Kumar Shresta, Kathmandu Nepal

31. Friday Okpanachi Ekpa, Justice For Rural Women and Young People Initiative Nigeria.

32. Mariam,  Tchad

33. Augustine Illimoe, Edo State Nigeria

34. Aimiè Yedenou, Benin

35. Orji Hannah Ezinne, Lagos Nigeria

36. Marion Becker, Germany

37. Temple Bright, Citizens Rights Development Center, Rivers State Nigeria

38. Columbia Tine, Senegal

39. Djibrine Bichara, Young African Leaders Initiative  CHAD

40. Adun Birsan, Education As A Vaccine Nigeria

41. Mustafa Girema, Uganda

42. Carolina Muturi, IBON International Africa, Nairobi Kenya

43. Dr Alexander,  African Cleanup Initiative Nigeria

44. Desmond A. Ntini, Humanitarian Livelihoods Development Trust Zimbabwe

45. Poscovier Vikman, Environmental and Bulugibwansi Board Uganda

46. Uket Bassey

47. Yoila Samari Raymond, Tansana Health and Community Integrated Development Initiative Nigeria

48. Josephine Obinyan, Global Affairs Canada

49. Mopelola Akeji, Evergreen Consumer Advocacy and Safety Initiative Nigeria

50. Dr Mark Ofua, Nigeria

51. Prof Beckie Tagbo, Director Institute of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases University of Nigeria.

52. Alimony Lembo, Togo

53. Imane BELGHITI, Casablanca Morocco.

54. Stella Nabbumba, Climate Change Advisor,  Environmental Activist, Coordinator Mpigi District Farmers Association, Uganda

55. Willy BAWILI CHANDJA, SOCCODERA RDCongo

56. Uzoamaka Uja, ISIAH 58 Care Foundation Nigeria

57. Lanssina TO, Association in l'enfant un Cartable

58. Haspeck Thanga

59. Lucy Dlama Yunana, North East Nigeria

60. Catherine Etondè, TAG member

61. Dr Ibama Asiton-a, TAG member

62. Mrs Toritseju Okanlawon, Vice President Women in Renewable Energy Association Nigeria

63. Houssoube Kakine ONG Zonal CHAD

64. Bella Akhagba, Founder/CEO Bella Foundation For Child And Maternal Care Lagos Nigeria

65. Mossima Nije Frank, ING Local Development and Project Management

66. Michael Kakule Vustapu, CEO Academia Group DRC

67. Rose Kimuyi, The Safe Center Nairobi Kenya.

68. Mercy Barka, Nigeria

69. Hannah Ezinne Orji, Youth Social Media Activist Affiliating with Education As A Vaccine

70. Mopelola Akeju, Nigeria

71. The MBA Chiveya, Centre For Democracy and Peace Advocacy [CDPA] Bulawayo Zimbabwe

72. Leon Ngalamulume Mulamba, National dela Solidaritè Juvenile Pour la Cotoyennetè et le Bien-ètre [SOJUCIB] ONGD RD Congo

73. Lucy Dlama Yunana, Women in The New Nigeria and Youth Empowerment Initiative Borno State Nigeria

74. Paul Kathenge, Rockville Centre For Sustainable Development  Kenya.

75. Idowu Adewale O. Center For Sustainable Development University of Nigeria

76. Adewoyin Adelowo, Greenfaith Organization and Global Youth Biodiversity Network

77. Mariam Okikola, Lagos Nigeria

78. Josephine Obinyan

79. Mariam Adoum

80. Faith Kiema, Kitui Women in Development [KWID] Kenya

81. Faith Mvududu, Lily Blossom Academy Zimbabwe

82. Samuel Adunreke, Executive President Innovea Development Foundation

83. Maria Cristina Weyland Viera, Brazilian Conservative Private Nature Reserve

84. Tahira Ali, Pakistan

85. Diallo Yahya Sadio, President AMDS Mauritania

86. Dr Mark Ofua, WildAid Nigeria

87. Dr Gideon Baah Jnr, Ghana Health Service Ghana

88. Nabia Mborou Herbert, Centrafrique

89. Enyinnaya Okoro, Abia State Polytechnic Aba Nigeria

90. Dr Godwin ASIBOR, Federal University Of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Delta State Nigeria   

91. Isaac Olofi, Justice,  Development and Commission Ijebu-Ode

92. Ehindero Alaba, Centre For Suppor Of Women In Unpaid And Informal Employment In Nigeria [WIIEN]

93. Iboro Adam-Etuk, Willing And Caring Hands Foundation [WICAF]

94. Jacy Kaliti, Ministry  of Health Kenya, Environmental Expert.