Nguyen, Borno Environment Commissioner and other dignitaries at the occasion
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Chief of Borno Field Office, Phuong Nguyen, has urged for involvement of youth and children in addressing the challenges of climate change.
Nguyen made the call on Tuesday in Maiduguri at the overview of the Borno State Climate Action Plan and commemoration of World Environment Day.
Nguyen noted that more than two-third of Nigeria’s population is below the age of 30, hence engaging the youth and children remain essential in addressing climate risks.
She called for support for the Youth Climate Action in Nigeria (YOU-CAN) programme in leveraging the potentials of youth to drive the campaign against climate change.
“By 2023, we envision a Nigeria where children and youth are effectively engaged in climate change policies and programmes.
“In employing this initiative, specific targets for the first four years (2024-2027) include planting at least one million trees by communities through youth and children’s movement.
“Engaging at least one million young people and community volunteers in climate action and making at least nine towns/LGAs free of plastic waste through dedicated management initiatives,” Nguyen said.
According to her, it would also create employment for at least 500 youths in green jobs, including plastic waste recycling and solar water systems.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Mohammed Kois, reiterated the commitment of Borno Government in the campaign against climate change, saying that the government intended to plant 10 million seedlings.
“We are also reviewing the laws against felling of trees and bush burning to preserve the environment,” Kois said.
Highlight of the occasion is the presentation of the overview of the Borno State Climate Action Plan designed by Borno State Climate Change Coalition who said that the plan when implemented will ensure climate resilience and carbon efficient society by 2030.
