Editor
By Fatima Saka
As the 29th Conference of the Parties draws nearer, Susty Vibes in collaboration with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has organized a Pre-COP 29 Stakeholders gathering to strategize Nigeria’s priorities.
The Pre-COP29 Stakeholders gathering, focused on climate finance and guiding journalists on reporting, brought together more than sixty journalists, leaders of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and advocates to lay the groundwork for Nigeria’s climate action narrative leading up to COP29 in Azerbaijan.
During the recent Pre-COP29 Stakeholders gathering in Abuja, Daniel Oladoja, the country lead of Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), urged journalists and civil society organizations to proactively engage with delegates from Nigeria.
He stressed the importance of moving beyond mere lamentations after each COP, highlighting the necessity of providing a platform that empowers the most vulnerable members of society to shape the discourse that will influence the outcomes of this COP.
“The objective here is to convene both the influencers and creators of narratives in one space, with the aim of fostering collaboration and constructing a clear framework for Nigeria’s participation at COP29.
“This year’s COP serves as a poignant reminder of the imperative for unity, especially in a world rife with conflicts.
“The message is unequivocal: we must either triumph collectively or face defeat individually, hence the imperative to collaborate and coalesce towards crafting the future we desire, commencing from this juncture, commencing from our nation.
“From the spectrum of energy transition to adaptation and mitigation, financial resources are indispensable, underscored as the primary deliverable for this COP. We must not falter in devising strategies to facilitate the flow of funds to Nigerians.
“Therefore, as we engage and exchange ideas tonight, let us do so with a mindset geared towards collective thinking, collective building, and collective victory for the sake of our planet’s future, and most significantly, for Nigeria, as solidarity commences at home.”
Abdulkareem Mojeed, Climate Change correspondent with Premium Times, highlighted the significance of incorporating human-centric angles in journalists’ coverage of climate change and environmental issues, urging them to hold the government accountable for matters related to climate change without waiting for catastrophic events to prompt action.
The gathering also featured a panel discussion, “Navigating COP29: Strategizing Nigeria’s priorities for COP29”.
