A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE AFRICA CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION INITIATIVE

From the

VC’S SUITE

From the Chairman’s

Office

Activity Reports -

News -in -Brief:

- IMPACT SITES EXCURSION:

- Curriculum Review Workshop:

- Research and Policy Symposium:

- Media Engagement:

- Clergy Engagement:

- Training on Development of Materials:

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Contents

Editorial

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Overview ofACCAI-UNN

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CLIMATE CHANGE - Impacts and Responses In Nigeria

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From the DIRECTOR’S DESK

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The TD Winter School: A Participant’s View 16

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Community Focus - Tackling the Amucha Erosion

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- I.A. Madu

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ANTHONIA ACHIKE, Editor-in-Chief Director ACCAI-UNN

EDLYNE ANUGWOM Editor/Activity Lead Member PIC, ACCAI-UNN

SAMUEL OGUNMEFUN Editorial Assistant Programme Assistant ACCAI-UNN

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E d i t o r i a l

Team

Flooding menace in Oyedega, Ibaji in Kogi State

The ACCAI Newsletter is published quarterly by the Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). The Newsletter is part of the current OSF sponsored Initiatives on Climate Change Adaptation in the University.

A road re-paved by erosion in Nanka

Traditional compound wall threatened by gully erosion

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-Chijioke Emenalo

- E. E. Anugwom

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t is my pleasure to welcome you to this maiden edition of the ACCAI-UNN News. IThis quarterly is a publication of the

ACCAI-UNN programme generously sponsored by the Open Society Foundation (OSF) under the Higher Education Support Programme . The ACCAI initiative which exists in a couple of other African countries is a broad response of the innovative OSF to the multi-layered and cha l l eng ing c l ima te change and environmental problems in Africa. However, each of the ACCAI initiatives while anchored on the emergent universal concern with climate change adaptation and sustainable pro-poor development in Africa equally responds to both the institutional character and peculiar national climate change agenda of each participating institution and nation.

Thus, ACCAI-UNN while embodying the excellent research and knowledge transmission cultures of the University of Nigeria also responds broadly to the technical and capacity challenges of climate change adaptation in the country. It is little wonder that the focus of the programme is on collaboration, network building, sensitization and awareness creation through interventions and outreach as well as the building of the requisite technical and social capacities demanded by climate change adaptation at all levels. It would be academic and tedious to make a case for the threat of the environment to mankind which seems to worsen as the days pass by. In

(HESP)

fact, it is no longer a scientific feat to appreciate that the environment has been changing for the worse and challenging both man's knowledge base and capacity to adapt. Back home, a few doubting Thomases were given a rude awakening by the 2012 massive flooding in many parts of Kogi State and beyond caused by the surge of the River Niger and excessive rain fall. Therefore, the discourse on climate change has gone beyond the esoteric past time of a few knowledgeable scholars to become a sina qua non for development in the new age. Perhaps, the countless publications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other fora organized by the same body have helped in reshaping both public consciousness and the response of governments and multi-lateral development agencies to challenges of the environment in general.

Hence, this quarterly Newsletter contributes in no small measure to the growing concern of humanity with the problems of climate change and environmental decay. It is common knowledge amongst the educated public that climate change does not just affect animals, landscapes, trees and other non-human entities but exerts a heavy toll on livelihood, group survival, social security and peace. The ACCAI-NEWS is tailored not only to disseminate the activities of the ACCAI-UNN but to equally raise the awareness of readers to the real issues and challenges of climate change adaptation in Nigeria and even beyond. It is my hope that the quarterly Newsletter performs the above functions and in the best tradition of excellence of the University shows the light and responds to the yearning need for information and knowledge on climate change. I cannot end this short piece without once again saluting the OSF for making both ACCAI-UNN and this quarterly possible and the editorial team at ACCAI-UNN for a commendable job. Happy reading.

Professor B.C. OzumbaVice-Chancellor

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t was a warm yet breezy day and an ACCAI team made up of PIC members, course lecturers and a good number of post graduate I

students were on an excursion to Amucha, Njaba LGA, Imo State. It was some sort of reality check to the erosion ravaged community where in spite of a good number of non-active erosion sites, there were also a reasonable number of still active erosion sites. But really amazing to the team were the obvious threats from the massive erosions; a largely nutrient bare soil which makes farming no longer realistic; and the pollution of the only stream in the community by soil deposits and debris from the gully erosion. As the people themselves recounted, quite a lot of people have relocated in the last couple of years and in one telling case, a family had to relocate to the maternal home of the father. But in spite of the daunting challenges of yearly erosions; decreasing farm lands and scarcity of water for domestic use, the people have dug in and have even embarked on a number of practices especially planting of bamboo trees and reinforced concrete foundations in buildings to battle the erosion.

The ACCAI team also came upon a similar scenario of palpable fear and resignation to fate in the Oyedega community in Ibaji in Kogi State, a site of enormous yearly flooding since 2012. However, unlike the Amucha community, the people themselves have not evolved any concerted effort at defence rather they have psychologically prepped themselves for movement. In fact, the team had to hurry up the visit so that it could cross over before the road becomes totally flooded. The team's fear was not helped by the report of warning from the state government of impending massive flood and the need for quick evacuation of the members of the community.

While the above narratives are not meant as the report on the extensive excursion of the ACCAI team to climate change impact sites, which is covered elsewhere here. It is rather meant to remind us all of the reality of climate change even at the most basic levels i.e. in rural communities and the lives of ordinary people. More critically there is the need to tell the story of climate change especially its impacts and what humanity is doing or should do in relation to it.

Therefore, the newsletter is an information and dissemination organ of the ACCAI-UNN. This is the maiden edition of the newsletter and can be seen as a bumper edition. Hence, it contains a lot of information on the nature and structure of the ACCAI-UNN and more critically summary reports of the various activities carried out by the ACCAI-UNN. Also, contained herein are the messages and reflections of the VC of UNN and the chair of the ACCAI-UNN PIC. While the narratives are interesting on their own, there has been the addition of pictures and illustrations to spice-up the newsletter.

The newsletter would not have been possible without the commitment of the Editorial Team and the larger ACCAI-UNN PIC members. We have tried in spite of the short time frame to achieve a quality publication that meets international standards. The extent to which this has been achieved is best left to the judgment of the readers. But the ACCAI Editorial Team hopes that you enjoy reading this issue of the newsletter.

E CO ON B ARD

W L MEO

ial Editor

Crops submerged in Oyedega, Ibaji, Kogi State

DIRECTOR’S

DESK

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feel excited to welcome you to this maiden edition of ACCAI-UNN INewsletter. The Newsletter is a

critical component of ACCAI activities and is envisaged to faci l i tate communicat ion of ACCAI-UNN activities, information and general events on climate change and related issues to both stakeholders and the general publ ic. Therefore, the Newsletter would be published quarterly by ACCAI-UNN. Both the Newsletter and the larger ACCAI programme were made possible by the sponsorship of the Open Society Foundation (OSF) under its Higher E d u c a t i o n S u p p o r t Programme(HESP). While the ACCAI initiative exists in other African countries as a bold response of the OSF to the daunting challenges of climate change and environmental problems, the UNN programme embodies the basic character of the University and responds broadly to the climate change adaptation problems of Nigeria.

Without doubt, the challenge of climate change looms very large in current discourse and therefore ACCAI's

mandate of education, research and in tervent ion in c l imate change adaptation in Nigeria and even beyond seems obviously an imperative to development. But while ACCAI-UNN comes to terms with its mandate, it requires a reflective and strategic dissemination and communication medium. This Newsletter fits the above purpose and is very necessary in the attempt to improve the visibility of ACCAI-UNN and more crucially provide reliable medium for engaging with s takeho lders bo th loca l l y and internationally.

Thus, it is my sincere belief that this quarterly Newsletter is a major contribution to the national and global concerns with the problems of climate change and environmental decay. These problems are no longer strange to Nigerians who have had to grapple with these challenges in different forms and their various ramifications. Hence, apart from the well-publicized floods of 2012, various communities in Nigeria deal with often mind-boggling problems of erosion, landslides, desertification, seasonal flooding, oil pipeline leakages etc. with their attendant negative and far-reaching consequences on human lives and development in general.

Beyond the basic object ive of disseminating the activities of ACCAI-UNN, the Newsletter hopes to raise awareness of the general public about climate change and by so doing continuously place it on the front-burner of both public discourse and policy options by the state and its agencies. Therefore, as you read this Newsletter, I hope that the above lofty aims would have been met.

Prof. P.E ChigbuChairman, ACCAI-UNN PIC

t is with boundless joy that I welcome our readers to this maiden edition of our ACCAI-UNN Newsletter. It is a quarterly series aimed I

at educating all and sundry especially our university community on the issues of our environment and particularly climate change- a phenomenon that has come to stay. The aftermath of climate change has caused devastating effects to lives and properties in different countries of the world including Nigeria. You can easily re-call the new wave of flooding, drought, desert encroachment and erosion in different parts of the country in the most recent past! The Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative at the University of Nigeria (ACCAI-UNN) is a clarion answer to the needed adaptation and mitigation knowledge.

At ACCAI-UNN, the emphasis is on building transdisciplinary capacity in research, teaching, learning and outreach so as to play leading roles in climate change adaptation in Nigeria and Africa.The University of Nigeria is well positioned to play this leading role with her population of over 20,000 undergraduate and over 5,000 postgraduates students found in 15 faculties and over 71 academic disciplines where 82 undergraduate programmes and 211 post graduate programmes are domiciled. The University of Nigeria is thereforeproperly positioned to champion climate change adaptation strategies in Nigeria and beyond.

The programme activity components are hinged on three pillars namelyØ EducationØResearch ØTraining/Outreach

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The target audience for ACCAI-UNN programme activities includes stakeholders from State and National Ministries, Universities, Institutes, Industries, Policy makers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the general public.ACCAI-UNN is managed by a Programme Implementation Committee (PIC) appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria. The PIC is broad and inclusive in line with the trans- disciplinary nature of the initiative.

The expected impactis that a strong foundation for world-class teaching, research and outreach on climate change adaptation will be built at the University of Nigeria.

The ACCAI-UNN has made tremendous Progress thus:vThe establishment of a post graduate

programme (at PDG, M.Sc and PhD levels) on Climate change Economics Policy and Innovation (CCEPI). The programme has been successfully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC of Nigeria) and is currently running in the University of Nigeria.

vParticipating actively (with seven Universities) on Transdisciplinary Training for Resource Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (TRECCA I & TRECCA II).

vMounting of Trans-disciplinary research working groups.

vTraining of faculties in UNN on intra-disciplinary methodologies on climate change

vWorking with civil society and private sector organizations to promote adaptation and create awareness

As you relax to get the full information and benefits of ACCAI programme initiative from this edition of our quarterly newsletter series, feel free to contact and interact with us in our temporary office located at the old University of Nigeria library.

Thanks and happy reading.

Prof. (Mrs.) Anthonia Ifeyinwa AchikeDirector, ACCAI-UNN.

Rationale / Justification of Existence: Climate studies and modeling experiments indicate that the anthropogenic ally- driven rise in global temperatures and land –use changes may adversely affect existing climatic, hydrological and environmental conditions. Africa is not only highly vulnerable to environmental changes and climate change, but is also the least prepared continent to cope with the adverse situation. Hence the need for adaptation and adaptation strategies. Adaptation to climate change cannot be addressed through a single economic sector as it has impacts across all aspects of social and economic development. In addition, development without consideration of the risks and impacts of climate change sometimes increase the vulnerability (maladaptation).

Based on the foregoing, The University of Nigeria (UNN), in collaboration with African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS), Kenya successfu l ly wrote and is implementing a proposal entitled Building Trans-discip l inary Cl imate Change Adaptation Capacity at the University of N i g e r i a . T h e p r o j e c t i s b e i n g supported/financed by Open Society Foundation (OSF), USA under their Higher Education Support Programme (HESP). Six Universities are participating in the programme with the broad theme –Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI). ACCAI coordinates this initiative and provides an institutional base for attracting more grants in the area of climate change. Broad Objectives: The University will offer trans-disciplinary programmes that will:

ØBuild the human capacity needed to address climate change and adaptation that meet African's unique needs through University – based curricular for conventional post graduate degrees ( PGD, M.Sc and PhD ) and short training courses for a wide range of professionals from all sectors;

ØEncourage and implement action –oriented research activities, including research into climate change adaptation technologies, that will help to improve the climate adaptation capacity of the African peoples;

ØProvide a Framework for national and regional policy assessment and advice to governments and public and private sector actors;

ØInclude various communities within the African region in its programme execution and implementation of research findings; and

ØProvide basis for adaptation of international; best practices in climate change issues and collaboration with similar or related facilities across the world.

Organizational /Operating Structure:The activities of ACCAI-UNN are managed by Programme Implementation Committee (PIC) appointed by the Vice Chancellor. The PIC is broad and inclusive in line with the trans- disciplinary nature of the initiative.

Target Audience / Service to consumers and stakeholders:These include stakeholders from State and National Ministries, Universities, Institutes, Industries, Policy makers, NGOs, CSOs and any candidate with the University admission requirements.

Programme Activity Components

}Education ?Trans-d isc ip l inary postgraduate

education in climate change economics, innovations and policy

?Curriculum development and validation?Development of knowledge resources

–source documents, dedicated library, etc.

?Infrastructure and facilities –GIS, Interactive Collaborative Environment (ICE)

?Collaboration - TRECCA

Research ?Trans-disciplinary research and studies

to accumulate knowledge on climate change adaptation, in support of education, training and outreach

?Collaboration with Murdoch University, Australia

Outreach and Training ?Working with communities and civil

groups to promote climate change adaptation capabilities through knowledge assimilation

?Working with policymakers and policy communities to make education and research more relevant and effective

?Climate Change Clubs within the University

Expected Output/Outcomes

?Critical mass of University faculty trained in trans-disciplinary approaches to CCA teaching, research and learning in Africa

?Contribute to the African agenda on climate change informed by knowledge from all knowledge communities

?Trans-disciplinary CCA programs effectively running in African Universities

ACCAI-Participating UniversitiesThey are:? Salaam University Tanzania?The University of Ghana?The Univeristy of Mekelle, Ehtiopia?The University of Nairobi, Kenya?The University of Nigeria

Expected Impacts?Through ACCAI, it is foreseen that a

strong foundation for world-class teaching, research and outreach on climate change adaptation will have been built at the University.

Progress Achieved so farEducation ?Post graduate courses now commencing

Research?Trans-disciplinary research working

group established and running training?Training of faculty in trans-disciplinary

methodologies

Outreach ?Working with civil societies and private

sector to promote adaptation awareness and behaviours

Areas of possible collaboration with other Universities and Research Centres

?Joint research programmes?Staff exchange and information sharing

Overview of

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he purpose of this article is to provide an over view of the key issues pertinent to the Tunderstanding of the climate change

phenomenon and the consequent impacts and responses with particular reference to Nigeria. This is necessary in order to equip Nigeria public with the basic and informed knowledge that will enable them take appropriate actions towards reducing climate change impacts. Moreover, a basic understanding of climate change is essential to every person in the contemporary times for a number of reasons including the fact that it is the most serious environmental challenge facing the world in the present century and that the impacts cut across all sectors of the economy and society. In particular, the effects of climate change on poor countries like Nigeria are of great concern because of very limited capacities (both in terms of resources and expertise) to cope with it.

Against this background, the definition and basic understanding of climate change becomes necessary. Although it is a common knowledge that the world's climate has always been changing between hotter and cooler periods due to various factors, recent evidence and predictions indicate that climate change is accelerating and will lead to wide-ranging shifts in climate variables. Authoritatively, the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 found that the warming of the climate system was “unequivocal and that a number of attendant effects were already observable.”

Climate change was defined by IPCC in 2001 as any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity .Later in 2007 it re-defined Climate change as a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and /or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period typically decades or longer. Some other

authorities have simply defined climate change as increase in temperatures and changes in weather patterns created by carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions.

As earlier observed, climate change is generally agreed to be among the most pressing challenges that the world faces today. Given the current atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), the world is already committed to a significant war. The updated United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report, released at the Climate Convention Conference in Doha in December 2012, found that the present emission trends are consistent with emission pathways that reach warming in the range of 3.5°C to 5°C by 2100 This is a serious challenge, given the wide range of expected climate change impacts on natural systems, as well as on human societies.

The severity of the impacts will vary depending in part on the outcomes of global efforts to mitigate climate change and on the other hand the adaptive capacit ies of a countries or

Humans are the major inducers and sufferers of climate change. In fact the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulting largely from human activities including burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have led to the observed and projected warming of the earth, known as the enhanced greenhouse effect.The gases that contribute directly to the enhanced greenhouse effect as a result of anthropogenic ac t i v i t ies a re carbon d iox ide (CO ) , 2

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane (CH ) and 4

nitrous oxide (N O) emitted from combustion of 2

fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and perfluorocarbons arising from industrial processes. Other gases, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, contribute indirectly to global warming through chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

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By Prof Ignatius A. MaduDean, Faculty of the Social Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka ignatius.madu@unn.edu.ng

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?Building climate change knowledge community for Nigeria

?Joint policy and outreach activities

Ancillary Programme under ACCAI:The six ACCAI Universities under the ACCAI programme are also participating in a European Union sponsored mobility programme entitled Trans-disciplinary Training for Resource Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (TRECCA).

• These Universities applied and received another grant from the European Union under ACP-EU mobility programme

• The grant allows Postgraduate students and staff to benefit from an exchange programme

• Training will be provided within the participating Universities

Progress so far with TRECCAThree University of Nigeria students are currently in doing their PhD and M.Sc. programmes in Stellenbosch, South Africa and Mekelle, Ethiopia pursuing their respective PhD and MSc program. Three University of Nigeria PhD students have been admitted in Uniersities of Ghana, Nairobi anf Ethiopia to complete their PhD researches. Also eight students from different Universities in Africa are currently in UNN pursuing their PhD and M.Sc. p rog rammes under fu l l TRECCA scholarship.

Prof. A. I. Achike, Director, ACCAI-UNN

ACCAI Team getting an on the site feel of adverse weather events

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communities. However, developing countries and poor populations everywhere remain the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Generally, the manifestations of climate change will include extreme weather events in many parts of the world with the following attendant impacts:

(i) Higher frequency of formation of cyclonic storms;

(ii) Higher intensity rainfall along with changing precipitation patterns;

(iii) Prolonged droughts;(iv) Hurricanes along with related landslides

and wildfires(v) Sea level rise which mean that low lying

areas of the earth are potentially most vulnerable;

(vi) Decreased water availabil ity and increasing drought in mid-latitudes and semi-arid low latitudes;

(vii) Decreased cereal productivity at low latitudes;

(viii) Risk of extinction of some plant and animal species;

(ix) Increased warm spells, heat waves and heavy precipitation events; and

(x) Increased morbidity and mortality from changing weather patterns, changed disease vector distributions, and malnutrition.

Some of the specific sectoral impacts on a global level are discussed as follows:

Frequent environmental disasters: Rising average temperatures are already affecting the environment and some of the observed

The main reason why developing countries are likely to be more severely affected according to a World Bank report in 2010 is that they have greater social and economic vulnerability to climate change. This is because greater proportion of the population has livelihoods that depend on climate-sensitive economic production, such as rain-fed agriculture. Also, developing countries have a lower capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions and do face greater barriers, due, for example, to lack of information, relevant skills, and political will and resource constraints as well as weaker institutions.

changes include shrinking of glaciers, thawing of permafrost, later freezing and earlier break-up of ice on rivers and lakes .Climate change induced disasters such as drought, floods severe weather and sea-level rise and wild fire are likely to increase in intensity and frequency with the consequent increases in vector-borne diseases, infrastructure damage, the degradation of natural resources upon which livelihoods are based, food insecurity as well as loss of life and property.

Declining agricultural productivity: The effect of climate change on agriculture is complex due to a number of interplaying factors: However, while higher Carbon-dioxide levels and solar radiation theoretically can increase food production, heat stress, shorter growing seasons and higher evapo-transpiration resulting in soil moisture levels being lowered counteract the former influences leading to overall lower production of most foodstuffs. The reductions in crop yields may lead to falling agricultural production and higher prices for food, which could trigger regional food crises. Insecurity and conflicts: Climate change poses a threat to the security situation in a country through increasing water scarcity; decreasing food security; increasing climate-induced migration; and the increase of poverty. As a result, climate change is now a top agenda item for the global security community. In particular, rainfall has a surprising influence on the prevalence of social conflict .For instance; the new Social Conflict in Africa Database reveals that in recent decades, conflict events have been more common in extremely wet and dry years than in years of normal rainfall. Consequently, climate change—by redrawing the maps of water availability, food security, and disease prevalence, and poverty could increase forced migration, raise tensions and trigger conflicts.

Health: Climate change is also expected to have a wide-ranging consequence for human health. This is because the health of communities depends on sufficient food, safe drinking water, comfortable homes, good social conditions, and a suitable environmental and social setting for controlling infectious diseases. All of these factors can be affected by climate. It is expected that climate change will affect the health status of

millions of people, particularly those with low adaptive capacity (i.e. already poor and vulnerable), through increases in malnutrition, with implications for child growth and development; increased deaths, disease and injury due to heat waves, floods, storms, fires and droughts; and the increased burden of diarrhoeal disease. The increased frequency of cardio-respiratory diseases due to higher concentrations of ground level ozone related to climate change and, the altered spatial distribution of some infectious disease vectors such as mosquitoes will also impact upon health of communities.

The impacts of climate change manifests in various forms in Nigeria as evidenced from the following discussion.

Increase in climate change- induced environmental hazards: Persistent droughts and flooding, off season rains and dry spells have become common phenomena today in Nigeria. For instance, in south eastern states, the impacts include heat stress, absence of Harmattan, unpredictable rainfall patterns, heavier rains, gully erosion, flooding and landslides. In addition to other factors, these hazards have affected soil fertility, water and forest resources, transport and settlement infrastructure and farmlands (Plates 1 and 2)

Plate 1: Loss of vegetation and Biodiversity due to gully erosion in Southern Nigeria

Plate 2: Destruction of road transport infrastructure in Southeastern Nigeria

Generally, floods have become a common feature of many localities in the country in recent time. The memories of Sokoto, Lagos, Ogun and Jigawa flood disasters in 2010 and 2011 are still fresh in our minds .The Floods of Sokoto in 2010 for instance ravaged over 20 villages across six local governments of Sokoto State rendering over 8,000 people homeless (plates 2 and 3). Farmlands were also washed away and this resulted in sever scarcity of onions in the country.

Plate 3: The impact of 2010 Sokoto flood

Plate4:Scene of Flooding in Lagos 2011

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Highway washed away after a heavy rainfall

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Decline in Agriculture and food security: Cl imate Change phenomenon affects agriculture in Nigeria in a number of ways. First is that uncertainties in the onset of the farming season, due to changes in rainfall characteristics (early rains may not be sustained, and crops planted at their instance may become smothered by heat waves) can lead to an unusual sequence of crop planting and replanting which may result in food shortages due to harvest failure. Second, extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, heavy winds, and floods, devastate farmlands and can lead to crop failure. Third, pests and diseases migrate in response to Climate Changes and variations (e.g. the tsetse fly has extended its range northward) and this poses a threat to livestock in the drier northern areas. Fourth, in some northern states like Yobe and Borno, migrating sand dunes have buried large expanse of arable lands, thus reducing viable agricultural lands and crops' production. Fifth, evidence shows, that due to climate change, and as a means of adaptation, farmers in northern Nigeria have continued to shift in the production of crops from millet to maize and beans as against the initial change from guinea corn to groundnut and maize.

Impact on water resources: The impact of climate change on water resources in Nigeria is overwhelming. Climate change has brought about changes in rainfall patterns, variability in rainfall, frequency of storms and drought and changes in the water level/volume of ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. A number of associated impacts on water bodies in different ecological zones of Nigeria include:(1) Drying up of water sources due to increased evapo-transpiration, and loss of vegetation in head waters. Many rivers have been reported to have dried up or are becoming more seasonally navigable while Lake Chad

United Nations

(2) Inundation of low-lying lands(3) Beach erosion and coastal flooding due to higher waves generated by onshore storm winds,and (4) receding of mangroves adjoining estuaries due to wave incursion and beach breaching.

according to the Global Resource Information Database of the

Environment Programme, shrank as much as 95% from about 1963 to 1998, although the 2007 (satellite) image shows significant improvement over previous years.

Alteration of the ecology of disease vectors: Pests and diseases are implicated in climate change. Significant climatic elements such as temperature, precipitation, sunshine and wind can affect and accelerate their dispersion and their increase. Pests and diseases can adversely affect crop production and animal husbandry; it also causes human suffering (for example, malaria, cholera, typhoid and, meningit is) which in turn affects the effectiveness and productivity of Nigeria's labour force. These diseases attack more people during the dry season because of dust, wind and cold nights. Also heat rashes are noticed amongst the populace in the country within the period of intense heat. Moreover, deficiencies in freshwater availability due to climate change will worsen the already poor sanitary and health conditions in the country. This will increase epidemics of water-borne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and malaria.

Conflict over land resources: Climate change poses a security threat to Nigeria through conflict over resources. Presently, increasing water scarcity; decreasing food security; increasing climate-induced migration; and poverty are being experienced in many parts of the country. The overall effect is that climate change will fuel existing conflicts over depleting resources. .For instance, struggles over grazing land is a common feature between the Fulani cattle herdsmen and crop farmers in Nigeria. In fact, conflicts between crop farmers and the cattle herdsmen are claiming lives and properties in many parts of the country, especially, in the northern parts. In Benue state for example, the Tivs have had a number of violent conflicts which involved fighting and blood-letting between them and Fulani nomads over grazing lands.

Population displacement/environmentally induced migration: In the southern part of the country, sea incursion due to sea-level rise means salt-water intrusion into the fresh water, invasion and destruction of mangrove ecosystems, coastal wetlands and coastal beaches. The coastal inundation and erosion with their associated population displacement are currently major environmental problems in Nembe, Eket and other coastal settlements in Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Lagos States.In the north, prolonged drought and

desert encroachments are responsible for the d isp lacement .The threats of deser t encroachment manifested by sand dunes are now common features of desertification in states like Yobe, Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa and Katsina, prompting massive emigration and resettlement of people to areas less threatened by desertification.

There are many lessons from the climate change related threats in Nigeria, including that policymakers must pay greater attention to the changing weather in the country and that extreme weather events are not isolated and one-off events but part of a pattern – that requires integrated approach to tackle. Both adaptation and mitigation are critical and requires integrating them into the development strategies. Adaptation which refers to all the responses to climatic conditions that reduce vulnerability is only one part of the solution. In the same way mitigation of climate change by limiting greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is just one of the indispensable other part of the equation for solving the crisis. Therefore, mitigation and adaptation should not be approached as separate activities, isolated from other environmental and socioeconomic concerns that also impact on the development opportunities of the poor. A comprehensive approach is needed that takes into account potential synergistic and antagonistic effects between local and global environmental changes as well as socioeconomic factors.

Responses to Climate Change in NigeriaThe Department of Climate Change - Federal Ministry of Environment in a recent release observed that Climate Change has become a critical issue, both for its global importance and threats to Nigeria and her people and that Nigeria can't but continue to implement both the Climate Change Convention related Kyoto Protocol and the local efforts and initiatives at combating the threats of Climate Change and warnings of global warming. Some of the local efforts are listed as follows:

● Establishment of the Special Climate Change Unit (SCCU) at the Federal Ministry of Environment charged with coordination of activities towards national implementation of the Climate

Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. The Ministry carries out its activities through the Unit by working in collaboration with other relevant government organizat ions, non-governmental organizations, academia and private sector under a Committee known as Inter-ministerial Committee on Climate Change (ICCC). ICCC forms a policy advisory organ for government under the Chairmanship of the Federal Minister of Environment.

● In 2010, the National Assembly passed a bill to create a national Climate Change Commission, in order to facilitate coordination and support for the multi -level and cross – sectoral adaptation responses. In addition, several other government agencies are involved in climate change adaptation issues, including for instance the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Planning Commission (NPC).

● The Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2012 approved the adoption of the National Policy on Climate Change and Response Strategy (NPCC-RS), as a National Document for implementing climate activities in the country. According to the FEC which is the highest decision making body, the approval is to provide the government w i t h a f r amework f o r t ack l i ng environmental challenges occasioned by global changes in the climate.

● The Federal Government's current economic growth plan, Nigeria Vision 20:2020: Economic Transformation Blueprint, recognizes a changing climate as a threat to sustainable growth in the next decade. The implementation s t r a t e g y i n N i g e r i a V i s i o n 20:2020 includes“[reducing] the impact of climate change on socio-economic development processes” as one of nine o b j e c t i v e s f o r c o n s e r v i n g t h e environment in Nigeria and recognizes the need to address climatic change in a

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ransdisciplinarity occurs at a higher stage succeeding the Tstage of interdisciplinarity,

which would not on ly cover interactions between specialised research projects, but would place these relationships within a total system without any firm boundaries between disciplines … our sciences are still incomplete … physics will become really 'general' only after it has encompassed biology and even psychology … if this were possible we s h o u l d t h e n b e i n f u l l transdisciplinarity (John van Breda, 2014)

The TD Winter School took place at the Sustainability Institute (SI) located in Lynedoch in the outskirts of Stellenbosch in the wine rich Cape Province of South Africa. The SI going by its location in a pristine vegetative area and in a green zone was an appropriate venue for the five day interaction (7th – 11th July 2014) on the environment, food system and trans-disciplinary research in Africa.

The SI from its green environment to the wooden artistic antique benches and tables in the reception area to the vegetarian and healthy snacks and food served was a wake-up call of sorts to the participants in the Winter School.

The Participants in the School were drawn from a number of African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa Nigeria. The school itself was organized in an informal and highly interactive manner which enabled exhaustive deliberations, lessons sharing and learning from each other. It featured modules ranging f r o m p r a c t i c a l c o m m u n i t y engagements; quantitative social sciences research methods to i n t e g r a t e d i n d i g e n o u s T D R methodology.

From me as a participant, the high point of the four day programme was the introduction of the participants to indigenous methodologies in the social sciences. The presenter and one of the leading exponents of indigenous research methods, Bagele Chilisa of the University of Botswana gave a passionate lecture on the theme drawing largely from her latest text on the subject, “Indigenous Research Methodologies” published by Sage (2012). As I discovered during subsequent interactions with other participants, her presentation drew quite a robust reaction from the participants and called attention to the fact that local problems and issues are often best understood from local perspectives and mutual engagement.

and

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policy responsive and strategic way. It t h e r e f o r e , p u t s i n p l a c e a Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy with the strategic goal of fostering a low-carbon, high growth economic development path and building a climate resilient society. The Policy includes objectives related to climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate sc ience and technology, publ ic awareness, private sector participation, and strengthening national institutions and mechanisms.

● Nigeria has also set up a Strategic Framework for Voluntary Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) so as to meet the national obligations under the Un i ted Nat ions Framework Convention on Climate Change.

● The Federal Ministry of Environment is organizing a National Sensitization and Public Awareness Programme, which is aimed at partnering with schools, the NYSC, the organized private sector and

other stakeholders in raising the a w a r e n e s s o f N i g e r i a n s o n

environmental issues in general and climate change in particular.

● The Federal Ministry of Environment is ensuring that all Developmental projects under go Environmental Impact assessments.

● Massive afforestation programmes, especially the Great Green Wall across the desertification front line States in Northern Nigeria are being carried out.

ConclusionClimate change is real and the change has wide-ranging effects on the environment, and on socio-economic and related sectors. Despite the wide spread impacts of climate change and its prominence in global environmental discourse, many Nigerians know little about the phenomenon. Therefore, promoting an understanding of impacts of climate change, through a forum like this is a necessary step in the right direction.

A Broadview of the Nanka Erosion Site

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Equally thought-provoking and insightful was the presentation on trans-disciplinary research led by John van Breda. While a number of the participants were not new to the notion of trans-disciplinarity, the process of its usage in action and real time research was still strange. The presentation showed TDR as going beyond the esoteric norm of research engagement that often builds an unbridgeable chasm between the all-knowing researcher and the research subjects and community right from the conception of the research problem to its eventual consummation. It argues for an action oriented research that has the potential to radically and positively change things and the researcher as more often than not an advocate for change and with a passion to work in partnership with the community at every stage in the bid to enthrone a better order.

The School also provided opportunity for sharing of lessons learnt from projects in the various countries present and the final session was dedicated to the conceptualization of likely fundable research projects on the food system in Africa. For this purpose, the participants were split into groups and each group was tasked to come up with a research project and outlines of the research problem.

The participants were also offered the opportunity to see TDR in action through a trip to the Enkanini Community, a highly populated black shanty town in Stellenbosch. The SI

has been involved in the process of improving the community through providing solar energy electricity; sanitation especially the toilet system; building community bonds as well as acting as advocate in terms of getting the government to recognize the community and extend social services and amenities to it. Interestingly the projects in the community also serve as test-grounds and research locations for graduate students in the Stellenbosch University attached to SI and using TDR methodology in their research work. All the above occurs through a commensal partnership and collaboration between the SI and the community.

John van Breda acted as the main anchor and liaison for the Winter School and did a very good job. Mark Swilling was also always on hand to provide good insights and share experiences from his vast involvement with TDR. The School was rounded off with a farewell dinner party and a half-day trip to Cape Town for shopping and sight-seeing by participants. The School was organized/facilitated by Eve Annecke, Bagele Chilisa, Josephine Musango, Maggie Opondo, Rika Preiser, Mark Swilling and John van Breda and they all did a commendable job. The participation in the School was a very valuable and stimulating experience for me and I am sure the other participants feel the same way too.

- Edlyne Anugwom

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n line with the OSF - approved ACCAI-UNN work plan, excursions to major Iclimate change impact sites were

conducted. The objective of the excursions was to enhance opportunities for involving local communities in influencing course content, teaching, learning and research in the University of Nigeria, and providing a potential model for co-production of knowledge in the field of climate change adaptation in Africa. The ACCAI excursion team visited 10 communities with major i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d investigatedor documented impacts of climate change in these communities. In addition the team sought to document existing indigenous adaptation practices to impact of climate change in these communities.

T h e t e n communities w i th major impacts o f c l i m a t e o f change were selected from three states - I m o , Anambra and Kogi. These were four oil p r o d u c i n g communities in Imo State (Oguta Local Government Area) that have been the center of international controversy over devastating pollution, ecocides and human rights violation from oil exploration viz.Oguta 1, Umunwama Izombe, Ezi- Orsu and Afiafor; two erosion devastated communities, Amucha and Okwudor communities (Njaba Local Government Area); two erosion and landslide communities in Orumba North, Anambra state viz., Nanka and Oko commun i t i es ; two f l ood d i sas te r communities, Onyedega and Ogaene in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi state. These communities were visited and studied

in two phases. During the first phase, which th thtook place from 24 - 27 September 2014,

four oil producing communities and two erosion communities were visited in Imo State were visited; and in the second

th thphase, which took place from the 7 – 10 of October 2014, two erosion and landslide communities (in Anambra state) and the flood disaster communities (in Kogi state) were visited. The excursion team utilized questionnaires, interviews and field observation in ascertaining the extent and implications of climate impact events in these communities.

T h e studycum excursion discovered t h a t some o f t h e s e communities had n o t i c e d changes in climate but fai led to i d e n t i f y t h e i r c a u s e s . F o r example, d e s p i t e

observing the increase in temperature and shortening of the rainy season over the past four decades, the Amucha men and women attributed the origin of the erosion to the myth that it was caused by the killing of the Royal Python (Eke ) of the Njaba River; while others attributed the environmental degradat ion to the ind iscr iminate construction of houses along the flood pathway. The respondents did not accept that they had contr ibuted to the environmental degradation. The study also revealed that in Amucha, Okwudor, Nanka and Oko, outside erosion and flood,

EXCURSION REPORTDr. Mrs Julie Agwu

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deforestation and excessive heat, the streams were drying and flood created more breeding sites for mosquitoes, thus malaria and water related diseases , such as typhoid, cholera were on the increase. Extinction of some plants such as a special species of yam called“JiIgwe” was reported. In the oil producing communities, the impact of climate change is basically the same as those encountered in the non-oil producing communities, except that the excessive heat was higher in oil producing communities and this was the major impact of climate change followed by flooding. However, the streams did not dry up, but were polluted by flood water polluted by oil spills from manifolds. Some other impacts include:

LAND: less fertile land, reduction in availability of arable and habitable land;

WATER: less available and undrinkable

T h e AT M O S P H E R E : i n c r e a s e d temperature, irregular rainfall pattern,

V E G E T A T I O N : r e d u c t i o n a n d

disappearance of some species of plants and animals.

The socio- economic consequence of climate change through the gender lensesreveals some gender specific vulnerability in food sector energy sector, and water sector. Some indigenous adaptive measures such as raising homesteads in flood prone communities, digging catchment pits and constructing embankment, planting cashew and India b a m b o o i n e r o s i o n d e v a s t a t e d communities. It was also observed that in the flood prone communities there is the emerging practice of cultivating the swimming rice which can survive and do well in spite of the flood. Some of the challenges identified amongst the farmers include the dearth of improved crop varieties to withstand the devastated environment, decreasing land quality, need for b ioremediat ion of devastated communities in oil producing communities, need for clean drinking water and alternatives to clean energy for the rural women.

Engaging with Community members during ACCAI excursion

Venue: Rockview Hotel AbujaAnchor Person: Prof. Eric Eboh

Introduction/ContextEvidence shows that economic sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism, have been particularly vulnerable to climate variability. The climate impacts prognosis for Africa is rather grim. It is projected, for

stexample, that by the middle of the 21 century, parts of Africa might experience reduced agricultural production by about 8.5% compared to current levels. Combined with the pressures of population growth, reduced agricultural production would significantly diminish calories availability per capita. In fact, according to the

stIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), by the end of the 21 century, crop production could decrease by up to 90% in some countries, leading to severe food security threats in urban areas. The effect will also reflect negatively on industrial productivity, water and energy infrastructures, resource competitions and resource-use conflicts and intra-country and regional migration patterns. Furthermore, it is widely predicted that climate change impacts will undermine efforts to eradicate poverty and may in fact increase the percentage of population living below poverty line.

Much of these potentially devastating effects can be lessened through regional and country-level adaptation strategies. But, there is currently acute shortage of responsive human resource capacities as well as institutional capabilities for achieving multi-sectorial and sustainable adaptation.

Even though the university system stands out as a potentially critical agent for building the needed human skills and capacities for meeting the climate change adaptation challenge, few universities in Africa have dedicated fit-for-purpose climate change-related educational programmes. In spite of the wide acknowledgement that climate change impacts and climate change adaptation are best approached from transdisciplinary perspectives, there is still very low incidence of the use of best-fit trans-disciplinary model of climate change education and research in the universities.

The Logic of Curriculum Review and Sensitization Workshop

The rationale for the external review of the curriculum were to: (i) make the curriculum comply with highest global professional standards in graduate education in climate change economics, policy and innovation (ii) ensure the curriculum responds to and addresses the strategic knowledge needs for Nigeria and SSA countries to enhance human resources for climate change adaptation and (iii) make the curriculum a role model for wider postgraduate education in climate change economics, policy and innovation

The key questions that guided the review were (i) are the stated 'objectives' of the curriculum consistent with the goal of building capacity for climate change adaptation in developing countries? (ii) are the 'stress areas' appropriate in terms of mix and reach or scope? If not, what should be the appropriate mix and scope? (iii) are the indicated employment opportunities consistent with the objectives and content of the curriculum?

The essence of the workshop was to give the postgraduate courses a strong national and international validity and thereby earn credibility, visibility and patronage from stakeholders in the national and international communities. The workshop participants were therefore mixed, in a deliberately inclusive manner (academics, researchers, development practitioners, technocrats and government policy officials).

Besides widening and wrapping up the scientific review of the curriculum, the workshop also went a long way in enlightening and sensitizing the 'market', that is, the prospective beneficiaries of the postgraduate courses. Beyond the initial seed funding being provided by Open Society Foundations Higher Education Support Programs for the postgraduate courses, the sustainability of the courses depend to a large extent on continuous patronage and demand from the relevant organizations, groups and persons. It is therefore crucial to cultivate understanding, get buy-ins and ensure ownership from the demand side at the initial stage of the courses.

Technical Session: Deliberations and RecommendationsDuring the technical sessions discussions centred on the three programmes: Postgraduate Diploma, the Master's

Degree and Doctor of Philosophy. After much deliberation, the participants made the following suggestions:

i. That Agriculture, Water Resources and Biodiversity should be aggregated as one stress area;

ii. There was the need to separate “Philosophy” from EPI 0501 in the PGD Programme so that they should

CURRICULUM REVIEW WORKSHOP Date: 12 February, 2014

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be two separate courses, namely: “Philosophy of Climate Change and Methodology of Climate

Change Economics,” “Innovation and Policy.” This suggestion should also apply to EP1 501 for the

Masters Programme;

iii. That in the PGD programme there should be a new course to be known as “Basic Science of Climate

Change”

iv. That there should be a separate course for the Masters programme to be known as “Science of Climate

Change.” In this regard, suggestions were made that EPI 503 should be renamed: “Introduction to

Science of Climate Change;”

v. Systematic sequencing should be implemented;

vi. That there should be the need to add new courses that will cover such areas as “Non Renewable Energy

Resources” and “Elements of Risk Management;”

vii. That EPI 0531 and EPI 0561 in the PGD programme be merged and re-entitled “Climate Change

Adaptation to Sectors;”

viii. That EPI 0552: Climate Change, Engineering and Development be moved from its present position as

an elective course to a core course; ix. That EPI 557I: WRM and Climate Change Adaptation – (3 Units) course content should be as follows:

Concepts and Techniques of Integrated Water Resources Management – IWRM. Climate Change impacts on the hydrological cycle, water resources, weather variability and environmental conditions. Adaptation options and alternatives in IWRM tool kit. Climate change and weather variability as forces for predicting impacts and selection of best coping strategies and practices and optimization of catchment basin management;

x. To accommodate the new courses it was further suggested that the Credit loads for each course should

be reduced to 2;

xi. That there should be an identification of potential areas where the programmes on Climate Change

Economics, Innovation and Policy should be seen as amenable to business. The reasons for this

according to the participants hinge on not only making the programmes to be functional but also that

the products of the programmes should be able to adapt to the changing times.

xii. Flowing from the above suggestions, it was further suggested that a new course to be known as

“Entrepreneurship and Climate Change Adaptation” which should equip the graduates of the

programme with practical skills; should be established.

xiii. However, emphasis at the PGD level should be to prepare students theoretically and quantitatively for

higher degree and remedial steps.

xiv. In the final analysis internship was suggested under which the students would be meant to leave the

University environment for a period in the programme to have a real live experience in their areas of

specialty.

i. It was reasoned that there is need to keep the focus of the course on – climate change economics, policy

and innovation, and to be mindful of the fact that the programme is primarily aimed at promoting

climate change adaptation.

ii. There was expression of interest in sponsoring candidates to the courses. A number of agencies

indicated willingness to send their officials as candidates, but advised that ACCAI UNN should make

formal requests.

iii. It was agreed that ACCAI UNN should explore collaboration with other universities and institutions in

order to build linkages and achieve maximum impacts.

iv. The house adopted all the suggestions made at the technical sessions except item (xiv) on internship

because it was unanimously agreed upon would be difficult to implement based on the durations of the

programme.

v. It was advised that ACCAI UNN should explore the possibility of sourcing the faculty from relevant

practice sectors such as government ministries and departments, in order to tap their expertise from

field experiences.

The above suggestions and decisions which emanated from the participants (covering all spheres – parastatals,

government agencies, ministries, CSOs, practitioners and academic) have since been incorporated into the

current curriculum of the CCEPI programme at the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

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Venue: University of Nigeria Hall of FameProgramme Co-ordinator: Prof. Eric EbohResource Persons: Prof. E. Eboh and Prof. Mrs A. AchikeLead Paper Presenters: Prof. Kevin Urama and Mr. EwahEleriTheme: Optimizing Research and Research Impact for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa.

Introduction/Process:The symposium was declared open by Prof Eric Eboh, a Professor of Economics and a member of the ACCAI-UNN Programme Implementation Committee (PIC). The Chairman of the occasion was the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. P.E. Chigbu. In her welcome address the Director, ACCAI-UNN, Prof. Mrs. Achike stated that one of the major objectives of ACCAI-UNN was to build a trans-disciplinary climate change adaptation capacity at the university of Nigeria, while addressing the significant capacity and knowledge gaps in Africa on climate change adaptation in the context of global sustainability. In an overview of the symposium, Prof. Eric Eboh informed the attendees that the symposium was intended to expose lecturers and students of climate change economics, policy and innovation to cutting –edge research agenda and research methodology, best practices and thereby enhance their skills, capacities and orientation for greater research and teaching impacts.

Lead Papers:Two lead papers were presented as follows: 1. Research for Climate Change Adaptation in Africa: Agendas, Methodologies and Emerging Challenges – Prof. Kevin Urama (OSF ACCAI Reference Group Member)2, Enhancing Research Influence on Policy for Climate Change adaptation in Africa- Mr. Ewah Eleri (Executive Director, ICEED).

Resolutions:After the lead paper presentations and exhaustive deliberations, the assembly resolved as follows:1. Universities should take the lead in building the needed capacity to address the issue

of climate change by embarking on education relevant to the changing times;2. Inter and trans- disciplinary collaboration are veritable tools for the success of climate

change adaptation and mitigation practices;3. The gap between knowledge and practice should be narrowed to enhance success in

climate change adaptation;4. There is need for fundamental primary research focusing on what is relevant and

being demanded to address climate change issues and making same available to policy makers for formulation of policies that will adequately address the issue of climate change adaptation as policy is poorer without research;

5. There is need to develop our home grown technology that is well adapted to our environment instead of depending on foreign technology and practices and

6. Inclusion and implementation of climate change initiatives into our educational system(the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions) is necessary to build up knowledge required for climate change adaptation.

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Time: 5:00pmVenue: Dream FM, Ridgeway Avenue, off Okpara Avenue, EnuguResource Persons: Prof. Anthonia Achike

Prof. Constantine MbarjioguProf. Michael Uguru

Introduction/Purpose:This activity was motivated by the been to create awareness of the activities of ACCAI-UNN programmes and climate change as a current reality in the Nigerian environment. A media engagement was seen as invaluable in reaching out to a large, diverse and broad-base population within the Southeastern zone. Dream FM was chosen since it has emerged consistently as the most popular FM station in the zone in the last five years. The station is popular among both young and old people.

Nature of the Programme:The programme was a one hour phone-in programme during which time Professors Anthonia Achike, Constantine Mbarjiogu and Michael Uguru discussed climate change, its effects on all aspects of life, mitigating measures and adaptation mechanisms. In addition, the resource persons informed the public about the Climate Change Economics, Policy and Innovation (CCEPI) programme currently running at the University at the Post graduate diploma, Master's and Ph.D. levels, and entertained questions from the audience. The following are some of the comments and questions raised by the listeners who called in during the programme:

Comments (through the phone and the Facebook of the station):1. The programme should be repeated in the Igbo language or pidgin English to

enhance better understanding by listeners who may not be able to understand the delivery of the Professors.

2. As a result of all the industrial activities, and the resulting change in climate, people are no longer able to correctly predict any season. These days, rainfall now continues till December. This affects agriculture in the sense that when rain falls too much or the sun shines too much, it is always a problem for the farmers. Furthermore, too much rain results in erosion which washes off all the manure that the plants are supposed to absorb. Too much sunshine also affects some plants. For this reason it is important to cultivate the habit of planting grasses and plants so that they will stop floods from carrying away the manure.

3. Climate change is a thing we must always acknowledge in our environment in spite of whatever season. So climate change is basically now part of our reality (but it may be temporary and not steady at any given time).

Question:Does climate change affect portable water? If it does, how does it affect portable water? And what can be done to protect the water reserves that we have?

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Answer: Climate change has a major impact on the hydrological cycle. The water cycle is a major cycle that involves vapour transpiration from the water bodies particularly the oceans into the atmosphere which eventually falls in our environment as rainfall, and other environments as snow and unto the land which infiltrates the water and runs it off back into the sea. That is a brief illustration of the water cycle. The cycle is intensified by climate change. The rainfall season is shorter. This implies more intense rainfall and when intensity increases it will cause not only flooding, but also erosion. So there exists the phenomenon of managing large quantities of water within a very short time and if the drainage system is not able to pass this water safely, because it is overflowing, then you will have flooding which can come from both the land and from the rivers when they overflow their banks. This is a major problem for water because you have too much unusable water. It is too much, too quick and it is not useful. So you want to manage this or reduce it in such a way that the water can be passed safely and delayed sufficiently to be useful to man. Of course with the flooding, a lot of contaminants are transported along with the water. So flood usually brings in poor quality water and creates water quality problems because water that cannot be easily used without treatment is made available. Yes, climate change does affect water availability and quality quite negatively.

Question:How does the climate affect the movement of the earth?

Answer:What affects the climate is the atmospheric movement. The flow of air in the atmosphere. The earth rotates around the sun and that is what gives us our seasons. From January to December you have one circle of rotation. The earth also rotates along its own axis and that is what gives us our day from morning till night but the climate of the earth is primarily determined by the atmosphere which is an area which circulates around the earth itself and every planet has its own atmosphere. And it is the average long term change in the atmospheric variables that we call climate change. The primary cause of course is well established from the green house phenomenon. That is the green house effects because the atmosphere around the earth traps some of the sun which heats the earth as it radiates back, it traps it and that is what makes the earth warm. This warmth is what makes life possible on the earth. The climate change problem can be seen in some sense as too much of a good thing. The green house makes the earth warm and comfortable but then it is getting too much. That is, the heat being trapped is getting too much. That is why we need to cut down on the gases which are in the atmosphere; of course 60% of these gases is water vapor and then carbon dioxide and metaine amongst other gasses. These gases are industrial gasses which are emitted mostly by the developed countries. Africa is not sufficiently contributing to the green house problem.

Question:How will farmers adapt to climate change? Are there adaptation practices that farmers can use to continue having increased production?

Answer:Yes, these include: terracing, digging deep, mulching. The government can also create awareness for people to plant trees, ridging across to catch running off waters, watching and managing the planting times - the rains no longer come like they used to so they cannot be easily predicted but when watched and managed, like if they plant later than

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they used to, farmers can get good harvest. Farmers need to undergo a lot of training to enable them adapt to the new situation. This is why the climate change centre in the University of Nigeria Nsukka exists. There, trainings are organized for farmers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the clergy, etc. Experts from different fields are invited to teach everyone because climate change affects our health, crops, animals etc. Trainings are in different spheres on how to adapt to the menace of climate change that has come to stay.

Question:Are the trainings paid for? Do people have to enroll for it? Is it a university course?

Answer:No. Trainings are free of charge. However, a paid post graduate programme called Climate Change Economics Policy & Innovation (CCEPI) exists at the Post graduate diploma, Master's and Ph.D. levels. People can take advantage of this and enroll for the programme. Climate change is a dynamic thing that has come to stay with us and it is evolving so we need to move with the change. Whatever adaptation measures we have today, may change tomorrow. So we may have to re-strategize tomorrow. That is why the currency of knowledge is important. This is why at whatever level the farmer is, in whatever language he or she understands, the farmer will hear our message. We also have demonstration centers in some of the villages. We will start with the villages around Nsukka to demonstrate how to adapt to climate change depending on the location, season, crop and livestock. The farmer is involved.

Question:Is there a contact for someone who may be listening and want to get involved? Is there a contact form?

Answer:There exists the Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI) located in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The office is located at the old Library building. Come there with any climate change issue you may have and we will help solve the problem or else link you to whoever will assist you.

Question:Suggest more behavioural changes that we need to inculcate to enable proper adaptation to climate change?

Answer:We need to develop the mindset of utilizing the resources available to us. For example, there are crop varieties and animal breeds that can tolerate extreme weather conditions. The farmer cannot get that behind his house. The farmer needs to go out and ask for those who have these new varieties and animal breeds because as things are changing, the farmer needs to get things that can tolerate the change. In flooding for instance, there are crops that can tolerate high water content in the soil and there are crops that cannot. There are breeds that can tolerate drought to some extent and still produce at a level that the farmer will profit from. The farmer needs to search for these things. That is the essence of making contact especially through such gatherings so that people will know where to find certain things.

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Secondly, these measures being discussed need to be practiced and demonstrated for the results to be seen. Formerly, people could plant on flat grounds i.e. with no ridges but wherever inundation is suspected (i.e. plenty of water content in the soil), then the farmer should make a big mound so that the water will go by natural drainage i.e. by gravity while the crop remains at the apex. Then from the middle, the water will drain naturally even without the farmer knowing. The crop in this situation will do well even with high water content in the soil. This is a technology that the farmer can learn and practice as a way of adapting.

Question: On International television stations, several adverts tell viewers to save the planet by turning off their lights and appliances. How do these help to save the planet?

Answer:Energy conservation is a very important aspect of adaptation to climate change. By conserving energy, we save the resources spent producing it especially the fossil fuels. For instance, you have generating plants running on fossil fuels. If there is need to produce less energy, then less fossil fuel will be utilized. Also, moving into alternative renewable energy like bio mass, bio resources, solar wind and hydro power-these can help reduce the problem of climate change by lowering the burning of fossil materials be it petroleum or forest products. Energy conservation is definitely part of it.

Question:Will turning off appliances when not in use help others who may need it? Is it part of conserving energy?

Answer: Yes, it will and it is part of conserving energy.

Conclusion: The programme came to an end at 6:00pm with the audience encouraged to keep sending their questions even after the end of the programme as it will be forwarded to the resource persons who will answer and send back to the radio station.

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Baobab tree in front of the royal house in Oyedega

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stDate: 1 August 2014Venue: Centre for Technical Vocational Education, Training & Research (CETVETAR), University of Nigeria, NsukkaProgramme Coordinator/Facilitator: Prof. B.A. Ogwo (Member, PIC, ACCAI-UNN)

Introduction/Purpose:The training commenced at 12:33pm with introduction of all participants after which the facilitator gave a brief introduction on the purpose of the training, which he said was to assist and guide participants on preparing materials which will eventually be put into a format that will help local people understand and get a full grasp of what climate change entails and appreciate the need for actions on adaptation. As the facilitator stated the learning objects will be accessible as well as entertaining in order to sustain the interest of the trainees.

The Training Process:Following introductions, the facilitator informed that media flashes were the major learning objects to be used in facilitating the training of the people. While showing visual samples of these learning objects, and in answer to a question from one of the participants as to whether media flashes were the same as power points, the facilitator informed that media flashes were learning objects that are much lighter than power points especially because they were designed not to be downloaded into systems like the power point media which were much heavier.

The facilitator went on to explain to participants that in preparing materials for the design of learning objects, every learning exercise, should have objectives and all assessments will be based on the objectives. After the objectives, there will be scripts and graphics for every slide which will

help illustrate climate change in a manner that will be easily understood by the end users. For images and graphics, to illustrate the scripts, participants could go to google images for images that would help illustrate the script in a manner that will help the programmer to design an effective learning object that will be easily understood by the end users who are the local people themselves.

To make learning objects effective, the facilitator informed that 'edutainment' which he described as a new idea was a means of mixing education with entertainment in order to ensure that the interests of end users are sustained. In addition, color, graphics, animation, videos etc should be used in preparing presentations for the end users.The end of each presentation session would be followed by evaluation. The evaluation would entail a set of questions for the end user to answer. It is basically used to rate the level of understanding of the user. The questions themselves have answers such that when an end user answers wrongly, it is promptly noted and in some learning objects, when an end user answers wrongly, the design takes the user back to the section concerned so that the end user will re-read and understand the session. Generally, end users according to the facilitator should be able to identify with the format.

Determining the Format of the Learning Object:After some discussions, the participants suggested that the format of the learning object should be as follows:

1. Advocacy2. What is climate change3. Effects of climate change4. Adaptation e.g. farming season,

Improved seeds, Mechanisms etc

Time: 2:00pmVenue: Holy Ghost Cathedral, EnuguCo-ordinator: Rev. Fr. Prof. H. IchokuResource Persons: Prof. Anthonia Achike

Prof. Ignatius Madu

Introduction/Purpose:As part of measures to create awareness of the activities of ACCAI-UNN programmes as well as Climate Change as a current reality in the Nigerian environment, a clergy engagement was held at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu on Friday, 8th August, 2014.

The Programme/Process:The ACCAI-UNN team was invited to make a presentation during the second Enugu Catholic Diocesan pastoral council meeting presided over by the Catholic bishop of Enugu diocese His lordship, Dr. V.C. Onaga and attended by all parishes in Enugu diocese. Each parish was represented by a parish priest, vice chairman and secretary of the parish council, chairman of the Catholic Men's organization, chairperson of the Catholic Women's Organization, Catechist and President of the youth organization. At the high

table were Very Rev. Fr. Louis Ndulue; Rev. Sr. Dr. M.I. Okafor; Sir Nath Maduabuchi Onyia; Monsignor Patrick Ugwu; Monsignor Luke Adike.

Originally slated for 12noon, the event eventually commenced by 2pm when the AACAI-UNN team, was ushered in to make a presentation for 5 minutes. Prof Anthonia Achike introduced the team and gave a brief background of the ACCAI-UNN, its goals, vision, mission as well as opportunities available for farmers, students and the general

public. At the end of her introduction, the resource person Prof Ignatius Madu took the podium and made his presentation on 'Understanding Climate Change and Knowing Your Responsibilities for Mitigation and Adaptation'. The programme ended an hour later at 3pm.

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These will also include the objective, content, sequence as well as a concept map which will show the meaning, effects and adaptation.

The facilitator informed the trainees that the presentation must be of international standard which everyone in the audience should be able to identify with. It should also inculcate what is currently being done by farmers before this intervention.

Format of Presentation:On the format of the presentation, participants were told to use the following:

1. Author2. Topic3. Objectives4. Description

The facilitator added that the participants should indicate wherever they wish to have animations or rotations that will aid better visual understanding of the slides.

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mucha is a terrain prone to surface/soil erosions, and landslides. The community has as a result lost most of its fertile A

farming land to erosion menace over the years. The erosion menace began gradually in the early seventies and by the 1980s it has become a great menace threatening the survival and continuos existence of the community and its indigenes. Despite being the source of the great Njaba River, Amucha Ohonnya cannot boast of having any species of fish in its river as the river has been blocked by the same erosion problem. Apart from this obvious aqua dimension, the River which used to be a source of drinking and domestic water for the community has become a picture of sand and debris from the drainage that was constructed by President Shagari's regime to control the erosion. In spite of the fact that the Shagari's administration's effort remain the first and perhaps only systematic and large scale effort to deal with the menace, the said drainages where not properly terminated.

As a result, its offloading point is prone to artificial landslides as the flood water has found a channel underneath the said drainage at the termination point. This faulty termination of the drainage makes it for the flood to erode the drainage from that terminal and move gradually backwards from the springs at Njaba River banks which it has destroyed. However, the other finger of the gully continues inwards and towards the roads in the community which were ironically supposed to be protected by the construction of the drainages. Having lost their natural sources of spring water to an earlier but now failing attempt at controlling the flood water, the residents of the community now face acute water shortages and are especially motivated to seek for alternative sources of water both for drinking and domestic use. For the less privileged community members

who are the overwhelming majority of those resident in the community, such alternative sources are neither checked for purity nor cleanliness thereby exposing themselves to various water borne diseases and other afflictions associated with this. Hence, there is no gainsaying the need for a remedial response to the water scarcity faced by the community.

While there has been a noticeable decline in the official concern and worry with the Amucha erosion over the years, the erosion has neither abated nor declined significantly. Implied in this fact is that the negative consequences of the erosion continue to visit the community. One reliable means that the community has embraced for dealing with the menace and halting the march of the flood has been through a massive tree planting campaign championed by both the town union and a CSO - Amucha Ohonnya Erosions and Ecosystems Foundation. This tree planting campaign which has gone on for years now and is result oriented seeks for further support and help from the state and agencies outside the community. One way of doing this would be through the donation of such trees to the

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Community Focus: COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Tackling the Amucha Erosion through Communal Efforts

- Chijioke Emenalo

Gully Erosion in Amucha, Njaba LGA, Imo State

Learning Object Areas:In line with the choice and view of the trainees, after extensive discussion on both the merits and demerits as well as scope and extent of coverage in line with the broad ACCAI-UNN mandate, the following object areas were chosen:

1. Food security2. General Awareness3. Gender4. Health implications

The training came to an end at about 2 pm during which time the facilitator informed everyone that physical meetings had come to an end. Hence, further meetings and interactions would be online via emails or other means as the occasion demands. In addition, participants agreed to turn in their materials to the facilitator for final compilation, a week from the date of training so as to enable the facilitator send same to the programmer.

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community. Also, there is need for research efforts into erosion halting trees that may prosper in the soil in the community despite the ravages of floods. There is equally the need for extension agents and other such experts to interact with the community in order to properly situate this campaign within the framework of best practices.

With appropriate and committed support, there is no doubt that we can make a difference! After all, scientists and specialists on soil erosion have said time without number that ROOTS of trees help to bind and hold the soil together. One reverse implication of tree planting as erosion control is the need for tree cutting to be severely curtailed. Therefore, as the farming season heats up or commences (depending on the crop being planted) there is need for raising the awareness of community members on the dangers and adverse implications of indiscriminate tree cutting. Instead of cutting trees, there is need for people to embrace tree planting even on their individual capacities. In this regard, the month of May is a good time to plant trees; so also April, June, July, August and September. So long as the rains keep falling, one can keep planting trees.

Plant a tree today. As you read about Amucha we do not want you to keep thinking about gully and soil erosions alone, we want you to think about the people who live in Amucha and numerous communities like it in Nigeria. Hence as we make our pleas and SOS for an immediate RESCUE by tree planting and other sundry emergency measures to checkmate erosion menace across Amucha land, we need you to remember tree planting for your own community too!.

TREES outlive life, so if you want to be remembered after this life, PLANT A TREE TODAY. And watch it grow!

The Federal Government and Imo State Government can help any ecologically disadvantaged area with trees and other forms of compensation in addition to well-planned and managed resettlement or relocation. Therefore, as individuals and groups we should not keep

quiet in the face of the fight against ecological disasters, global warming, climate change and ozone layer depletion all over the world.

However, it is no secret that there is an ecological fund from the Federal Government of Nigeria, there is no denying the fact also that communities like Amucha are numerous in Nigeria (in fact, the list keeps growing almost exponentially as climate change accelerates every year) and are more often than not left to survive or perish on their own. However, a lot can be achieved in terms of remedial efforts if communities like Amucha can be allowed to tap into the Federal Government's ecology fund which is a component of national budgeting every year. There is no gainsaying the obvious fact that Amucha community no longer has land on which to farm or river from which to fish and source drinking water.

Finally, thanks for planting that tree today (just any tree would do). It is easy, it is fun, and it outlives this life. So here is a chance to dabble with immortality gentlemen and sisters, plant a tree today!

-Hon. Barr. Chijioke Emenalo is a Lawyer and environmental

rights activist. He is also the National Co-ordinator of Amucha Ohonnya

Erosions and Ecosystems Foundation (a group of volunteers fighting erosions and ecological disaster in Amucha through tree planting and other awareness campaigns).

Another Devastating Erosion Menace in Amucha

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n the 13th of August, 2014, Osome ACCAI -

UNN team members paid a courtesy call to the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Ben Ozumba.

The team was led by the Director of the ACCAI-UNN programme, Prof. Mrs. Anthonia Achike and inc luded some m e m b e r s o f t h e P r o g r a m m e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n C o m m i t t e e ( P I C ) : Professors Karl Okezie and Eric Eboh, and staff of the programme Ms. Kobi Ikpo & Mr. Samuel Ogunmefun, Programme Officer and Programme Assistant. The team congratulated the Vice

Chancellor on his recent appointment as the 14th Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria.

S p e a k i n g a t t h e occasion, the Director, i n t ima ted the V i ce Chancellor of the aims and objectives of the A C C A I - U N N programme, its strategic o b j e c t i v e s , o rgan iza t iona l and operat ive structure, target a u d i e n c e , p r o g r a m m e a c t i v i t y c o m p o n e n t s , expected out-puts, impacts, p r o g r e s s achieved so far, areas of possible collaboration with other universities,

anci l lary programmes under ACCAI, contract and f i n a n c i a l s t a t u s , chal lenges, emerging opportunities and possible new programmes. Also speaking at the occasion, Prof Eric Eboh noted that the ACCAI-UNN programme objectives aligned well with the Vice Chancellors' dream of making the university a world class institution.

The Vice Chancellor in his response thanked the team for their visit and pointed out that he had already started making efforts to adequately address some of the challenges listed by the Director in her speech. The VC further assured the team that he will continue to look into the challenges listed by the director.

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h e P r o g r a m m e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n Committee (PIC) of Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, University T

of Nigeria Nsukka, (ACCAI-UNN) recently presented a brand new bus it acquired to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Benjamin Ozumba. At the occasion, the Director of ACCAI-UNN, Prof. (Mrs) Antonia Achike explained to the Vice-Chancellor that the bus was a project vehicle donated to the Centre by its funder- Open Society Foundation (OSF) of the United States of America.She highlighted some activities of the Centre in the past few months to include: community-level training for farmers, local government councillors and town union leaders in Nsukka; Climate Change seminar series, media engagements, excursions to communities with high impact level of climate change; engagement of civil societies on the issue of climate change, among others.

Prof. Achike thanked the University administration for its support in the ACCAI-UNN programme, and reaffirmed the commitment of the PIC members in driving the mandate of the Centre to higher level.

After receiving the keys and particulars of the bus from the ACCAI-PIC Chairman, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, commended the passion of members of the committee in enforcing the mandate of ACCAI-UNN.He noted that the awareness level of Nigerians on the issue of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies has increased as a result of the activities of ACCAI-UNN. He also commended the OSF for its laudable support of the ACCAI programme. Finally, Prof Ozumba enjoined other Centres in the University to borrow a leaf from ACCAI-UNN to enable them attract grants and other resources to the University.

Presents Project Vehicle to the Vice - Chancellor

Excursion Team crossing the Oguta Lake

Parley with community members in Oyedega

Participants at a recent ACCAI research seminar

The skyline in Oyedega

Pristine nature tampered by climate changeViewing remote ends of the Oko Erosion from Nanka