Bob Dewar

The really hot issue for Africa

The poster launched in London by David and Ed Miliband showing what might happen to our blue planet if we don't keep climate change to 2 degrees C or less is dramatic. It is a really important message for Africa. Ordinary citizens have so many problems- just getting enough food to eat and getting kids into some sort of school with a decent teacher is a tough job. How then can they look up and understand the bigger picture- which is that climate change will change their children's lives dramatically for ever unless everyone, every government, every one with influence, takes action to get a balanced, brave, successful deal at Copenhagen? 
 
I was looking at expert analysis the other day of what 4 degrees increase might mean for the great rain forests of Africa which come only after South American ones in importance for world weather systems. Simply put, it would cause an ecological catastrophe with massive loss of forest cover, bringing more extreme weather and turning  carbon sinks into a significant carbon source. People in marginal lands of Africa are already learning about desertification. Will people living in the remaining great forests of Africa today only know savannah tomorrow, if they are lucky?

Posted at 15:37 27 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

Awareness about the environment

Participated in a thought provoking round table discussion last week in Lagos on climate change, organised by the British Council. The State of Lagos is doing a lot to raise awareness about the environment but the urgency of climate change has still to strike home to everyone.

Naturally in Lagos, much of which is very low lying, there is a lot of discussion of sea level rise and what it means. But my message was not to panic; instead there are things that all leaders, all individuals can do.  And, besides better planning, there should be great opportunities for use of new technology and funding that we hope will be part of the deal for developing countries at the December Copenhagen summit.

So far as the UK team goes,  we decided to work as much as possible with both the private sector and Lagos state Government in coming months, trying to improve shared understanding and joint cooperation between them. Also trying to help on waste management and other specific areas.

Posted at 16:00 14 July 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Nigeria and the Copenhagen climate change negotiations

Visited Calabar the capital of Cross Rivers State, which has the highest remaining amount of Tropical High Forest in Nigeria (unfortunately only an estimated 4% of what there once was is still remaining and 60% of that is in Cross Rivers). Commendably the State government has launched a policy to prevent illegal logging.

But a round table with stakeholders revealed plenty of challenges - including the need for an inventory to know what forests remain and their boundaries; pressure from farmers; the consequent need for community engagement and alternative livelihoods; and the problem of how to involve legitimate private sector in value-added wood businesses. 

I focused most of my discussions with the Governor, the Commissioner of Environment and the stakeholders on the need for Nigeria to be fully involved in a balanced way in the Copenhagen climate change negotiations. Because if we - collectively - don't get an ambitious deal agreed, thus keeping global temperature rises below 2 degrees C,  then the prospects for tropical forests look ever bleaker.

I explained that deforestation should be on the table and part of the future carbon market - and outlined the other issues that we think need to be part of that Copenhagen deal, aimed at getting global emissions to peak and start falling in the next 10 years or so.

Posted at 15:31 07 May 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]