By Salifu Faridat
Busola Ajibola, an influential champion of gender equality and Deputy Director of the Journalism Program at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has brought attention to a critical concern— the glaring exclusion of women and individuals with disabilities in the development of climate change policies.
Speaking at the Climate Change Media Reporting Workshop held in Abuja over two days, Ajibola emphasized that this omission has led to a sizable portion of the population being sidelined from both decision-making processes and the effective implementation of climate policies.
During the workshop, Ajibola stressed that empowering girls through education and inclusive practices could yield decisions that help curb population growth, subsequently leading to a reduction in harmful gas emissions.
She underscored the paramount importance of educating the public about actionable methods to further alleviate emissions.
Highlighting a survey from the previous year that revealed shifts in crop production patterns due to climate change, Ajibola pointed out the lack of awareness among women farmers regarding this vital link.
Considering that women constitute a significant 45-75% of the crop-producing demographic, she underscored the potentially dire consequences of withholding such crucial information from them.
Furthermore, Ajibola underscored the significance of minimizing food waste by promoting improved preservation techniques, thereby mitigating the release of detrimental gases into the environment.
She urged journalists to closely scrutinize the allocation and utilization of budgets for climate change initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
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Ajibola called for a close examination of how much of the budget was dedicated to women, and the potential implications if inadequate or no resources were allocated for them.
Advocating for more comprehensive research and media coverage on the intersection of climate change and women’s health, Ajibola urged for the active engagement of women and individuals with disabilities in the creation of innovative climate change technologies.
She placed special emphasis on ensuring that these technologies are accessible to people with disabilities, effectively preventing their exclusion from potentially transformative solutions.
Addressing the gathering, Adesola Effiwatt, Principal Scientist at Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change, voiced her concerns regarding the lack of consensus among African nations in international climate change negotiations.
She highlighted how this discord has hampered progress in Africa’s collective commitment to climate change mitigation.
Effiwatt brought attention to Africa’s need for both adaptation finance and sustainable energy access, as well as the imperative for policies and projects tailored to address specific regional needs, including gender considerations.
Effiwatt stressed the critical importance of establishing well-structured frameworks for managing, accessing, and monitoring climate-related funds.
She advocated for the strategic implementation of projects and policies that take into account the unique requirements of local populations.
Offering guidance to fellow journalists, Akintunde Babatunde, the Program Director at CJID, urged them to focus on stories that wield tangible impact, emphasizing the pivotal role of narratives that can drive substantial change.
