I AM TROUBLED.....
https://youtu.be/FfZVyM5QimE
If we are serious about fighting climate change, we must move the money from the oil sector. It seems like our seriousness is only in conferences and speeches, while the willpower from corporations and the Nigerian government is painfully low. It all feels political.
Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO of We Don't Have Time, has stressed the need to #MoveTheMoney. At the just concluded New York Climate Week, we saw how countries that have actually moved their funds are making real progress in mitigating climate change and transitioning to a green economy. But here, we can't expect an already struggling country to transition when young innovators, researchers, and small businesses trying to work on green projects are left without support. No subsidies, nothing. Yet, the world governments—especially in the West—push billions in subsidies for oil. It's confusing to hear the same countries, supposedly leading the climate change movement, still discussing fracking as a promising business in 2024. Who are we deceiving? It seems it’s all about money, and who makes the most. For those of us who are in the field following the goals and best practices, it all seems like a sham.
But we cannot ignore climate change, because we face its consequences. I have seen people die. I have walked through communities facing drought, where children are malnourished. I have seen the aftermath of floods where people drop dead while waiting for food. I have watched coastal communities forced to sleep on the jetty for nights while trying to build new homes. I've seen death, starvation, hunger—the real effects of this crisis. This is why our fight for climate justice in Nigeria is different. We cannot afford to play politics or mimic the Western approach. We must be bold, and we must hold corporations accountable.
As we prepare for COP29, I fear it will be the same old talk without action. Who is really doing the stocktaking? How are results being measured? I wish we could have a side event in the Niger Delta where the real voices of victims of climate change could be heard. Maybe, just maybe, if people looked into the eyes of a mother who has lost her child in a flood, or a widow who lost her husband, or a community leader struggling with sickness, drought, and death among his people—maybe then they would understand.
This is not a joke. And truly, we don’t have time.
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10 w
Thanks for your statement! I fully agree with you!
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10 w
@Rentzhog thank you your voice at the just concluded NYW, we followed through all the sessions and it was remarkable the wealth of knowledge we gleaned from the guests.
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10 w
A powerful text to read. I agree that we need to raise marginalized voices to put the spotlight on the elephant in the room - we are talking about people's lives here. Financial worries should come second. This discussion needs to be heard. Let's use our platform to help make that happen.