By Ngozi Nwankwo
Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye Salako has called on the developing countries who mostly impacted victims of climate change to put more structures in place to prioritise climate actions and enhance climate Accountability and Transparency.
Salako said the challenges of climate change and energy transition require not just innovative solutions but also a firm commitment to ethical governance, emphasizing that transparency and Accountability are the bedrock of any sustainable development.
The Minister, who was the Chairman of the occasion stated this at the Two- Day 1st International Anti-Corruption and Climate Change Conference with the *theme: National Stakeholders’ Engagement for Accountability and Transparency in Climate change,Energy Transition and Oil Extraction Licensing for Sustainable Development* in Abuja organised by the Human & Environmental Media Development Agency (HEDA)Resource Centre in collaboration with HawkMoth and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Represented by the Director, Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Iniagbon Abiola-Awe, Minister disclosed that the maiden event has underscored the interconnectiveness and the need for all sectors and key relevant stakeholders to tackle the urgent challenges posed by the phenomenon of climate change.
The Minister also called on the developed countries who are the principal drivers of global warming and climate change to be more transparent and accountable in climate funding.
Earlier in his Speech, the Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukayode stated that Climate Change and Anti Corruption might seem as two different concepts but they do have a convergence as Global Warming and environmental devastating are not unconnected with abuse of laws and regulations regarding environmental management.
Mr. Olukayode further reiterated that their convergence is around social and economic sustainability which are central to the anti-corruption campaign being driven by the EFCC in Nigeria.
He also revealed that EFCC’s efforts against corruption are broad based, stressing that the Commission is evolving more effective prevention frameworks to curb economic and financial crimes in the country.
It would be recalled that HEDA is celebrating 20 years of its establishment as it was duly registered in 2004.