UNEP LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENT AND TRADE HUB

Participants: From left: Mark Eddo, moderator; Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya; Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, CEO of ICTSD; Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director; Gregory Domingo, Trade Minister of the Philippines; Fred Agah, WTO Deputy Director General. -

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched an Environment and Trade Hub, the initiative which will assist countries to use sustainable trade as a vehicle for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Participants: From left: Mark Eddo, moderator; Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya; Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz, CEO of ICTSD; Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director; Gregory Domingo, Trade Minister of the Philippines; Fred Agah, WTO Deputy Director General. -  

 UNEP Executive Director Mr. Achim Steiner said, "UNEP is already working directly with many governments and other stakeholders to implement an inclusive green economy in countries across all continents.

According to him, ‘the Hub holds enormous potential to build on this experience and help unlock the true capabilities of developing countries, using trade as a motor for sustainable development and environmental protection, and benefiting every single one of us."

The Hub was formally launched at an event on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi. UNEP co-hosted the plenary session entitled "Trade and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda" with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) at the opening of ICTSD's Trade and Development Symposium.

Trade is a key means of implementation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable trade can impact positively on goals across the board, in areas such as food security and sustainable agriculture, sustainable management of water and sanitation, access to modern energy, and mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Many countries are unable to make effective use of international markets, gain access to sustainable global value chains to equitably grow their economies, and attract overseas investment to build modern, sustainable industries and contribute to global value chains. African countries, for example, account for less than 2 per cent of international trade.

The Hub aims to enhance the capacity of countries to design and implement trade policies that foster environmental sustainability and human well-being; to assist countries in the realization of trade opportunities arising from a transition to greener economies; to strengthen the sustainability aspects of cross-border trade and investment agreements in negotiations; and to realize a shift of trade practices and trends to more sustainable pathways.

NIGERIA URGED TO PRODUCE AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLY.

The Federal Ministry of Environment in Nigeria and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation have been in the business of promoting safe and healthy environment for Nigerians through projects and programs evolved to tackle the various environmental challenges witnessed in the country.

Recently the two staunch stakeholders partnered to sensitize Nigerians on Extended Producer Responsibility (CPR) in the Electronic and Manufacturing Industry.

The event which held at The British Residency in Lagos assessed progress on the implementation of CPR in Nigeria.

Participants at the event among other things identified sound and comprehensive National E-waste Management Strategy as key to the elimination of the adverse environmental, social and economic effects of electronic waste in Nigeria. According to them, attention should be channeled towards good and sustainable collection system, strengthening of dismantling facilities, establishment of recycling standards as well as the right financing mechanisms in the handling of e-waste in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government speaking through Theodore Nwaokwe, the Deputy Director and Chemical Waste and Business Management Expert in the Ministry of Environment, said that it had put various initiatives in place to check influx of hazardous chemicals to Nigeria.                               

Theodore Nwaokwe

The Country Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO and Regional Director for West Africa a.i, Dr. David Tommy in his speech, urged Nigeria to device a way of managing electronic wastes as it pursues a safe environment for citizens and other stakeholders operating in its domain.

Dr. Tommy said the importance of producing and developing sustainably by Nigeria lies in the consideration of its enormous population and the waste and pollution generated by the population.

Dr. David Tommy

Ms Beverly Okoye (second right)

Representing the British High Commission at the event, Beverly Okoye affirmed Britain’s commitment to the sustainable development of Nigeria. Miss Okoye said the Commission was particularly interested in the event because it promotes dialogue between governments and industries; the two giant stakeholders in the making of legislations and societal development.

THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: VERITABLE TOOL TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

Another issue raised at the event, is the incontrovertible role of the media  to aid awareness creation on climate change and environmental issues.

Nkechinyere Itodo was contracted to speak on 'The Role of Media on Environmental Protection'. Among other things presented, Nkechinyere said that the media is expected to inform, educate and even provide entertainment on environmental issues . Of particular interest, she noted is the role that the entertainment industry in conjunction with the media can play in this day and time on awareness-creation of climate change/environmental issues. According to her, primarily the media is expected to design programs that attract viewers of all class and age in an entertainment format that will at the same time, pass the needed information to everyone in the society. However, she said that the media alone cannot attain this without the cooperation of the entertainers themselves.

Nkedhinyere Itodo

Therefore, the entertainment industry in Nigeria should partner with the environment journalists in creating awareness about climate change and its effects on the environment. Omotola Jalade Ekhinde, Genevieve Nnaji, Tuface Idibia, Wiz kid, Davido and other great entertainers in Nigeria, she said should show interest in environmental protection, to enrich environmentally-based reports and documentations of entertainment programmes.

One can imagine what will happen if these prominent artistes begin to include environmentally-inspired lyrics in their songs or scripts! Michael Jackson’s Earth song, she recalls became a rallying point for environmentalists on the global arena, for instance. Everyone related to that song and the message it gave.