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By Sola Isola
The Osun State Government is set to hold its first-ever inter-agency stakeholder Climate Change workshop as part of steps taken on the development of its Climate Action plan (CAP).
The workshop which is to hold on Thursday, 29th of August, 2024 is designed to bring together key climate change focal representatives and desk officers from various sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry, urban planning, commerce and transportation, to collaborate on the development of a unified approach to climate action.
Consultant to Osun State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof. Chinwe Obuaku made this known while speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the recently concluded Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) data analysis and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) challenges workshop organized by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in Abuja.
She added that the focus will be on sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices to ensure that the state climate initiatives are both effective and aligned with national and global standards.
“On Thursday, the 29th of August, Osun State will hold its first-ever inter-agency stakeholder Climate Change workshop dedicated to this initiative. This gathering will bring together key climate change focal representatives and desk officers from various sectors, including energy, agriculture, forestry, urban planning, commerce and transportation, to collaborate on the development of a unified approach to climate action.
“The focus will be on sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices to ensure that our climate initiatives are both effective and aligned with national and global standards.
“During this workshop, the Osun State delegation had the opportunity to meet with the Director-General of the NCCC and the Special Adviser to the President on Carbon Finance and Stakeholder Engagement. These discussions were invaluable, providing insights that will enhance our approach to climate data management and strengthen our state’s capacity to meet its climate commitments.
“Our initiative will be guided by a structured reporting template, ensuring that each sector contributes effectively to the state’s overall climate goals.
“This template will cover a range of critical areas, including an overview of ongoing climate actions, key activities and achievements, challenges encountered, data and metrics, stakeholder engagement, funding and resources, future plans, and actionable recommendations”, Prof Obuaku noted.
Speaking on the role of Climate Focal Points and Desk officers of climate change across MDAs in the state, Prof Obuaku stated that the state government has recognized the need to mainstream climate action into all areas of development.
She maintained that desk officers would ensure that the climate goals of the state are translated into tangible actions and measurable outcomes.
“The Osun State Government, organizations, and institutions have recognized the need to mainstream climate action into all areas of development, ensuring that climate considerations are integrated into policies, programs, and activities and “Climate Focal Points and Desk officers” are pivotal in this process.
“They serve as the primary point of contact within their respective MDAs, sectors and agencies for all matters related to climate action in Osun state.
“Their role is multifaceted, encompassing policy implementation, data management, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, resource mobilization, and compliance monitoring. As the intermediaries between high-level climate policies and on-the-ground implementation, desk officers ensure that climate goals are translated into tangible actions and measurable outcomes.
“The responsibilities of desk officers vary depending on the sector, but their overarching goal remains the same: to advance agency, MDA and sector-specific climate action in alignment with national and international climate commitments. This includes the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and various national climate policies and frameworks.
“Climate focal points or desk officers are individuals or teams within each ministry or agency who are tasked with the responsibility of integrating climate considerations into their sectoral policies, programs, and operations. They serve as the primary link between their respective sectors and the overarching climate governance framework of the state, particularly the Department of Climate Change and the Advisory Council”, she added.
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