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NEWSLETTER- NL/02/08 |
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For inclusion of your activities or information in our newsletter , please send your information through email to
event@wamason.org or
edith.t.iriruaga@wamason.org Inside:>> | From the President's Desk | Secretariat info | Regional Tit Bits | Council Corner | Industry News | Contribution |
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FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK-
If you Waste, you
must be Wasted |
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It is not enough for us all to despise waste, talk about pollution, climate change and environmental health while we continue in our usual development approach and lifestyle: we must accept that without us there is no waste. The phrase today is “climate change” sounding like a myth - a rock intrusion in a sandy desert. This global challenge (Climate change) is rather a manifestation of a biblical fact which says that God will bring to ruin those ruining the Earth. So, we must not take this, as those slogans of the past but work for it to affect our socio-political and economic position. Have we positively internalized this slogan now? I would have said no, if you agree that we are all professionals.
Professionals
we are indeed, if we can de-stupefy climate change in our little
way and improve the global effort aimed at knocking down our
(waste management sector) minor global footprint of less than
5%. We must not look at gas flaring in Nigeria, (which
approximately contributes over 45 million tons of CO2
per day) or our forest resources depletion (which is at an
outrageous rate of over 2.6% per year) but at the little that
can make the difference. This difference requires us all to be
under considerable pressure to streamline the collection,
disposal, and treatment of waste in order to be socially
accountable to our environment and community at large.
Nonetheless, we must contribute to the reduction in forest
destruction by generating alternative energy source and
re-structuring used wood to meet a new purpose through
integrated waste management. The science of Global warming is not new but the technology of solution and the economics of Emission trading are updates of interest today for Waste Managers.
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The technology is most complex in our context where solid waste is broadcast into the environment without control, the dumps are not capped when abandoned, the waters of the creeks are made anaerobic by excess organic load of sewage sludge, rudimentary collection service is not available due to poor institutional framework and lack of commercial value for service and so on. We must confront this challenge with development of infrastructure which today the FCCC and the complimentary Kyoto Protocol have provided the window. The Clean Development Mechanism which is a “cap & trade” economic instrument that allows the 38 developed nations otherwise called “Annex I Countries” to buy emission allowances from developing Countries like Nigeria is a great window. This window has been used by various nations (including Malaysia) to improve their waste management infrastructure.
Waste
management sector generates principally nitrous oxide, carbon
dioxide and methane (three out of the six GHGs) and so, any
measures taken by the sector to reduce any of these gases,
constitute clean development and such measures may qualify for “substitution
trading” with carbon emission. Up-grading and capping of our
waste dumpsites (to reduce fugitive methane emission),
controlled composting and waste burning, proper sewage sludge
management etc are basic measures that we can undertake.
These require
the enhancement of stakeholders’ coordination, and private –
public partnerships. To foster such processes, awareness raising
and potential partners’ identification and coordination are
required. Our institutions can achieve these by organizing joint
meetings and enhancing public planning and
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The new strategy
The National Council held an emergency Council meeting in the Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Africa, University of Ibadan on the 31st of May. The meeting was to map out strategies that will re-position WAMASON as a critical resource body in Nigerian waste management sector. The four-point strategy reached in the meeting includes: Visibility (media, publication, familiarization with National Agencies and national activities); Partnership with other relevant Government Agencies; Community service and; Financing.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting called on the
government to encourage professionalism in waste management
practice, mainstream waste management into national development
strategy and requested the State and Local governments to
institutionalise reliable waste data and planning system. The
meeting was necessitated by the increasingly attention waste
management is gaining both in international and national
development issues.
WAMASON Bill to be re-focused
It was agreed in the NC meeting based on a brief from the National President that the National Waste Management Bill proposed by WAMASON be reviewed. The Bill is now to be divided into two – Professionalisation of waste management practice and Control of the waste management industry. The Bill on the professionalisation of the practice is to be presented by WAMASON and aimed at regulating the practice of her members. The second Bill on the Control of the industry is to be submitted to the NESREA/Ministry of Environment for adoption and onward presentation to the National Assembly.
WAMASON celebrates WED
The National Executive Committee (NEC) directed all State Councils to conduct an Anti-Litter Campaign Walk to commemorate the World Environment Day. The idea behind this directive is to raise political attention and stimulate awareness on one of the particular challenges facing our country - street cleansing and waste management.this is related to the Global theme for this year - Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy – by the call for change of attitude towards “Street Litter” and the reduction of energy required for urban space cleaning, control of waste related emissions in public spaces and; improvement of the aesthetic value of urban spaces. |
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surveillance
initiatives through unit stakeholders. If you want to reach the
president, send mail to
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NEC incorporates REC in Financial Structure The 3rd National Council has approved a new financial formula that incorporates the Regional Executive Committee (REC) in the Society’s financial structure. The financial provision that is intended to support the activities of the Regional Coordinators within their regions is derived solely from the National Council allocation.
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COUNCIL CORNER |
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Lagos Council walk against Litters on “Earth Day”
Lagos Council created an impressive picture in the State
as they join other stakeholders of the environment to
celebrate the Earth day on the 22nd of April. The Earth
Day celebration is to inspire awareness and appreciation
of the Earth environment. The Council drew attention of
the Public to the menace of street littering through a
Walk campaign with the theme
“STOP THE THROWING OF LITTERS/WASTE AWAY FROM MOVING
VEHICLES ONTO OUR STREETS AND ROADS” In a
press release issued at the end of the Campaign, the
Council call on all to recognize the earth beautiful
system of balance and shun
RIVERS Council celebrates “WED” In adherence to the directive of NEC on the celebration of the World Environment Day (WED), Rivers Council in conjuncture with the Rivers State Government conducted a Walk against littering tagged Anti-litter Campaign Walk. The Campaign, which was kicked off by the Commissioner of Environment, Kingsley Chinda (Esq) started from Bori Camp and ended at Boro Park. Also, the Council used the opportunity to render community service by cleaning the street as litter was picked from the major road during the Walk. Creating awareness for improved waste disposal can work well if alternatives are put in place.
Port Reception or Creek Pollution?
(National Technical Secretary, Mr Hamadina Mohammed) About two months ago, our crew of experts sighted what obviously was a callous activity to them, but apparently a normal routine for the actors somewhere in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. Guess what? Personnel of a Company that prides itself with the slogan “Port Reception” were seen dumping the wastewater they so claim to be experts in handling into an open channel (opposite the Naval College) that drained into the Ogu Creek! Now, where was the wastewater from? Oh, sorry… didn’t mention that before… the company receives wastewater from ships/boats at the port (yes, Port Reception); the Company is expected to handle, treat and safely dispose of the wastewater…. yes the ‘polluter pays’ and the waste generator is responsible for his wastes from cradle to grave!!! And so what? Where are they? I mean: Federal/Rivers State Ministries of Environment, Rivers State Sanitation Authority, Nigerian Ports Authority/Port Operators, Department of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Maritime Authority, Trade Unions. What about the community based organizations?
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NATIONAL
Expert Review Meeting on Environmental Sanitation and Solid
waste Regulation
The National Environmental Standard, Enforcement and Regulation
Agency (NESERA) has organised an expert review on the
Environmental Sanitation and Solid Waste Regulations. The review
is planned for 30th June – 1st of July
2008 at NESREA conference room, Abuja.
INTERNATIONAL
Africa
Republic of Congo
World Health Day; Climate Change and its Health Impacts
The environmental implication of climate change has posed
enormous challenge on global community however; more worrisome
is its recent linkage to human health. Climate Change has been
identified as a contributing factor to the change in the
geographical distribution of vector-borne diseases by the World
Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director (Luis Gomes Sambo),
during the celebration of the last World Health Day in Congo
Brazzaville. In his words “the geographical distribution of
meningococcal meningitis appears to be expanding from the usual
meningitis belt to the Southern African Region”
Diseases linked to climate changes include malaria,
meningococcal meningitis, measles, and rift valley fever. The UN
Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, noted that children, elderly,
infirm and women are more vulnerable to these climate-related
infectious diseases. Also disturbing is the capacity to manage
these impending crises. Statistics has shown that Africa has 14%
of the world population, 25% of global disease burden yet it has
only 1.3% of global health workers. This situation has adverse
effect in the actualization of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) which require a threshold 2.5 health workers per 10, 000
inhabitants. How can Africa a ratio of health worker/population
of 0.8 per 10, 000 meet this goal? According to WHO, one million
more health workers are immediately needed in Africa to improve
the situation and major improvements are to be carried on
facilities. However, the WHO Regional Director stated that WHO
would give priority support to Africa countries to develop the
capacity to assess and manage the adverse health impacts of
climate change.
Cote d’Ivoire
Cote d’Ivoire Gets Boost on Hazardous Waste Management, Hope for other Africa Countries
The UNEP has launched (June, 2008) a new project aimed at addressing the issue of systemic weakness in controlling the movements of hazardous waste between countries as well as management of hazardous waste. The initiative is funded by the Governments of Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark and has its preliminary programme of action developed through a consultation process of the Government of Cote d’Ivoire with several UNEP and UN Agencies.
This project particularly addresses the issues of the dumping of hazardous waste from the vessel Probo Koala” in the Abidjan’s residential areas in August 2006. These issues which are not just peculiar to Cote D’Ivoire but to other developing countries include; gaps in the international instruments controlling transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and waste generated on ships, unscrupulous behaviour from some private operators, and the need to strengthen hazardous waste management capacity.
A waste management plan that would take into consideration existing legal framework and based on verified data is to be developed in consultation with the local stakeholders for the affected parts of the District of Abidjan. Also, recommendation for improvement on port systems and procedure are to be provided in collaboration with International Maritime Organization (IMO) and capacity building of staff of relevant government agencies are to be carried out for sound environmental management of hazwaste.
The Project is expected to promote the coordinated enforcement of relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements in several Africa Countries; study the feasibility of developing and implementing a timely warning system between authorities in Europe and Africa for preventive or preparatory action for the management of waste and; be replicated (initially) in other French-speaking countries in the region. There is a possibility of extending it to English-speaking countries. A second phase programme is being prepared for donor agencies to cover eight vulnerable countries hosting port facilities in Africa and inclusive package of capacity building similar to that of Cote d’Ivoire is put in place for participating countries.
The project is implemented by UNEP’s Post Conflict and Disaster
Management Branch and the Basel Convention Regional Centre for
French-speaking Countries in Africa in Senegal (BCRC-Senegal),
in consultation with the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on
the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and
disposal. In Cote d’Ivoire, the activities will be undertaken by
the Government and BCRC-Senegal in collaboration with Basel
Convention Secretariat and will be funded by SAICM QUICK Start
programme.
ASIA
Indonesia
UN Looks at the Hazards of Mobile Phones
The management of old mobile phone was key focus on the five-day
meeting of the Basel Convention at Bali, which started on the 23rd
of June 2008. The meeting is to discuss and adopt new set of
guidelines for the environmentally sound management of mobile
phones that has been estimated to grow exponentially to more
than 3 billions from 1970s to April 2008.
Besides the issue of phones, the organizers stated that the
ninth “Conference of Parties” meeting would focus on the effect
of hazardous waste on human health and livelihood. Participants
are expected to adopt a Bali Declaration aimed at highlighting
the importance of health and waste management for global
development strategies such as poverty reduction.
EUROPE
United Kingdom
UK
Economist devised a Global Emission Trading Scheme to cut
emissions from Shipping and Aviation Industries.
Dr Terry Barker, of the University of Cambridge and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change has devised a Global Emission Trading Scheme (GETS) to cut down emissions from the Shipping and Aviation industries. The Scheme is a 100% auctioning of credit where operators could buy additional credit, if needed to offset their emission through the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The proposal is applicable to transporters rather than countries and is intended to cover only international flights. National governments are encouraged to develop scheme that would curb emissions from internal flight. The successful implementation of GETS is dependent on full participation of all countries and is thought that it would be difficult for countries to opt out of this scheme since there would always be movements from one nation to another.
Contribution of aviation industries to global emission is put at
2% while that from the shipping industries according to IMO
earlier this year is 4.5%. It is predicted that by 2020 there
would be a rise to 75% in emissions from the shipping industries
and even higher percent in aviation. The scheme is aimed at
gradually reducing the two sectors emissions to net zero between
2013 and 2052. The revenue from the auctions is to be used for
the funding of climate change mitigation policies, support the
Mexico Multilateral Climate Change Fund or new CDM programmes.
CIWEM Recommends an International Agreement on the Management of Environmental Refugees.
The Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM),
in a message on the World Refugee Day (20th June) stated that
environmental disaster and changing climate are displacing more
people than the world wars combined. It added that it was time
to start taking more active stance on the issue. The effect of
environmental disaster resulting from climate change has pushed
up the levels of migration. According to the Organization’s
Director, Paul Horton, “movement on this scale has the potential
to destabilise whole regions where increasingly desperate
population compete for dwindling food and water. It is our
common responsibility to act now to address these issues.” He
further added that health should be put at the heart of this
matter and that wellbeing of population should be the defining
measure of the impact of climate change and our efforts to
address it effectively.
The Institution has recommended that an International agreement on the management of environmental refugees that defines climate refugee within the international framework be developed. This framework is also to include persons displaced as a result of development project.
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