Taraba State Government on Friday unveiled the action plan policy to tackle the increasing effects of climate change in the state.
Governor Agbu Kefas stated during the launch in Jalingo that the idea was to safeguard the future of Taraba, as the policy would protect forests, rivers and other natural resources.
Kefas lamented that the effects of climate change were fast affecting agriculture and communities, expressing fear that unpredictable rainfall and drying rivers may attract severe consequences for farmers and residents if urgent action is not taken.
“These decisions are about the future of Taraba; We are working towards protecting our forests and to see that our rivers still flow.
“The effects of climate change are already affecting agriculture and communities. The unpredictable rainfall alongside drying rivers could have serious consequences on farmers and residents if urgent action is not taken”. Kefas expressed.
The governor also urged residents to support climate policy that supports farmers’ growth, while protecting forests and discouraging bush burning.
Kefas called for improved waste management, as climate action could not be effectively pursued while streets and drainage systems remained clogged with waste.
He called on the Federal Government, the National Council on Climate Change, international partners and other stakeholders to work in partnership with Taraba State in implementing the policy and action plan.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Hajiya Aishat B. Barde, called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local government councils, traditional institutions, communities, youth and women groups, the private sector and development partners to embrace their legitimate responsibilities in implementing the policy.
The Commissioner declared that climate action was not the responsibility of a single institution but a shared mandate that required collective commitment, coordination and sustained action.
Barde assured that the policy would help Taraba build a state that is “environmentally sustainable, economically prosperous and resilient to the challenges of changing climate.”
She applauded the Natural Eco Capital, Society for Planet and Prosperity, and the African Climate Foundation for their financial and technical support toward the development of the policy.
The Commissioner also commended Governor Agbu Kefas for creating an enabling environment for the fight against climate change, and making it a priority in the state’s development agenda.