By Abasi Ita
Cross River Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has commenced the development of the state’s first Climate Transition Plan to attract green investments, unlock climate financing and strengthen the protection of vulnerable communities against climate change.
Otu announced the initiative on Tuesday in Calabar during a two day inception workshop on the development of the plan. He was represented by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem.
The governor, who chairs the State Council on Climate Change, described climate change as “an urgent economic reality” requiring deliberate action, rather than a distant environmental concern.
He noted that Cross River, home to a significant share of Nigeria’s remaining tropical rainforests, could leverage its natural resources to create jobs, improve livelihoods and drive sustainable economic growth in line with his People First agenda.
“Our natural resources must become a source of sustainable prosperity for our people,” Otu said, stressing the need to reconcile environmental conservation with economic development.
He explained that the process would begin with four baseline assessments covering the state’s 18 local government areas. They include a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, Climate Finance Landscape Assessment and Mitigation Strategy Assessment.
According to him, the assessments would generate credible data to identify climate risks, determine priorities and attract financing and private sector investments.
Otu emphasised that evidence based planning would enable the state to develop practical interventions capable of addressing its environmental challenges and delivering measurable results.
In his keynote address, the State Special Envoy on Climate Missions, Oden Ewa, said the plan must translate existing climate laws and institutions into tangible economic, social and environmental benefits.
“The task before us is to move beyond policies and institutions to measurable results that improve lives, strengthen our economy and protect our environment,” Ewa said.
He urged ministries, departments and agencies, as well as local government councils, to incorporate climate priorities into their budgets and development programmes.
Ewa also called for stronger collaboration among private investors, financial institutions, civil society organisations and local communities, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, ecotourism and waste management.
Citing the ecological disasters experienced across the state, he warned that climate change required urgent and coordinated interventions.
“We can no longer afford to treat climate change as a subject for discussion alone. The time has come for coordinated action and practical interventions,” he said.
The Cross River Central APC senatorial candidate commended Otu’s commitment to addressing climate challenges and expressed confidence that partnerships with Future Funds, the Under2 Coalition and the Climate Group would support the plan’s implementation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Development Programme to climate action initiatives.
