By: George Ozalla
Mohamed Fall, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, has described the climate crisis as a human rights emergency, especially in Nigeria and by extension other Sub-Saharan African countries.
He made this declaration at the Regional Africa Human Rights Academic Conference 2025 in Abuja being hosted by National Human Rights Commission NHRC and co-hosted by University of Nigeria Nsukka UNN, Faculty of Law
The conference, which kicked off yesterday at the Rockview Royale Hotel, Abuja brought together researchers, and experts in human rights and climate change issues to discuss the intricate relationships between human rights, environmental protection, and climate change.
This year’s conference theme is “Human Rights, Environment and Climate Change Access to,” aims to provide a platform for participants to exchange ideas, knowledge, experiences, and best practices in promoting human rights, environmental sustainability, and climate justice in the whole of Africa.
Mr. Fall reiterated that the climate crisis goes beyond environmental issues, stressing further that its consequences, such as, food insecurity, water scarcity, land loss and displacement, have become regular realities for millions of people, especially in Nigeria.
He further noted that the vulnerable population, including women, children, youths, and persons with disabilities, bear the major brunt of the dire consequences of the climate change crisis.
Fall also said that these persons contribute the least to the greenhouse emission that triggers the crisis, yet suffer more.
Despite Sub-Saharan Africa producing less than 4% of the greenhouse emissions, it suffers the worst effects of climate change.
Fall highlighted this as an injustice and moral failure, which would have far reaching consequences on the next generation.
Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming leading to depletion of ozone layer. Highly industrialized countries are major sources of these emissions. Activities such as deforestation and agricultural practices also contribute to the emissions.
Mr Fall’s position on disproportionately devastating effects of the climate crisis on the least developed nations, which contribute so little to overall emissions, has a nexus with Nigeria’s criticism of the new $300 billion climate deal agreed upon at COP29 late last year.
Last deal included a fresh pledge by wealthy nations to provide $300 billion annually to poorer nations to help them address climate change challenges amidst dissatisfaction by Nigeria.
Nigeria is at a critical crossroads and the frontline of climate change, confronting severe desertification in the north, erosion and rising sea levels in the south, and a dramatic weather pattern disrupting agriculture and livelihood, Mr Fall warned!
He stated that the effect of the flood was detrimental to the fight for equality, threatened peace, led to poverty, and threatened peace and stability.
In the same vein, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, lent his voice stating, “The impacts of climate change have dire consequences on human rights, including the rights of life, good health, food, water, and shelter. Climate justice demands that those who suffer the most from climate change receive adequate support and protection.”
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Nkiruka Maduekwe, who was present at the conference, described her experience in nine Niger Delta States as revealing and worrisome.
Ms. Maduekwe, who is a lawyer, lamented the lack of lawyers in climate negotiation, citing her experience at COP29, where she was the only Nigerian lawyer represented there.
“You cannot talk about climate justice when the lawyers who should chase this do not understand climate change. Can this be changed?” she asked.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in November, focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to sustainable energy.
The Climate Change Act was enacted in 2021 to provide a legal framework for addressing climate change and achieving net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070. She also noted that Nigeria was the second African country to have an explicit framework to govern and restrict climate change actions in Nigeria.
Professor Joy Ezeilo from UNN, Law faculty and Program Director of the conference remarked that,” Beyond researching we have to be able to have human rights education that integrates environmental issue, climate justice, climate action, legal framework, especially the regional treaties of human and peoples’rights.
