Environment

Cop26: fears smaller nations will be priced out of hosting pavilions

Countries and organisations planning to host events at vital UN climate talks in Glasgow next month have said they fear that increased costs at this year’s event will cause problems for developing nations.

Multiple participants said that the cost of renting Cop26 pavilions – event spaces for hosting workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches during the conference – is considerably higher than it was at Cop25 in Madrid, with some saying it had increased by as much as 30%.

Organisations say they were told that a combination of Brexit and the pandemic were to blame for the high costs.

It comes after the Financial Times reported that one organisation was quoted nearly £500,000 for its space.

One official for a developing country said they were “very concerned” about operational capacity at the event, which due to the pandemic they also want to make available online, after they were told technicians could not be guaranteed unless they pay their expenses. The logistical operation, they said, is “confusing and expensive”.

They said the only transparent cost was the £400 a square metre rental rate, which does not include customisation and technological requirements, which they said could cost over £1,000 a square meter. In Madrid they said the rental cost was $400 – about £300 – a square meter.

An official for the World Health Organization, which is hosting a health pavilion at Cop26 with more than 60 events for global health delegates, said the “outrageous” pricing is more than double what they had originally planned for. They said organisers were blaming Brexit and a shortage of materials and human resources. They expect to spend $200,000 (£146,662) for a 62 sq metre space.

The official said that developing countries would undoubtedly be affected by the high costs.

“We have something aside that we can spend for these advocacy activities. But I don’t think it’s the case for many of the countries.”

They added: “We are trying to support the ministry of health of Fiji and other ministries of health from around the world, lower income countries, to come to Cop because we want the representation of the health community to be there. But even for us the prices of the flights and then the hotels are four times more than previous years.”

Another organisation said they were being forced to scale back plans for their pavilion as a result of rental costs being “30% higher than what it was in Madrid”.

The World Wildlife Fund, which is hosting a Cop26 pavilion, said pavilions play an important role in raising awareness of key issues and that there has been a “more significant increase” in cost than in previous years.

A spokesperson called on the UK government to ensure “equitable, inclusive and safe participation by developing nations and civil society”.

A UN spokesperson said developing countries that cannot afford the fees would have to speak to the UK government about it.

A Cop26 spokesperson said: “We are working closely with our delivery partners to ensure the stage is set for Cop26 when it begins later this month and are confident all pavilions will be ready in time.

“There has been unprecedented demand for pavilions at Cop26 and the impact of Covid on the supply of essential goods and materials has increased cost.”

They said the UK government has funded some of the pavilions but they have not been able to support all funding requests.

Environment

NiMet predicts dust haze from Thursday to Saturday across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has predicted dust haze from Thursday to Saturday across Nigeria.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Wednesday in Abuja envisaged a slight dust haze on Thursday in good visibility throughout the forecast period in the northern region.

The agency said that North central states are expected to experience slight dust haze in good visibility throughout the forecast period.

It envisaged moderate dust haze with visibility range of 2km to 5km throughout the forecast period in the southern parts of the country.

According to it, early morning fog or mist over the coastal areas are expected.

For Thursday, NiMet said a slight dust haze is expected throughout the forecast period in the northern region.

It added that the North central region should be in a slight dust haze throughout the forecast period.

It further stated that in the South, moderate dust haze with visibility range of 2km to 5km is expected throughout the forecast period.

The agency predicted moderate dust haze in the northern region on Friday with visibility range of 2km to 5km throughout the forecast period.

According to NiMet, the North Central should be in moderate dust haze with visibility range of 2km to 5km during the forecast period.

It envisaged early morning fog or mist over the coastal areas of the country while slight dust haze in patches of clouds are expected over the region during the afternoon and evening periods.

NiMet added that dust particles are in suspension and the public should take necessary precaution.

It advised airline operators to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from it for effective planning

Environment

NEMA warns against bush burning in Harmattan period

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned members of the public against bush burning during the harmattan period to avoid the destruction of property and loss of life.

DAILY POST reports that the NEMA Head of Operations, Edo Office, Ojuedene Kenoma, gave the warning at the training of officials of local governments and volunteers in Edo State on disaster prevention, response, and control measures.

Kenoma said the training was aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness, response, and recovery at the grassroots level.

He opined that disasters such as tanker accidents, fire outbreaks, or other emergencies do not wait for the opportune moment.

“It is essential that “we foster a culture of preparedness, awareness, and response across every level of society, especially at the grassroots level.”

“This workshop is a critical step toward empowering our communities with the knowledge and tools they need to respond to disasters.”

“By training and mobilising volunteers within these communities, our Director-General Zubaida Umar is building a network of emergency responders who can take swift and effective action when emergencies arise.”

“The workshop is aimed at raising public awareness, particularly around the high risks associated with tanker accidents and fire outbreaks, both of which present significant challenges in Edo State,” he said.

He further explained that NEMA is taking disaster management to the grassroots by training local government officials and volunteers at the grassroots level.

He added that the agency expects the participants to cascade the training down to the grassroots and sensitise the local population on how to prevent and respond to fire incidents.

One of the resource persons, Superintendent Asimu Sumaila, in his lecture that safety is everybody’s responsibility and that the knowledge of fire one has determines the chance of survival when it happens.

Sumaila explained that 80 per cent of fire incidents happen as a result of carelessness and negligence by individuals.

He said that in fighting fire disasters, one has to know the right solution to use, as using the wrong solution can create more problems.

He stated that the solution to extinguish ordinary fire is different from PMS (petrol) fire.

“Most people leave their houses without removing appliances from the socket or turning them off, and while burning refuse, people will not be there to control it. The embers from that fire can flow in different directions and ignite fires elsewhere,” he said.

He, however, cautioned the people against leaving their appliances on when leaving home and against bush burning, especially near residential areas, as it can destroy houses and result in loss of lives.

Environment

NiMet forecasts 3-day sunshine and dust haze

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted weather conditions featuring sunshine, dust haze, and isolated thunderstorms across the country from Monday to Wednesday.

In its weather outlook, NiMet predicted slight dust haze for the northern region on Monday, with localized visibility expected to range from 2 to 5 kilometers throughout the day.

The North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies with a hazy atmosphere, while the southern region will see sunny skies with patches of clouds. Thunderstorms and light rains are anticipated in parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states during the afternoon and evening hours.

On Tuesday, November 26, moderate dust haze is forecasted for the northern region, with localized visibility potentially dropping below 1,000 meters. Slight dust haze is expected in the North Central region, while the southern region is likely to experience sunny skies with scattered clouds. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms, accompanied by light rains, are expected in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states.

NiMet’s outlook for Wednesday, November 27, indicates continued moderate dust haze in the northern region, with localized visibility below 1,000 meters. The North Central region will experience slight dust haze, with visibility between 2 to 5 kilometers. The southern region is forecasted to have sunny skies with patches of clouds and potential thunderstorms with light rains in parts of Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states.

The agency cautioned the public about suspended dust particles and advised individuals with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, to take precautions during this period.

NiMet also warned of strong winds potentially accompanying thunderstorms in some areas, urging residents to stay safe and adhere to weather advisories.

Airline operators were advised to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for effective flight planning.