The Ogun State Government has inaugurated an Inter-ministerial Committee on climate change,to provide a strong platform that will make the State prepare and fortify against direct and indirect effects of global warming on the economy and social well-being of the people.

          The 19-member Committee which is domiciled in the Ministry of  Environment has representatives from Ministries of Forestry, Agriculture, Works and Infrastructure, Education, Science and Technology,Transports, Industry,Trade and Investment, Ogun State  Waste Management Authority, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Community Development and Cooperatives, Rural Development, Nigeria Meteorological Service and Ogun State Emergency Management Agency.

          Inaugurating the  Committee in Abeokuta, the Special Adviser to the Governor on  Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya said it would facilitate efforts at mitigating carbon emissions in all sectors, help the State  adapt to the effect of climate change, as well as harness economic and green growth opportunities arising from the change and create public awareness and action.

          He noted that the earth is experiencing increasing intensity of unprecedented extreme weather events such as heat waves, flood, wild fires, drought, disruption and unpredictable rainfall pattern with migration of animals and vectors with concomitant advent of novel diseases that are pandemic in nature, adding that the State had to take the lead in Nigeria by setting up the Committee.

          He charged members of the Committee to take the responsibility with high level of commitment, to provide the State government with the much needed response to climate change in term of policy development and other legal frameworks, as well as statewide plan of action and multi-sectoral programmes and projects, especially in the area of adaptation, mitigation and communication.

          Responding, the Secretary of the Committee, who is also the Director of Special Duties and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Olatunji Egbemuyiwa commended the State government’s initiative for finding members worthy of carrying out the assignment and pledged their total commitments.