By Latimore Oghenesivbe
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has called on international clean energy investors for a public-private partnership to eradicate global warming and solicits technical support for advocacy against cutting down forests and bush burning in rural communities, especially in Sub-Sahara Africa and underdeveloped nations of the world.
Oborevwori made the call while receiving the prestigious International Champion Award for climate change at the COP28 conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, presented to him by Nurses Across Borders, NAB, saying that Delta State Government shall continue to introduce result-oriented policies and measures to curb gas emission, burning of fossil fuels, cutting down of trees and other factors causing global warming.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, noted that the public health crisis occasioned by greenhouse gas emissions had impacted the world negatively, which is why governments across the continent of Africa must of a necessity collaborate with developed nations to stop hotter temperatures, increase drought, warning and rising ocean, loss of species, hunger, poverty and health risks caused by climate change.
Dr Emu quoted Governor Oborevwori as saying that the state government in a deliberate effort to gradually eradicate burning of fossil fuels, is doing the needful and ready to partner with stakeholders in the transportation sector to procure electric cars and buses, among other strategies, adding that the state requires technical support from international organisations to drive her clean energy programmes to fruition.
Speaking to newsmen after receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Dr Emu, said Delta State under the governor’s MORE agenda, will continue to ensure that deliberate and result-oriented policies and programmes are initiated and implemented to curb global warming by investing heavily in clean energy, subject to availability of financial resources, while thanking the organizers, NAB at COP28 for the Award.
“His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, appreciates the Award, and I must thank the organizers for recognizing his candid efforts and strategic steps taken so far to curb global warming and climate change.
“We are doing our best as a state, but Delta requires the support of developed nations and international organizations in the area of technical support to advance our campaigns and preventive measures.
“Climate change is a public health crisis and COP28 position is clear, which is why governments in Africa must continue to do the needful for the wellbeing of our people, and the international Community, going forward,” Emu said.
