Taraba State Government on Friday unveiled its Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, aimed at addressing the growing impact of climate change and building a more resilient and sustainable state.
Governor Agbu Kefas, who spoke at the unveiling in Jalingo, said the policy was designed to safeguard the future of the state by protecting its forests, rivers and other natural resources.
Kefas expressed concern that the effects of climate change were already taking a toll on agriculture and communities across the state, warning that unpredictable rainfall patterns and drying rivers could have serious consequences for farmers and residents if urgent measures were not taken.
He said, “These decisions are about the future of Taraba. We are working to protect our forests and ensure that our rivers continue to flow.
“The effects of climate change are already affecting agriculture and communities. Unpredictable rainfall and drying rivers could have serious consequences for farmers and residents if urgent action is not taken.”
The governor urged residents to support climate policies that promote agricultural development while protecting forests and discouraging activities such as bush burning.
He also called for improved waste management, stressing that climate action could not be effectively pursued when streets and drainage systems remained clogged with waste.
Kefas urged the Federal Government, the National Council on Climate Change, international development partners and other stakeholders to work with the Taraba State Government to implement the policy and action plan.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Aisha Barde, called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies, local government councils, traditional institutions, communities, youth and women’s groups, the private sector and development partners to take ownership of their responsibilities in implementing the policy.
Barde said climate action was not the responsibility of a single institution, but a shared mandate requiring collective commitment, coordination and sustained action.
She said the policy would provide a framework for building a state that was “environmentally sustainable, economically prosperous and resilient to the challenges of changing climate.”
The commissioner commended Natural Eco Capital, the Society for Planet and Prosperity and the African Climate Foundation for their financial and technical support towards the development of the policy.
She also praised Governor Kefas for creating an enabling environment for climate action and making environmental sustainability a priority in the state’s development agenda.
