From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Stakeholders and expects on climate change have resolved to step up awareness among local population with a new action plan developed to mitigate the impact of the environmental challenge in the state.
Speaking at a forum organized for the development of advocacy strategy for the Borno State Climate Change Programme in Maiduguri, the state capital, stakeholders stressed the need to provide alternative energy to the local people to discourage cutting of trees and greens.
General Manager, Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Malam Abubakar Suleiman said the increasing harsh weather in the state in recent time underscores the impact of climate change.
“It is a global challenge and we can feel it in Borno. We are experiencing very harsh wether in Borno in recent time,” he noted.
He said the state now has a “robust Action Plan” called Borno State Climate Change Action Plan. He however noted that the implementation of the action plan cannot succeed without the cooperation of members of the public especially the local people.
He said the state governor directed the Ministry of Environment to produce 10 million seedlings last year. Je warned that his agency will sanction anyone engage in indiscriminate tree cutting.
An environment and Dean School of Environmental Technology, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri, Dr Gabriel Akeh, said issue of affordability and accessibility of alternative energy formed part of the discussion at the session.
“We are looking at affordability and access to combat climate change
This will discourage people from cutting trees because the trees are suphe posed to act as sinc for the carr  bon- time dioxide which is released into the air each time we cut aa tree,”  he explained.
He said increasing use of dirty foil, traditional or solid foil including  firewood and charcoal, make women inhale large amount of smoke which endanger their health
Advocacy and Communication Officer for the Borno Climate Change Programme, Mr Unicoo Kalu explained that the programme aimed at building the capacity of state officials to respond to climate change issue.
He said the programme has three components including a Plan stage which focus on helping the state to build Climate Change action plan to divide responses to the challenges.
Others according to him, include Community Residence groups and developing a climate change agric toolbox; plans and strategies on farming that are climate resilience.