THE member representing Warri South-West constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Emomotimi Guwor has said the Delta State Environmental Conservation Bill 2020 (HB 23) was made in response to growing global conversation around climate change.
Guwor, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Asaba, added that the bill would cushion the effects of dwindling scarce environmental resources, and loss of biodiversity.
He said, “Today before the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly, I made case for the Delta State Environmental Conservation Bill 2020 (HB 23) in response to growing global conversation around climate change, the effects of dwindling scarce environmental resources, loss of biodiversity and the need to put in place proper legislation to ensure we bequeath our future generation a safe and secured environment.
“Among other things, the bill is to provide for the management of the environment with respect to conservation of the biodiversity and ecosystem, enhance the State government’s afforestation programme through improved financing, constitute/create lands/green areas as game reserves.
“In addition to several other socio-economic benefits, the bill seeks to address issues of indescriminate lumbering of our forest reserves, regenerate our forest and protect species which are of immense value but are near extinct.
“The urgency of the bill is prioritized in the United Nations SDGs as almost one-third (5) of the 17 goals; Goal 6, 7, 13, 14 & 15 makes it as a matter of utmost global concern for leaders at all levels to seek for measures to conserve their biodiversity/ecosystem; land, water, air, flora and fauna.
“The bill will strengthen the State Government’s capacity to deal with/avert some of the trending consequencesof ecological imbalance such as flooding and siltation that is common among Riverine communities and erosion prone areas and the obvious impact of global warming.
“The bill has passed 2nd Reading.
“This offer enormous opportunity to critical stakeholders, academicians, professors and researchers to make valuable technical inputs for the purpose of wider consultation at the Committee level/Public Hearing which report is due by the 17th of December 2020.
“I am grateful to Honourable members and all concerned stakeholders for their inputs and supports thus far.”
By FIDELIS EGUGBO
