A United States-based organisation, Green Faith, has charged faith-based organisations to lead campaigns agaimst environmental issues, especially in the Niger Delta region.
The group observed that tackling environmental problems such as oil spills and gas flaring could not be left in the hands of the government.
The organisation with its Nigerian partner – Lift Humanity Foundation – said its mission was to inspire, train, and organise people of diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds around the world for climate and environmental action.
The Global Director, Green Faith, Meryne Warah, gave the charge at the National Consultative Dialogue on Faith and Climate Change in Port Harcourt, themed, ‘Grassroot multi-faith voices on oil drilling and gas flaring.’
Warah, who said climate change was not a respecter of religious beliefs, called on faith leaders to come together and speak for communities affected by oil and gas pollution, by holding the government accountable.
She said, “We have realised that the impacts of climate change does not respect faith/religion. It hits everyone the same.
“And that is why is it vital that faith communities should work together towards the protection of the communities where the corporations have left desolate and hopeless, especially where oil drilling has taken place.
“Nigeria is the largest agricultural producing region in Africa, yet they have allowed companies like Shell to pollute the same land that gives them food.
“What is the need for development, when the same ‘development’ infringes on the right of farmers and fishermen, while lining the pockets of the rich, corrupt and countries that does not respect the culture, human life and their way of life.
“All faith communities, Christian, Hindu, Islam and traditional teachings should speak for the poor and protect the environment because this is what they have been called to do.
“No religion is greater than the other when it comes to protecting our community, and climate.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Lift Humanity Foundation, Mr. Pius Oko, said God entrusted the earth to mankind, but that man-made degradation and the effect of climate change were already felt in many vulnerable communities such as Ogoni land, devastated by pollutions.
Oko regretted that years after the United Nations Environment report was submitted to Nigeria’s government, the HYPREP which oversees the clean-up has been unable to provide potable water for the Ogoni people, despite water being an emergency measures recommended by the UNEP.
“The imperative to care for creation is strong across all faiths, communities and worldviews.
“Earth is God’s creation, oil spills and gas flaring exacerbates poverty, inequality and undermines the ability of communities, thereby, a threat to livelihoods, agriculture, health and infrastructure.
“Restoration of the already degraded ecosystems in Nigeria due to illegal oil refining and gas flaring is a very crucial challenge in achieving the Paris Agreement and the UN sustainability agenda.
“As faith community, civil society and movements; we must stand and speak up to the misdeeds of the agency and institutions concerning Ogoni clean up and remediation of the polluted and devastated Niger Delta region,” he stated.
A participant at the event, Rev Sister Lilian Chibiko, of Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy, called on the government to compel the oil companies to be environmentally responsible; even as people from various faith-based organisations participated in the dialogue.
