By Alex Ibeh
In an attempt to combating the Socio-economic adverse effects of Climate Change, the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation in Collaboration with the Spaces for Change (S4C) have presented a draft of a legal frame work called “Imo State Climate Change Policy 2025” to the Citizens in view of legislation.
The Public Presentation of the draft themed: “Imo going green: Striding towards Climate Adaptability and Sustainability” was organized by the joint technical Committee of the Ministry and the Organization on Tuesday 10th June,2025 and attended by Imo Key players from different quarters in particular, Traditional Rulers, Women, Youths, the Academia, Law Enforcement Agencies, Government functionaries, Market Women, People living with disability among others.
In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation Barr Ejikeme Major Emenike cautioned that Climate Change is no a future threat, rather a present reality which affects the Environment and livelihood.
Emenike reiterated the Commitment of Imo State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation to addressing the Challenges, with Innovation, inclusiveness and actionable plans.
He described the promising Imo State Climate law as a testament to Government’s Commitment to safe guiding the natural resources as well as ensuring the well being of the people.
The Commissioner applauded the agency, Spaces for Change for their firm responsibility in collaborating with the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation to actualizing the blueprint.
He however called on the Stakeholders which included the Local Government Chairmen, businesses, traditional Rulers among others to join in the platform to ensuring a sustainable and friendly ecosystem in Imo State.
In her message, the Executive Director of Space for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohari, said the essence of the Stakeholders Town hall meeting was for Imo People to see the provisions which would avail them the opportunity to make input.
She pointed out that Climate Change had negatively affected Imo State especially in the area of flooding, erosion, high temperature, erratic rainfall, adding that the impacts were very significant across various Local Governments in the State.
She emphasized that the framework would help the State build Climate Change resilient Policy aimed at enhancing climate adaptability and promote Environmental sustainability.
This is even as she advocated for collaborative efforts to strengthen measures that would guarantee a suitable and conducive environment as well as help in addressing the escalating threats posed by climate change in Imo State.
In his good will message, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers His Royal Majesty Eze Emmanuel Okeke who was represented at the Occasion by (HRH) Eze Engineer Marcel Iheanacho Uzegbu, Okata ii Of Ofekata Orodo Kingdom thanked the organizers of the program for their painstaking efforts in puting the proposal for a law to provide a legal frame work to mitigate Climate Change in the State.
The Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe represented by the Committee Chairman on Environment Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie assured of the Legislative readiness to legislate the proposed “Imo State Climate Change Policy 2025”
The Chairman of the joint technical Committee who doubles as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment and Sanitation Pastor Chukwuma Iheanacho in his closing remarks thanked the team for their support and encouragement during the trial stage of the journey, also extended appreciation to other Stakeholders who attended the event. He expressed Confidence that better days lie in future as they progressed to the final stage of the project.
Meanwhile, the discussion among other things featured Stakeholders feedback session, interactive session and Reflection from the Imo State Technical Committee on Climate Change; Journey so far.
While fielding questions from our correspondent, the Legal Adviser of Spaces for Change, Barr. Chetachi Louis-Udeh explained that the focus was to create a law that would be inclusive which every sector and stakeholder would have a say because according to her, Climate Change challenges affect people in different ways.
She said: “In this town hall meeting, we wanted the people to listen and found out whether the draft covered the realities they are facing in their localities”.
She affirmed that the Policy would accelerate the needed process and implementation of climate change mitigation initiatives.
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