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Commonwealth Launches Law Model to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Commonwealth Launches Law Model to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
By: Michael Mike
The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new law model that would drastically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global heating to 1.5°C.
The Commonwealth Carbon Tax Model Law was presented on Wednesday at a high-level event in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).
Guided by the ‘polluter-pay principle’, the model law provides for an easily administrable carbon tax, with the tax being levied on fossil fuels companies and industrial emitters.
This approach, according to a statement issued by Commonwealth Secretariat, will help ensure that the majority of emissions in most Commonwealth countries are taxed.
The statement said: “Governments and legislators from the 56 Commonwealth countries can use the model law as a starting point to draft new legislation or adapt certain provisions to existing statutes in line with their local circumstances and national climate plans.
“Implementing a carbon tax outlined in the model law would help countries reduce their carbon emissions, attract new investment for clean energy and boost government revenue, while contributing to their national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
Launching the model law, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said:
“Delivering the Paris Agreement remains humanity’s greatest hope. But globally, current climate action is too weak and too slow, while the window for action continues to narrow.
“There is widespread agreement that one of the most effective ways to help countries meet the net-zero carbon emissions target of the Paris Agreement is carbon taxation.
“Considering the growing interest in this area and the need for a coordinated approach, this model law is a valuable resource for all 56 Commonwealth countries, as they seek to avoid the worst effects of climate change and introduce policies for a more sustainable and prosperous common future.”
The statement revealed that in order to ensure a just transition, the model law includes provisions for measuring and mitigating the carbon tax’s impact on low-income households and other vulnerable groups.
“This is achieved through regular impact reporting, stakeholder engagement and by directing revenue generated from the carbon tax towards supporting clean energy initiatives for low-income households.
“The new model law is the latest in a series of Commonwealth model laws produced by the Commonwealth Secretariat,” the statement read.
Commonwealth Launches Law Model to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
UPDATE: Five dead, 35 injured in suicide IED attack on Gamborun mosque
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than five worshippers were killed, while 35 others sustained injuries on Wednesday following an improvised explosive device (IED) attack by a suicide bomber at a mosque in Gamborun area of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The incident occurred at about 6:15 p.m. during Magrib prayers when the attacker detonated the IED inside the mosque, which was filled with worshippers.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, saying the explosion killed five persons on the spot and left 35 others with varying degrees of injuries.
Daso said the injured victims were immediately evacuated to hospitals in Maiduguri for medical treatment.
He added that men of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, alongside other security agencies, were deployed to the scene to secure the area, cordon off the vicinity and conduct thorough checks to rule out the presence of secondary explosive devices.
UPDATE: Five dead, 35 injured in suicide IED attack on Gamborun mosque
Bomb explodes inside mosque in Maiduguri market, worshippers killed
By: Zagazola Makama
Several worshippers were killed on Tuesday after an explosive device detonated inside a mosque at Gamborun Market in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The explosion occurred while worshippers were gathered for prayers, causing panic and chaos within the busy market area.
Eyewitnesses said the blast ripped through part of the mosque, killing some worshippers instantly and leaving others with varying degrees of injuries.
Traders and residents in the area were seen fleeing the scene as thick smoke billowed from the mosque, while others attempted to assist victims before emergency responders arrived.
Security operatives cordoned off the area shortly after the incident to prevent further casualties and to allow for preliminary assessment of the situation.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties had not been officially confirmed.
Bomb explodes inside mosque in Maiduguri market, worshippers killed
Igbo Association Raises Alarm Over Abuja–South East Highways, Seeks Urgent Federal Action
By: Michael Mike
Igbo residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have expressed worries about the worsening condition of major highways linking Abuja to the South East, warning that continued neglect has turned the roads into serious safety hazards for commuters and businesses.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Igbo Community Association in the Federal Capital Territory (ICA FCT) said the poor state of the road network had persisted for decades, despite repeated appeals for rehabilitation.
The group in a statement signed by the association’s President General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, and Secretary General, Mazi Emmanuel Chinwoke Onah,
noted that large sections of the highways are riddled with potholes, failed portions and weak security presence, making travel dangerous and discouraging economic activities between the North Central and South East regions.
The group argued that the situation reflects long-standing infrastructure neglect and an uneven distribution of national resources, adding that the dilapidated roads have become attractive routes for criminal operations, including armed robbery and kidnappings.
According to ICA FCT, the impact of the bad roads goes beyond transportation challenges, contributing to youth frustration, reduced commercial exchanges and a growing sense of exclusion among people of the South East. The association urged the Federal Government to declare an emergency on the affected corridors and begin immediate reconstruction to ensure the safety of travelers, particularly during the festive season.
The association also called on lawmakers from the South East and the Minister of Works to take responsibility for restoring the roads to acceptable standards, stressing that infrastructure development is critical to national cohesion and economic growth.
Warning of political consequences, the group said communities in the South East would hold their representatives accountable if tangible progress is not recorded before the 2027 general elections. It added that voters would be mobilized to oppose the re-election of lawmakers perceived to have failed in addressing the issue.
Reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of Igbo people, the ICA FCT said it would continue to advocate for improved infrastructure, enhanced security and equitable development across all regions of the country.
End
UPDATE: Five dead, 35 injured in suicide IED attack on Gamborun mosque
Bomb explodes inside mosque in Maiduguri market, worshippers killed
Igbo Association Raises Alarm Over Abuja–South East Highways, Seeks Urgent Federal Action
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