Community Advisory Board and Climate Change

Climate change; periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth system. It refers to an increase in average global temperatures. Natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing factors. It is one of the major challenges affecting the world at large as the effects are really harmful, and persons in the environment keep carrying out actions that further aggravate the environment.

Many countries promote climate policy by having climate action as backbone of the policy usually accompanied by an Independent special body, national climate change advisory council, committee or panel. National climate change advisory councils are formed and operate in different ways around the world. As their name implies, they provide advisory services; develop findings, conclusions and recommendations that assist Climate change policy makers in decision making. They are in touch with the grassroots through a network of researchers for information collation and act as a bridge between the nation and bodies promoting Green environment and the sustainable development goals.
Their efforts palliate the seriousness of the Climate change hazards.

The community advisory board (CAB) may also be referred to as local environment advisory board. These are citizens serving as representatives of a particular community meant to advise local officials and other members of the society on environmental issues such as climate change. They serve as intermediary between the national council, climate action agencies and the people of the locality. They help in implementing strategies, give advice and help a local community in mitigating climate actions. They are in collaboration with both ends to achieve set goals. In Nigeria, these advisory board work with the Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria and other global related bodies.

CABs are very important because the community is the next smallest unit of a nation after a family. They have direct access to the people of the community and the climatic situation of the area. This has tremendous impact since achieving the goal 13 of the sustainable development goals is a responsibility of every individual of a society; not just councils or agencies. This is the reason CABs should receive greater priority in the polity to enhance their credibility and effectiveness.

Indisputably, these national councils have made some impact, but for far-reaching influence, there is a need to have Community Advisory Boards as a subsidiary of the national advisory council. CABs should employ advocacy and badgering techniques. Again members of CABs should have basic knowledge on climatology, and are better drawn from targeted communities for empathetic and thorough approach. Climate change is becoming more precarious and unpredictable, every measure needful to equip agencies involved in assuaging climatic change be on the front burner,