Khadijah Aliyu
The minister of environment Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal has called for Collective Action Against Climate Change and protection of ozone layer through proper disposal of old air conditioners, refrigerators, and other electrical waste.
Balarabe stated this while declaring open a workshop on the end-of-life management of air conditioners and refrigerants held at technical college Kano.
Represented by the director national ozone officer, Engineer Idris Abdullahi, he pointed out that, proper management of end of life electronic equipment will reduce environmental impact associated with hazardous waste to protect the environment and human health.
The minister maintained that, the workshop was organized to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to develop and promote initiatives that will mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with used ACs.
“It will also ensure that we are reducing the overall environmental impact associated with hazardous waste and therefore doing our part in maintaining a healthy environment”
The head of energy transition unit energy commission of Nigeria ECN Dr. Shehu Mustafa stressed that, the collective effort is aimed at accelerating the transition to energy efficient air conditioners ACs with climate friendly refrigerants, consistent with Nigerias climate targets.
“Together we can ensure obsolete air conditioning equipment are properly processed, and create a future where energy efficient and climate friendly air conditioning technologies become a standard in Nigeria”
The deputy director, group head, electrical electronics standards organization of Nigeria, Engineer Isma’ila Lawal explained that SON has developed a standard for new ACs and disposal of the new ones.
“The danger is enormous, the use of gases that are dangerous to the ozone layer causes cancer”
A participant who doubles as a teacher Kano government technical college Mu’azu Musa Kalla described the workshop as apt.
The project tagged scaling up energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling in Nigeria’s NDC revision, was coordinated by the ECN with technical assistance by the UNEP U4E, implemented by SON and NOO federal ministry of environment, supported by clean cooling collaborative.