Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the fight against climate change may be a sham if enabling laws were not made to check environmental pollution and degradation.

Dr. Uduaghan who disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting on climate change in Asaba said his administration will soon send executive bills to the State House of Assembly to make measures being put in place more effective.

He explained that ordinary appeals may not have the desired effect and believed that once a legal instrument was put in place to check the unwholesome attitude of environmental protection, the war against climate change will succeed.

Dr. Uduaghan said polluting the environment was detrimental to health and economic life of the people and promised to ensure that Deltans were adequately educated on it.

The Governor disclosed that he will partner with oil companies in the state to ensure that gas flaring was effectively handled just as he said that if gas flaring is not stopped it will be vote of no confidence on the fight against climate change.

Assenting that Chevron has promised to stop gas flaring about 15 months time, Dr. Uduaghan said that it was imperative for gas flaring to stop in its entirety.

Speaking further he said "we can stop gas flaring and I believed that oil companies can stop it."

He disclosed that Delta state in its determination to check environmental devastation has joined a new sub regional body called new coalition of sub national leaders.

The governor said with this development, his administration will increase its capacity to regulate environmental issues relating to oil pollution and take advantage of many sources of environmental funds to respond to climate change.

Dr. Uduaghan who called on the private and public sectors to play complementary roles said "Opinion Leaders, Students, Policy makers, Royal fathers have significant roles to play in meeting the challenges ahead."

He charged investors not only to limit severe risks from climate change but should seize the opportunities available from low carbon economic growth.

Presenting a lecture on "the roles of state governments in the implementation of low carbon activities towards mitigating climate change in Nigeria, the Hon. Minister of Environment Mr. John Odey explained that global warming was gaining importance and significant attention due to its potential impacts on the general environment and the socio-economic activities.

He noted that global climate was changing and poses monumental threats to lives and properties and stressed the need for economic growth and human development to be driven along green and low carbon path to arrest the changes ahead.

Mr. Odey explained that it is the responsibilities of stakeholders to make the environment safe even as he explained that climate change has catastrophic impacts on Nigeria as it increases the risk of natural disaster such as storms, flooding, decline in food production and rise in sea level.

In an opening address, the chairman of the occasion and Minister of State Ministry of Petroleum Resources Prince Odein  Ajumogobia (SAN) stated that countries that export crude oil have the responsibility to contribute their quota by reducing carbon pollution to ensure healthy environment.

Mr. Ajumogobia explained that the federal government was doing its best to put in place policies that would ensure the reduction of carbon in the country.

In a welcome address, the commissioner of Environment Dr. Bello Orubebe noted that the theme for the forum "Development of low carbon Economy and climate change" was carefully considered to ensure that strategies and polices would be developed to sustain a health environment.

He said the state was making effort to come up with improved environment friendly policies and guidelines to sustain programmes that would be developed in having carbon free environment.