Niger Delta Crisis Takes Centre Stage At HOMEF Webinar As Call For Environmental Justice Resonates

New York, NY – A one-day webinar hosted by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) USA hub shed light on the devastation caused by fossil fuel dependence and climate change in marginalised communities, particularly in the Niger Delta.

The event, which included leading environmental experts Nicholas Johnson and HOMEF Executive Director Nnimmo Bassey, revealed alarming statistics about decades of oil pollution and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.

The webinar focused on the escalating energy crisis, its exorbitant costs, and the plight of “stranded communities,” which are disproportionately affected by environmental damage caused by resource extraction.

Decades of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta have resulted in soil, water, and air contamination, and the webinar emphasised the critical need for comprehensive remediation.

Johnson emphasised the critical link between consumption habits in developed countries and environmental degradation in vulnerable areas such as the Niger Delta.

He emphasised the importance of global solidarity and ecological justice, pointing out the link between climate change and human rights violations, as well as the significant challenges posed by multinational corporations.

His presentation also addressed critical issues such as pollution cleanup, the need for robust environmental studies, the value of grassroots activism, and the importance of corporate accountability.

Bassey echoed these concerns, pointing out that environmental degradation fundamentally undermines human rights, particularly the right to life.

He advocated for learning from the lived experiences of communities directly affected by oil extraction, promoting participatory ecological impact assessments in policymaking, and prioritising climate debt repayment as an essential component of climate finance.

He argued that this approach addresses the underlying causes of climate injustice.

The webinar proposed a four-pronged approach to dealing with the crisis: comprehensive environmental audits of impacted areas, thorough health assessments of affected communities, a rapid transition to renewable energy sources, and increased support for community-led initiatives.

HOMEF USA concluded by urging the international community to prioritise solidarity with affected communities and unwaveringly support their calls for environmental justice and human rights protection.

The organisation emphasised the critical need for immediate action to address the polycrisis and ensure a fair and sustainable future for all.