It’s time to act on climate change. But first convince the man on the Nigerian donkey

MARY PRICE reports on her assignment to convince journalists in Nigeria that it’s time to change their views on climate change

The man on the plane is adamant: “You will never make people in Nigeria care about climate change.”

We are flying to Kano – a city of sheep, goats, horses and ten million people – to impart the basics of climate change to local journalists. It’s part of a British Council project called Climate UN covered: The future of our planet uncovered. Everything you ever wanted to know about climate change, Kyoto and Copenhagen. In five days.

So far the runes haven’t been optimistic. The sentiments of my travelling acquaintance are echoed by the journalists who show up for the launch. We know what sells, they say, and it isn’t global warming, environment or climate change. What’s more, no-one in the West is taking responsibility for it, so why should we care?

In the light of such enthusiasm, I opt for the Marine maxim ‘faint heart never won fair maiden’. Actually its ruder than that, but even the sanitised version is enough to pitch me into battle to prove everyone wrong. Kano would become a centre of excellence for climate change journalism no matter what.

‘What’ is soon clear. No one understands the jargon. They have heard the terms but their meaning is up there with the clouds of carbon monoxide. We begin, and much drawing and storytelling later we are slightly more enlightened.

The journalists are smart and willing, but ‘the greenhouse effect’ in a part of the world which rarely falls below 22 degrees is a hard sell. I begin the feel a certain sympathy for the conspiracy theorists among us. Their faces suggest this climate change stuff is yet one more western plot to stop Africa developing; to limit Nigeria’s wealth; to keep the people down. But, being a generous bunch, they say nothing and listen on.

It takes the guest appearance of Dr Abdul Auda to convert the doubters. A brilliant presentation from a man dedicated to bringing the reality of climate change to fellow Nigerians turns the local drought, creeping desert and dust storms from climate change theory to fact.

Strengthened by conversion we descend on the village of Kwa, where the desert is creeping in with the speed of an incoming tide.

Malam Josin, who looks about 80 but is probably closer to 60, draws his donkey to a halt to talk. He knows all about change … he’s been battling with it for 20 years. Late rains, short rains, crop failure, having to sell his animals for food, watching the village young go to town for work – he’s seen it all. But is climate change to blame? His good eye takes on a philosophical glint as he looks towards the heavens. “It’s from God,” he says. “Nothing we can do.”

We move on to talk to a couple of men splintering one of the few mature trees that have survived the lack of water and thinning soil. They work with tools which wouldn’t look out of place in the Stonehenge museum. This land is part of a government reserve – trees are protected – but slivered wood buys fertiliser and that helps the crops. A bit … if it rains.

We walk over the dusty soil. Dr Audu gestures to the landscape. “To be sustainable this place needs to be cloaked in bush at a density of 25 per cent,” he laments.  Today it has been measured at ten per cent and thinning.

Back to the shelter of the British Council to paint pictures through words that will convey the reality  of life. Surely there is someone, perhaps an editor in search of a campaign, prepared to take on the cause of 140 million Nigerians who are being effected by changing climate. Someone prepared to take the long view.

The catalyst for change will have to come from the band of nine journalists who have stuck with us. It’s their job to get the word out and try to prod those in power into action. They leave promising to fight for the cause.

I hope they do. I’d hate my friend from the plane to be proved right, especially as he turned out to be in the oil business.