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The Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) and EnviroNews Nigeria have strengthened the capabilities of media professionals and civil society organisations (CSOs) as part of their initiative to garner support for Nigeria’s swift transition from ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs) to eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives.
The virtual session, which was co-hosted by both organisations, was held on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The event, themed “The Role of the Media and CSOs/NGOs in Advancing Nigeria’s Transition from ODS to Climate-Friendly Refrigerants and Cooling Technologies”, emphasised the critical need to raise public awareness and foster collaboration among stakeholders in accordance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria, stressed the critical role of communication in demystifying technical climate issues.
“While Nigeria is making progress on phasing out ODS, a significant knowledge gap persists, especially among the media, CSOs, and even within government institutions,” he stated.
In light of this, the head of SRADev Nigeria went on to say that stakeholders’ roles are to accelerate capacity building and awareness-raising in order to help the Nigerian government eventually satisfy its international obligations.
The workshop builds on the findings of the inception meeting, which took place on April 10, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where stakeholders identified the importance of CSOs and the media in raising awareness of the urgency of the refrigerant transition and bridging the knowledge gap on ozone and climate-safe technology.
A thorough discussion on the effects of ODS on the environment and human health as well as the evolution of climate-friendly alternatives was led by Mr. Jeremiah Ato of SRADeV Nigeria, who also alluded to the phase-out of widely used ODS in Nigeria, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Ato went on to say that the government’s current efforts, led by the National Ozone Office (NOO) of the Federal Ministry of Environment, have advanced phase-out efforts significantly to Stage 3 of its Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phaseout Management Plan (HPMP III) in an attempt to meet Nigeria’s 67.5% target phase-out of HCFCs by 2025 and a 100% phase-out by 2030.
He asserts that while global efforts to phase out ODS have resulted in the development of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants as ODS substitutes, which are presently being phased out internationally, these refrigerants, despite being ozone-friendly, have a substantial potential to cause global warming.
Mr. Michael Simire, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of EnviroNews Nigeria, discussed the intersection between environmental science and storytelling, emphasising the media’s role in simplifying climate jargon, correcting misconceptions, and fostering policy dialogue.
“Environmental journalism must humanise complex issues, contextualise data, and encourage behavioural change,” he said, because the media, he believes, is more than just a mirror but also a tool for shaping narratives and ensuring accountability.
The webinar featured foreign speakers from Brazil and Kenya who shared lessons learnt from their nations’ adoption of the Montreal Protocol, highlighting the universality of media issues in communicating technical climate information and the global scope of the refrigerant shift.
During a breakout session, participants were separated into media and civil society groups to create tailored advocacy messages. One group aimed to reach Nigerian women and youth with messages encouraging the use of sustainable cooling technology, while journalists crafted headlines appropriate for the general circulation of the Montreal Protocol’s objectives to the public.
The webinar closed with a call to action for the media to promote accurate public knowledge and track Nigeria’s climate pledges, as well as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It also entrusted CSOs with developing localised campaigns to promote and adopt certified technicians and green-labelled appliances.
By Mercy Awazi Abutsa, Abuja
