Each passing year, global citizens, industries and government thinks and set their goals for a new year on what they want to accomplish. Many people focus on their finances, while others may be thinking about their health and relationships. But our relationship with Mother Earth is completely ignored despite the fact that our actions negatively pose threats to the environment.  Due to the growing consequences of climate change and environmental degradation on livelihoods and human survival, our planet needs us to step up and act towards cleaning up many of the mess we have made irresponsibly. Whether it be from oil spills, air pollution, plastics, or toxic chemicals leaking into our water, there is still a lot that must be done to bring our ecosystem back to its natural state in as much as we met it for generations yet unborn.

In the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, oil spills and gas flaring are commonly discussed issues. This pollution issues, have affected the region’s environment for decades, damaging the soil, water and air quality. Hundreds of thousands of people are affected, particularly the poorest and vulnerable who rely on traditional livelihoods such as fishing and agriculture. Our people no longer have control over their resources, and they are environmentally, socially and economically dislocated. Our environmental philosophy is anchored on article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which states that “All peoples shall have the right to a general satisfactory environment favorable to their development”. 

For this reason, CODAF believe that: 

• a right-based approach to development must be at the center of engagement with community people,
• communities must be equipped to reject all forms of aggressive extraction and grabbing of resources,
• peoples’ right to food, education, health and environment must be protected at local, national and international levels,
• a pro-people’s policy to address the best environmental and developmental practices across the globe must be enacted

CODAF environmental pillar is focused on the following subject areas:

1. Environmental Governance
2. Energy Democracy & Governance
3. Oil and Gas
4. Climate Change
5. Water and Waste management
6. Land and Habitat Degradation