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PURE-WISE Ondo Baseline Report Now Public

We are pleased to announce the public release of the Baseline Report for the Plantain Residue as an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Single-Use Plastic Packaging in Ondo Town Project. The report presents a comprehensive assessment of plastic waste management practices, environmental awareness, and climate change perceptions in Ondo Town, Ondo State, Nigeria.

The report provides a critical evidence base for understanding how plastic pollution affects urban communities and how community-led solutions can drive behaviour change, climate resilience, and green livelihoods. Conducted under the Plantain Residue as an Eco-Friendly Alternative for Single-Use Plastic Packaging in Ondo Town Project, tagged as Plastic Upcycling, Recovery, and Waste Innovation for Sustainability and Empowerment (PURE-WISE), the project was supported by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP).

Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Nigerian cities. In Ondo Town, the baseline findings reveal widespread indiscriminate waste disposal, limited waste segregation, and gaps in waste collection services, conditions that contribute to flooding, public health risks, and environmental degradation.

At the same time, the report highlights significant opportunities for transformation. A strong youth presence, growing climate awareness, and expressed willingness among residents to adopt more sustainable practices provide a solid foundation for impactful intervention.

From Evidence to Action

The Baseline Report does more than document environmental challenges; it establishes clear benchmarks and actionable targets to guide effective intervention. The findings provide an evidence-based framework for designing integrated waste management responses that prioritise behaviour change communication and community engagement, youth and school-based environmental leadership, plastic recycling and upcycling, and circular economy solutions, including the productive use of agricultural residues.

More so, the report emphasises the importance of monitoring and evaluation to track environmental improvements and behavioural outcomes over time. Collectively, these strategic focus areas are aimed at reducing plastic use, improving urban environmental quality, and supporting inclusive green livelihoods within Ondo Town and similar urban contexts.

Access the Report

The Baseline Assessment Report is now publicly available and can be accessed by researchers, policymakers, development partners, and community stakeholders interested in plastic waste reduction, climate action, and sustainable urban development.

Download the report using the following link: 10.6084/m9.figshare.31216201.

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Building Climate Resilience: Key Insights from Our Team Coordinator’s Radio Interview

Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract issue; it is already shaping how communities live, farm, work, and stay healthy. This was the focus of the recent episode of our radio programme, Pure-Wise Half Hour, an interview featuring Akintunde Akinmolayan, Team Coordinator at CAIS, where he spoke extensively on building resilience and adapting to climate impacts, particularly from an African and Nigerian perspective. The radio programme was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP).

What Does Building Climate Resilience Mean?

According to Akintunde, resilience is fundamentally about responding to threats to human wellbeing. In the context of climate change, it means strengthening people, systems, and communities so that climate-related shocks—such as extreme heat, irregular rainfall, flooding, and air pollution—do not destroy lives or livelihoods.

He emphasised a critical global injustice:
Africa contributes less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with Nigeria contributing less than 1%, yet the continent bears a disproportionate share of climate impacts. From food insecurity to health challenges linked to air pollution, climate change is already affecting everyday life across African communities.

“Even though we did not cause most of this problem,” he noted, “we cannot afford to sit back and keep lamenting. We must protect ourselves.”

Adaptation: Living With Change Without Losing Dignity

A major pillar of resilience, Akintunde explained, is adaptation, the ability to adjust how we live and work so that changing climate conditions do not strip people of their dignity or means of survival.

Drawing lessons from nature, he highlighted how living organisms adapt to harsh environments, and stressed that human societies must do the same. Changing weather patterns, such as disappearing harmattan seasons and rainfall occurring at unusual times, are clear signals that old assumptions no longer hold.

Adaptation, therefore, is not optional; it is necessary for survival.

Adaptation at the Individual Level

At the individual level, Akintunde stressed the importance of daily choices. Emissions come from transportation, buildings, agriculture, bush burning, and power generation. Small actions, such as sharing transport instead of using multiple vehicles, can significantly reduce emissions.

He also highlighted the link between economic resilience and climate resilience, especially for young people. When people lack stable livelihoods, climate impacts hit harder. Being economically active strengthens the ability to cope with climate stress.

Another key message was environmental responsibility. He encouraged individuals to become “friends of nature”, particularly by protecting and planting trees. Trees play a vital role in absorbing carbon, cooling communities, and improving air quality.

Community-Based Adaptation and Economic Opportunities

At the community level, Akintunde spoke about the importance of community forests. Beyond environmental benefits, community forests now present real economic opportunities through the emerging carbon market.

Under carbon market arrangements, communities that preserve forests can receive financial compensation because those forests absorb carbon emissions generated elsewhere. Nigeria is already developing frameworks for carbon market participation, creating new pathways for communities to earn income while protecting their environment.

This approach, he noted, builds resilience by linking environmental protection directly to livelihoods.

The Role of Businesses and Indigenous Knowledge

For businesses and industries, Akintunde called for a rethink of development models. He cautioned against the assumption that foreign solutions are always best and advocated for combining indigenous knowledge with modern innovation.

“Our forefathers were already adapting to climate conditions long before we gave it a name,” he explained. Preserving indigenous methods while thoughtfully modernising them can lead to solutions that are more sustainable, culturally appropriate, and resilient.

A Call to Action

The interview concluded with a clear message: climate resilience is not only about policies and technology; it is also about choices, responsibility, and collective action. From individuals and communities to businesses and governments, everyone has a role to play in ensuring that climate change does not undermine lives, livelihoods, and future generations.

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CAIS Establishes Green Guardian Environmental Clubs in Eight Ondo Schools

Between 15th and 21st October 2025, we embarked on a transformative mission across Ondo City, establishing Green Guardian Environmental Clubs in eight secondary schools under the PURE-WISE Project (Plantain Residue as an Eco-friendly Alternative for Single-use Plastic Packaging), supported by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP).

The initiative marks one of the major steps we are taking in fostering environmental awareness, student leadership, and sustainable action within Nigerian schools, starting from Ondo.

Cultivating Environmental Stewardship in Schools

The weeklong activity brought together hundreds of enthusiastic students and teachers eager to learn how they could play a role in protecting their environment. Each visit began with a courtesy call to the school management, where the CAIS team shared the vision behind the PURE-WISE Project — to promote eco-friendly innovations, waste reduction, and youth-led climate action through education.

School principals expressed their excitement, noting that such initiatives align perfectly with the new drive to incorporate environmental learning into extracurricular activities.

The Green Guardians Toolkit: Turning Awareness into Action

At the heart of each school’s inauguration was the introduction of the Green Guardians Toolkit: A Guide for Establishing and Managing Environmental Clubs in Secondary Schools — our newly published handbook, supported by UNDP GEF-SGP.

The toolkit simplifies environmental education into 24 short, hands-on modules on topics such as waste management, recycling, tree planting, climate adaptation, and sustainable living. Each module takes just 20 minutes to deliver, making it easy for teachers to integrate environmental learning into weekly club meetings.

Each school received copies of the toolkit, along with starter materials such as logbooks, club notepads, and stationery to support documentation and activity planning. To us, the toolkit is not just a book; it’s a roadmap for empowering young people to think, act, and innovate for the betterment of the planet. 

Empowering Teachers as Mentors

During each visit, the CAIS team met with the school’s management and selected two teachers who would serve as patrons or matrons for the new Environmental Club. These teachers were formally introduced to the students as their mentors who will be responsible for coordinating activities, guiding projects, and ensuring the sustainability of the clubs.

The teachers also received orientation on how to use the Green Guardians Toolkit to lead activities and report progress through a simple monitoring logbook.

537 Students Step Forward as Green Guardians

The highlight of each visit was the interactive session with students. Facilitators explained what it means to be a Green Guardian, someone who leads by example in protecting the environment through small but meaningful actions like recycling, waste segregation, and tree planting.

The response was inspiring. Across the eight schools visited, a total of 537 students expressed their interest in joining the newly formed clubs, marking the beginning of a dynamic network of young environmental champions in Ondo State.

Students were visibly excited as they discussed ideas for their first club projects. Many proposed starting waste collection drives, school gardens, and awareness campaigns on reducing single-use plastics.

Eight Schools, One Movement

By the end of the week, eight schools had officially inaugurated their Green Guardian Environmental Clubs. These include:

  1. St. Helen’s Girls Grammar School, Ondo 
  2. St. James’s Catholic School, Ondo 
  3. St. Ambrose’s Catholic School, Ondo 
  4. Calvary Group of Schools, Ondo
  5. Jubilee Community Grammar School, Ondo 
  6. B-Great Horizon School, Ondo 
  7. Ondo Boys’ High School, Ondo
  8. All Saints Grammar School, Ondo 

Together, these schools now represent the first wave of Green Guardian Schools in Ondo State, forming the foundation for a growing network of student-led environmental action.

Each club will hold regular meetings, guided by the toolkit, and document their progress through activity logs and photographs for submission to CAIS.

Looking Ahead

Following the successful establishment and teacher training, CAIS will continue to support the clubs through follow-up mentoring, inter-school clean-up drives, and innovation challenges. At CAIS, we will continue to advance climate education, environmental innovation, and youth-led sustainability action across Nigeria. Through projects like PURE-WISE, we are empowering schools, communities, and local leaders to adopt eco-friendly practices that protect people and the planet.

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Empowering Ondo Educators: CAIS Trains 20 Teachers for New Green Guardian Environmental Clubs

In a major step toward strengthening school-based climate education, we successfully organised a crucial capacity-building workshop for 20 secondary school teachers in Ondo State. This preparatory training is a cornerstone initiative for the upcoming launch of the Green Guardian Environmental Clubs in schools.

The goal was simple: to ensure that educators, the future Club Patrons and Matrons, are fully equipped and confident to guide and coordinate impactful club activities from day one. This training is a critical component of the PURE-WISE Project (Plantain Residue as an Eco-friendly Alternative for Single-use Plastic Packaging), an initiative proudly funded by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP).

Preparing Teacher-Leaders for Environmental Stewardship

The workshop was strategically designed to transform participants into effective environmental champions. Teachers were introduced to the leadership skills and practical knowledge necessary to drive the clubs’ success. Key modules covered included:

  • Goals and Structure: Deep dive into the mission of the Green Guardian Environmental Clubs.
  • Climate & Waste Education: Practical concepts tailored to school life, focusing on climate change and effective waste management.
  • Mentorship: Techniques for inspiring students, fostering environmental leadership, and encouraging student-owned initiatives.
  • Documentation: Simple, effective steps for tracking and reporting club activities and progress.

The training ensures that every participating school will have qualified Patrons or Matrons ready to hit the ground running when the clubs officially launch this October.

Introducing the Green Guardians Toolkit: A Practical Guide

A highlight of the workshop was the comprehensive orientation on the Green Guardians Toolkit: A Guide for Establishing and Managing Environmental Clubs in Secondary Schools.

This innovative resource provides 24 practical, activity-based modules designed to be easily taught during short club sessions. The modules offer hands-on activities spanning critical areas:

  • Resource Management: Reducing waste and promoting recycling initiatives.
  • School Environment: Organising sanitation and clean-up campaigns.
  • Biodiversity: Tree planting and awareness campaigns.
  • Innovation: Creative upcycling projects and student innovation.
  • Advocacy: Mobilising students for environmental community advocacy.

Teachers were trained on using the modules to plan engaging weekly activities, encourage student-led ideas, and track their impact using a simple logbook system. Each school will receive copies of the toolkit and essential club starter materials during the establishment visits.

Building a Network for Sustainable Impact

A significant outcome was the formation of the “Environmental Champion Educators” network. This new platform will enable participating teachers to continue sharing ideas, support, and success stories, thereby sustaining the momentum beyond the initial training.

The training ensures that the Green Guardian Clubs will be more than just one-off events; they are designed to be continuing, school-led programmes guided by capable teacher coordinators.

We are confident that with these educators now equipped and part of a supportive network, the club structure will be sustainable, teacher-led, and student-owned, positioning them for huge, long-term impact on climate education in Ondo State.

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CAIS Launches the Green Guardians Toolkit to Strengthen Environmental Clubs in Secondary Schools

The Climate Actors for Innovations and Sustainability (CAIS) is proud to announce the publication of the Green Guardians Toolkit: A Guide for Establishing and Managing Environmental Clubs in Secondary Schools. The Toolkit is designed to equip schools, teachers, and students with practical knowledge and activities that promote environmental stewardship, climate awareness, and sustainable waste management practices.

This first edition of the toolkit, developed under the PURE-WISE Ondo Project – Plantain Residue as an Eco-friendly Alternative to Single-use Plastic Packaging, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), responds to the growing need for youth-centred climate education and participatory environmental action within schools and communities.

Why the Green Guardians Toolkit Matters

Across Nigeria, the impacts of climate change, plastic pollution, and environmental degradation are increasingly visible, yet climate education remains limited in many school environments. The Green Guardians Toolkit fills this gap by providing:

  • Easy-to-implement club structures for secondary schools
  • 24 short, practical learning modules on climate change, waste management, and sustainability
  • Hands-on project ideas such as recycling drives, tree planting, upcycling workshops, clean-up actions, and eco-innovation challenges
  • Guidance on building student leadership and peer-led environmental advocacy
  • Monitoring tools to track club activities and impact

The Toolkit encourages students to learn, lead, and take action, thereby transforming schools into hubs of environmental awareness and community sustainability.

The Green Guardians Toolkit was developed by a team of environmental educators and climate advocates, and with its clear structure, relatable language, and activity-based learning approach, the Toolkit is designed for every type of school, rural or urban, public or private.

Availability and Next Steps

The Green Guardians Toolkit (ISBN: 9789786729453) will be distributed to schools participating in the PURE-WISE project. It will also be available to other schools, youth organisations, and educators upon request.

To request a copy or invite CAIS for the school club inauguration and training, please contact:

📧 info@caisclimate.org
🌐 www.caisclimate.org
📱 @caisclimate (Social Media)

Download the e-version of the toolkit here:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17462643

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PURE-WISE Ondo Awareness Workshop Inspires Community Action for a Cleaner, Greener Future

The journey toward a more climate-resilient and environmentally responsible Ondo City has taken a bold step forward with the successful implementation of the PURE-WISE Awareness and Sensitisation Workshop on Climate Change and Proper Waste Management. The workshop, held in Ondo, Nigeria, on July 30, 2025, brought together an enthusiastic group of 108 participants drawn from schools, market communities, artisan groups, local government representatives, and youth leaders.

From the outset, the atmosphere was one of curiosity, energy, and determination. Participants listened intently, asked thoughtful questions, and shared personal experiences, reflecting a deep readiness to take action. The eagerness and genuine commitment displayed throughout the workshop demonstrated that Ondo residents are prepared to become active contributors to environmental change, both in their individual households and in their wider communities.

More Than Awareness: A Movement Begins

This workshop represents more than an educational event. It marks the beginning of a growing movement for environmental responsibility and circular economy innovation across Ondo City and, by extension, Ondo State.

With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), the PURE-WISE Ondo project aims to address plastic pollution, promote climate-smart waste practices, and empower communities to convert waste into economic value.

Starting with the first group of 108 sensitised participants, the project is set to reach over 100,000 residents through ongoing awareness campaigns. These will include radio programmes, community dialogues, school environmental clubs, and multimedia outreach.

The PURE-WISE Ondo project has ignited a spark. With continued collaboration and community action, that spark will grow into a statewide transformation for proper waste management both individually and institutionally in the state.

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PURE-WISE Ondo: Our Plan to Tackle Plastic Pollution is Underway!

The journey to a cleaner, more climate-resilient Ondo City officially began with the launch of our PURE-WISE Ondo Project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).

The project titled “Plantain Residue as an Eco-friendly Alternative for Single-Use Plastic Packaging in Ondo Town” held the inaugural Stakeholders’ Inception Meeting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

Held at the heart of Ondo Town, the Inception Meeting brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the state Ministry of Environment, Ondo State Waste Management Authority, educational institutions, community leaders, traders’ associations, youth-led groups, and PWDs groups.

The meeting provided a platform to:

  • Introduce the PURE-WISE project’s objectives, components, and expected impact;
  • Share the findings from the baseline studies;
  • Share ideas on collaborative implementation strategies; and
  • Secure buy-in and long-term support from critical actors within the city.

The Executive Director, Akintunde Akinmolayan, emphasised the role of community-led innovation in tackling the dual challenges of plastic waste and climate change. He presented the findings from the baseline study conducted on people’s perception and attitude towards climate change and waste disposal in the town. At the same time, representatives from the Ondo State Ministries of Environment and Waste Management Authority expressed strong support for the project.

The PURE-WISE Ondo project will now progress into community training, the inauguration of school-based environmental clubs, a 24-week radio sensitisation program, and local innovations that convert plantain waste into biodegradable products.

With continued collaboration among stakeholders, the project aims to:

  • Improve urban waste management,
  • Reduce plastic pollution,
  • Strengthen climate and environmental education, and
  • Create green economic opportunities in Ondo.

“PURE-WISE is not just a project—it’s a movement towards cleaner communities, greener jobs, and a sustainable future that also presents plantain stem as an oil waiting to be explored,” said Lucas Famakinwa, one of the workshop participants.

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A New Chapter in Community-Led Climate Resilience

We are thrilled to announce the official commencement of our new project focused on strengthening community-driven climate resilience in Ondo State. This marks a significant milestone for our organisation, and it is made possible through the generous support of our newest donor, the UNDP Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP).

The GEF-SGP, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in Nigeria, has joined hands with us to catalyse local innovation and sustainable solutions that tackle the climate crisis at the grassroots level, from the waste angle. Their contribution is not just financial, it’s a vote of confidence in our vision, our community, and our commitment to environmental justice.

The project implementation began on a high note with our participation in the Grantees Inception Workshop held at the UNDP Nigeria Innovation Centre in Lagos. The event brought together grantees from across the country to align on shared goals, deepen understanding of the GEF-SGP framework, and network with fellow innovators driving local impact.

The workshop was both enlightening and energising. We left Lagos not only with practical insights and tools but also with renewed confidence in the power of community-led action to address climate and environmental challenges.

Therefore, over the coming months, we will be working directly with local communities in Ondo to implement a series of transformative activities, including:

  • Awareness creation on sustainable alternatives to plastic
  • Training in upcycling, recycling, and biodegradable product innovation
  • Establishing regenerative processing hubs and green cooperatives
  • Advocacy for inclusive, state-level waste management policies

Each step of the journey is rooted in partnership, inclusion, and the conviction that local solutions create lasting global change.

We look forward to sharing updates, success stories, and impact data as the project unfolds. To our partners, supporters, and communities, thank you for walking this path with us.

Let’s build resilience. Let’s build together.

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Call for Volunteers: Join Our Team and Make an Impact!

Are you passionate about creating positive change in your community? Do you have skills in finance, communications, or project management? If so, we invite you to join our team as a volunteer!

We are looking for dedicated individuals to support our initiatives in Southwest Nigeria. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop new skills, and contribute to meaningful projects that make a real difference.

Available Volunteer Roles
🔹 Finance Associate
Help manage our financial records, budgeting, and reporting. Ideal for individuals with experience in accounting, bookkeeping, or financial management.

🔹 Communications Associate
Assist with social media management, content creation, and public relations to amplify our mission and engage our audience. If you have skills in graphic design, digital marketing, or storytelling, this role is for you!

🔹 Project Support
Support event planning, logistics, and volunteer coordination. If you have strong organisational skills and enjoy working with people, this is the perfect role.

Who Can Apply?
✅ Individuals passionate about community service and social impact.
✅ Those with relevant skills in finance, communications, or project support.
✅ Must be available to work in Southwest Nigeria (remote & in-person opportunities available).
✅ Able to commit a few hours per week to supporting the organisation’s mission.

Why Volunteer With Us?
🌱 Gain Valuable Experience – Work on real projects that improve communities.
💡 Develop New Skills – Enhance your expertise in finance, communication, or project management.
🤝 Network & Collaborate – Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional network.
📜 Make an Impact – Your contribution will directly support our programmes and initiatives.

How to Apply
If you’re ready to make a difference, apply now by filling out our volunteer application form here: Application Form.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5:00 PM WAT

Start Date: Immediate

Share this opportunity with someone who might be interested. Together, we can create meaningful change!

For more information, feel free to contact us at info@caisclimate.org.


Apply Now

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The Climate Clock on the CAIS website

We join the Climate Clock team to amplify the urgency to keep the global annual temperature rise below 1.5ºC with the climate clock on our homepage. The fact that some rivers, lakes, and streams are drying up is no longer news. In several other locations, flooding has caused events to change quickly and frequently at the slightest hint of rain. Food security is compromised, biodiversity is disappearing, livelihoods are in jeopardy, and the future of humanity is uncertain.

caisclimate.org homepage

Considering the global carbon emissions humans continue to generate, the Climate Clock deadline indicates the time remaining before the carbon budget is exhausted. The IPCC report, released in the summer of 2021, includes a carbon budget. According to the updated carbon budget estimates for limiting global warming to 1.5ºC, starting in 2020, humans might add 400Gt of carbon to the atmosphere and still have a 67% probability of doing so.

According to the Climate Clock, the clock will keep ticking until it reaches zero, at which point our carbon budget will be exhausted, and there will be a high probability of catastrophic global climate impacts. Within this crucial window for action, we must move to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions toward zero as quickly as possible.

The Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change is the source of the information used to determine the deadline. The time remaining on the MCC’s carbon clock is determined using an average annual rate of 42.2 Gt of carbon emissions. Our carbon budget will deplete more quickly if global emission rates keep increasing. Theoretically, there would be more time on the clock if we reduced the rate of global carbon emissions.

On July 22, we will have less than 6 years to the deadline for the first time. On this day, the Climate Clock will drop below 6 years. In taking action, we are in a race against time. Global leaders, corporations, and big polluters must act morally and work to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.

#ActInTime.

Know more about the Climate Clock on climateclock.world.