By Dele Ogbodo
President Muhammadu Buhari, has expressed Nigeria’s determination and resolve to continue to play significant role in supporting global efforts
at addressing climate change even as stakeholders mount the drive to raise $100 billion to assuage climate change disaster.
The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mahmood Muhammad Abubakar made the disclosure while addressing the ministerial high-level segment of the 25th session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations (UN) framework convention on Climate Change; and related matters in Madrid, Spain.
He said: “It is obvious that the challenges of climate change are enormous, Nigeria calls for sustainable joint and collaborative efforts to tackle the problem. Nigeria is willing to continue to be part of the solution.”
The minister stressed that Nigeria faces grave social, economic and environmental threats consequent to climate change due to its dependence on climate-sensitive resources.
“Climate change impacts are already threatening the survival and livelihoods of our people. The devastating loss of range of crop lands to desertification each year in the northern part of the country, resource use conflicts, loss of forest cover and threatening sea-level rise on the significant coastline in the southern part of the country are a stark reminder of our vulnerability to climate change.” Mahmood emphasised
On steps taken by President Buhari, to mitigate the devasting impact of climate change, the Minister revealed that the country is advancing policies aimed at addressing the challenges caused by climate change through reviving the Lake Chad.
He added that Nigeria is increasing her forest cover, deploying smart renewable energy solutions, halting and reversing desertification and land degradation, flooding, ocean surge; gender mainstreaming as well as engaging the youths in climate governance.
The Minister said: “Nigeria has also embraced issuances of green bond to raise finance for implementation of green project, which has helped government to fundamentally reorient its financial flows, within the economy, through the greening of the budget and capital market.
“It is hoped that the issuance of the third Sovereign Green Bond would triple Nigeria’s Green House Gas (GHG) emission reductions, stimulate more economic growth and catalyse investment in social programmes.”
He also undetscored the unwavering commitment of Nigeria towards the fulfilment of its country’s obligation under the Paris agreement and actualization of goals of its nationally determined contribution.
While also expressing, the expectation of the Minister, the Director of Press and Media in the Ministry, Mr. Saghir El Mohammed, said in a statement that Nigeria aligns itself with the call by the AGN that COP-25 expeditiously, as a matter of priority, conclude negotiation on the special needs and circumstances of Africa.
He also urged for the simplification of the guidelines for accessing funds under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as well as the need for the GCF to remain accountable under the COP.
According to him, Nigeria expects to see the conclusion of the review of the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage, agreement on Article 6 on market mechanism; continued support and enhanced financial provision by developed parties towards NDC enhancement processes and full implementation of the activities thereof to raise ambition and pursue a long-term climate agenda; goal of mobilizing $100 billion by 2020.