Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to invest massively on renewable energy and take quick action on climate change in the country.
They made the call at an awareness march to commemorate the 2023 Climate Emergency Day, in Abuja.
Mr David Terungwa, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said devastating effects await countries who do not take immediate action on climate change.
He said that it was important for budgetary provisions for key ministries, be improved to tackle the impact of global warming on our health, food systems, among others.
“Everywhere in the world today, this day is being marked, we need climate action, Nigeria cannot be an exemption.
“We are all aware of the impact and effect of climate change in our country, our economy, ourselves, food security and everything.
“Now that there is a new government in place, we want real climate action.
“When we say real action, we mean that we must begin the transition to renewable energy, we must invest in renewable energy, we must invest in climate smart agriculture.
“We must invest in our women, in other to give them opportunity to be part of the solution, as women and youths are most impacted by the effect of climate change,” he said.
Mr Ibrahim Idris, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, represented by Dr Aliyu Yauri, Deputy Director, Department of Climate Change at the ministry, said that the need for climate action could not be over-emphasized.
“It is important to highlight the climate clock, to signify that it is time for action.
“The federal government has put in place a lot of intervention to bring down the emission and knowing that the UN has a binding agreement and Nigeria is not an exemption.
“Nigeria at this moment has reversed their National Determine Contribution called NDC, to meet up with the NDC target,” he said.
Ms Lauretta Boniface, Co-founder of Ecocyckle Development Foundation, added that there was need for more awareness on the impact of climate change.
“This day is very important globally, we mark the day to create awareness to the general public on the importance of climate action.
“The clock is counting down to irreversible, the crisis are becoming more visible as there are flooding everywhere, drought is happening and this indicate that climate change is real and this is the time to act now and act fast,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the awareness march ended with the count down of the climate clock from six years to five years, signifying that humanity has five years to take real climate action.(NAN)