By Ngozi Nwankwo
Ahead of the 27th Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
UNFCCC, Nigerian government said it is preparing for a successful participation, even as it disclosed the areas of priorities and expected outcomes of the country.
The Minister of Environment, Hon. Mohammed H. Abdullahi who disclosed this at ministerial press briefing on Nigeria’s preparation for 27th Conference of Parties, COP27 slated for Egypt said, Nigeria’s
priorities will focus on exploring options for climate finance and
building partnerships that will drive the country’s emissions reduction ambitions, adaptation, and climate change mitigation.
Abdullahi said the country focus will also be on sustainable funding mechanism that drives nature-based solutions such as land restoration, reforestation,
combating desertification, climate smart-agricultural practices as well as adaptation strategies.
“Nigeria will also seek collaboration and support on sustainable waste management, renewable and clean energy provision, and finance for loss and damage.
Nigeria will push for developed countries to fulfil financial pledges to aid in tackling the climate crisis.
” expected outcomes of Nigeria’s participation will include increased partnership building that help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets, address adaptation and mitigation, establish sustainable financing for climate actions, resilience building, poverty eradication, Energy Transition and sustainable development.
” Nigeria will not take a position of ‘know it all’ but will align with the
West Africa region’s identification of the thematic issues faced by the continent and the group’s interim position on each which includes doubling adaptation finance by 2025; clarification on the support arrangements to address loss and damage; closing the climate financing gap; scaling up Africa’s mitigation ambition and implementation; strengthening the linkage between technology and financial mechanisms; the global stocktake on progress on the Paris
Agreement; transparency; gender and climate change; agriculture; Article 6 and carbon pricing and Africa’s unique needs and
particular circumstance.
“At this COP, Nigeria will be including young professionals and youths to understudy the negotiators and advance Nigeria’s position. This is part of the ongoing capacity building sessions by the Ministry in the
development of its bank of Youth Negotiators,” he said.
The Minister expressed hope that Nigeria’s participation at COP 27 in Egypt would demonstrate the country’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change at both national and sub-national level will align with rest of Africa on agenda items which will support partnerships building that would help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets including solidifying frameworks (as earlier alluded to) for establishing carbon markets, address adaptation and mitigation, establish sustainable financing for climate actions,
resilience building, poverty eradication and sustainable
development. We therefore look forward to a fruitful outing with favorable outcomes after the COP.
According to him, Nigeria’s political will to push for a holistic Climate Agenda that is sustainable and all-inclusive has been
demonstrated by Mr. President’s action in assenting to the Climate Change Act and the subsequent appointment of the Director General of the National Climate Change Council and the drive by HE the Vice President of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan. Nigeria will walk the talk at COP27.
As part of the briefing, the Minister also launched Nigeria’s COP27 National Logo which represents the country’s alignment with the ideals and objectives of COP27 but distinctively projecting national priorities as a country.
Nigerian Pilot gathered that, the hosting of COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh this year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the thirty years since, the world has come a long way in the fight against climate change and its negative impacts on the planet.
