President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will be
one of the world’s best examples in emission reduction.
The President made this known on November 15 in
his statement at the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) taking place in
Marrakech, Morocco.
A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina,
the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said Buhari outlined
Federal Government’s plan toward aligning with the global objectives on climate
change and ensuring inclusive growth and environmental sustainability.
President Buhari, therefore, declared the resolve
of government to ensure that policies put in place to address climate change
would make the country emerge as one of the world’s best examples of how
reducing emissions could benefit the environment and the economy.
He added that “in Nigeria, we are launching a
strategic plan for the implementation of our Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions.
“We have equally embraced the issuance of green
bonds as innovative means and alternative way of raising climate finance both
locally and internationally.
“We cannot afford to wait until 2020. We are
already making far reaching changes in all sectors of our economy, including
through substantially increasing the use of climate smart agriculture and
diversification of our energy mix through renewable and efficient gas power.’’
He said that the changes also included creating
more efficient, cleaner and lower-carbon oil and gas sector, especially through
a gas to energy programme and initiating the implementation of clean-up of the
Ogoni-Land in the Niger-Delta region.
The President stated that Nigeria planned to
reduce emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2030, with the intention of raising
the target to 45 per cent, with the support of the international community.
He noted that “we have reflected our
determination for green growth in my country’s ambitious Intended Nationally
Determined Contribution.
“We have also announced plans to reduce emissions
by 20 per cent by the year 2030, with the intention of raising this target to
45 per cent, with the support of the international community.
“This is one of Africa’s most ambitious Intended
Nationally Determined Contributions – covering all emissions from all parts of
the economy.”
According to the President, Nigeria has no choice
but to key into the global action on climate change.
He said that “in Nigeria for instance, the impact
is being felt by the more than 2.1 million people displaced by devastating
floods that the country has continued to suffer since 2012.
“If not addressed by 2050, the human and
financial cost would be colossal.
“For us in Nigeria, the larger dimension of the
challenge goes beyond emission rights. Survival rights are also at stake.”
He equally reminded the gathering of the
agreement at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly that climate threats
and security threats go hand in hand and called for concerted efforts on them.
“The Lake Chad Basin for example, has shrunk to a
mere 10 per cent of its original size, and this has seriously affected the
livelihood of over five million people and contributed to the growth of
insecurity in the region, including the emergence of Boko Haram as a terrorist
group.
“Hence the urgent need to resuscitate Lake Chad.
In this regard, I seize this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation
to those who have responded to our call and to encourage other well-meaning
partners to join in our efforts to revive the Lake Chad Basin,” President
Buhari said.
He expressed the readiness of Nigeria to join
hands for the change that the whole world was working toward.
“We, therefore, stand ready to engage in
meaningful partnerships to tackle the menace, and call on our neighbours and
developing partners to fulfill their financial obligations in support of
efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,” Buhari added.
He also called on world leaders to “recommit
ourselves to the achievement of the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement that
we collectively signed in 2015 for the benefit of this and future generations.”
President Buhari disclosed that Nigeria had
submitted its instrument of ratification for the new global agenda on climate
change.
“We urge others to do the same in order to make
the world a safe place.” (NAN)
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