Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, restated Nigeria’s commitment to fostering global cooperation and collaboration to combat climate change.

Shettima spoke at the Art Exhibition and Symposium titled: “The Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, Mangrove and Art” held at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Lekki, Lagos.

According to him, everyone stands at the confluence of three worlds, which are the world of climate change policy, the world of mangrove ecosystems, and the world of art and creativity.

Speaking through the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Mrs Rukaiya El-Rufai, he said that at first glance, the realms might seem unrelated, but in truth, they were deeply connected and their intersection might hold the key to tackling the greatest challenge of the time.

“Climate change is not a distant threat; it is our lived reality. Each of you in this room, whether you craft policy or canvas, whether you invest capital or work with communities, has witnessed its impacts and felt the urgency. We can no longer afford to work in silos.”

“That is why this symposium’s theme, ‘Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, Mangrove, and Art,’ is so timely. It calls on us to think outside the box and work together in new ways,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s commitment is real despite the geopolitical tensions, economic slowdowns, resurgence of climate scepticisms and setbacks in international climate commitments.

In his presentation, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, Mr Simon Stiell, said Nigeria stood to benefit from the $2 trillion clean energy global boom if it invested in its people and its strength.

According to him, it is essential that people across the Nigerian society have a chance to contribute to the implementation of new national climate plans and also benefit from these plans.

In his remarks, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, reaffirmed its commitment to continually foster environmental resilience through collaboration and innovation for environmental sustainability.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the event represented a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to raise awareness, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful action toward environmental sustainability in Lagos State.