Buhari identifies climate change as major challenge facing humanity

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, identified climate change as one of the major challenges facing humanity.

Buhari spoke at the State House, Abuja, while inaugurating the National Council on Climate, shortly before presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

He said: “It (climate change) is complex and dynamic and requires multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral initiatives to address its impacts and avert its rapid advance.

“Updated data show increases in sea level rise, heat waves, wildfires, floods, desertification, drying wetlands and many more disruptive climate occurrences.

“The latest intergovernmental panel on climate change report warns that rising Greenhouse gas emissions could soon outstrip the ability of communities to adapt. And the window for taking decisive steps needed to spare our planet from the gravest impacts of climate change is rapidly narrowing.

“We cannot ignore what is happening in our local environment. The increasing recurrence of floods in several parts of the country is a wakeup call.”

Buhari, therefore, reiterated the determination of his administration to strengthen the national response to climate change and accelerate the implementation of decisive actions to reduce its impacts on the people and economy.

Earlier, Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, thanked the President for “walking the talk” on climate change at the international, regional and national level, demonstrating leadership towards Nigeria’s quest for net-zero by 2060.

The President chairs the council. The Vice President is the vice chairman while the Chairman of, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, is a member.

Other members of the council include the Ministers for Environment; Petroleum Resources; Budget and National Planning; Justice; Mines and Steel Development; Finance; Agriculture and Rural Development; Power; Women Affairs; Transportation; and Water Resources.