The world has committed to a pollution-free planet at the close of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, with resolutions and pledges promising to improve the lives of billions across the globe by cleaning up our air, land and water.
This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari today departs Abuja to participate alongside over 50 world leaders in the One Planet summit holding in Paris, France tomorrow.
The summit, jointly organised by the United Nations, the World Bank Group, and the French Government in partnership with non-governmental organisations concerned about reversing the negative effects of climate change, like Bloomberg Philanthropies, will hold at the eco-friendly La Seine Musicale, situated on the picturesque Seguin Island in western Paris.
For the first time at a UN Environment Assembly, environment ministers issued a declaration which said nations would honour efforts to prevent, mitigate and manage the pollution of air, land and soil, freshwater, and oceans – which harms our health, societies, ecosystems, economies, and security.
Over 4,000 heads of state, ministers, business leaders, UN officials, civil society representatives, activists and celebrities gathered at the summit in Nairobi, which ran for three days.
Specifically, the declaration committed to increasing research and development, targeting pollution through tailored actions, moving societies towards sustainable lifestyles based on a circular economy, promoting fiscal incentives to move markets and promote positive change, strengthening and enforcing laws on pollution, and much more.
The assembly also passed 13 non-binding resolutions and three decisions. Among them were moves to address marine litter and microplastics, prevent and reduce air pollution, cut out lead poisoning from paint and batteries, protect water-based ecosystems from pollution, deal with soil pollution, and manage pollution in areas hit by conflict and terrorism.
A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina yesterday, said the main focus of the France summit, with the theme, “Climate Change Financing,” according to the organisers, will be to innovatively pool public and private finance “to support and accelerate our common efforts to fight climate change.”
While recognising that all countries are affected by the effects of climate change under “One Planet,” but some are more vulnerable, the summit seeks for tangible collective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the statement said.
Before heading for the Summit venue, the Nigerian leader will attend a lunch hosted by President Emmanuel Macron of France for Heads of State and Governments at the Elysee Palace.
President Buhari and other world leaders and participants will make presentations under four sub-themes namely: Scaling-up Finance for Climate Action; Greening Finance for Sustainable Business; Accelerating Local and Regional Climate Action; and Strengthening Policies for Ecological and Inclusive Transition.
The participation of Nigeria’s delegation will reinforce the country’s commitment to realising the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
The President, who will be accompanied by the governors of Adamawa, Kano and Ondo states, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Environment, will return to Abuja on Thursday.
