Nigeria, US renew pledge to fight climate change, global challenges 

A renewed commitment by both Nigeria and the United States to work together, especially on climate change and the global energy transition towards net-zero emissions emerged yesterday, from the White House after a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and his American counterpart, Kamala Harris.

Prof Osinbajo while responding to a welcome remark by Harris noted that “we very strongly believe that we (Nigeria and US) in the coming years, will need to work together again on so many global challenges that are varied, and they come up very frequently now from promoting peace and security, to tackling global health issues and climate change and of course, economic adversity.”

Speaking specifically on the country’s Energy Transition Plan, Osinbajo said: “The Plan is important for us because we see especially, the climate crisis as two existential issues; one is the crisis itself, second the energy poverty, which is an issue for us in our part of the world.

“So, while we look forward to the 2060 carbon neutrality goal, we are also hoping that even within a shorter period by 2030 we will deal with the issue of energy poverty.

“We look forward to the coming years and months for even greater collaboration and stronger ties between our countries to create a fairer, more prosperous and perhaps a greener, also freer nation and nations and the world,” he added.

Osinbajo also commended the US for its innovative approach to addressing climate change, noting, “I must also congratulate you because of the Inflation Reduction Act and again, in particular, this is historic especially for those of us who are paying attention to all the issues of climate change.”

Earlier, Harris welcomed Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, just as she eulogised Osinbajo’s extraordinary leadership. Referencing the global advocacy of Prof. Osinbajo on the issue of a just energy transition, Harris observed that her Nigerian counterpart has “been an extraordinary leader on this issue and I noticed that this is something you feel very strongly about, and you have been very adamant about the role Nigeria is playing in addressing this crisis that face us all.”

Both the Osinbajo and Harris met at the Ceremonial Office at the White House, and both made remarks to the press before the closed session where they discussed bilateral issues.

Speaking further on America’s leadership role in Climate Change, Osinbajo noted the “United States’ leadership in the area of climate change and we are all excited to queue behind the US and see that we get many of these objectives.”

Vice President Osinbajo disclosed that Nigeria will require investment support towards the implementation of the Energy Transition Plan, referring to his earlier meetings in the past few days in the US Capital at the World Bank Group, the US Treasury, and the US Agency for International Development, USAID.

Excited about the responses to the Nigerian plan so far, the VP noted: “We are anxious to get all the support we can. In the last few days, I have been talking to a few of the agencies here, the World Bank, USAID, in fact, the Treasury Secretary yesterday also. And they have all been positive and shown indication that they will be very helpful.”