Guardian Nigeria
Ahead of the climate change summit known as COP29, the Federal Government has announced plans to review its National Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation framework, which is needed to address the climate change challenge.
The government has also launched the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), a strategic milestone that would translate the net-zero presidential pledge made two years ago, into a vision for the transformation of the country’s economy and society by 2060.
Speaking at the launch of the NDC plan in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said: “We are unveiling a new document, and embarking on this journey together; hence, we acknowledge the importance of international cooperation.”
Represented by Prof Bolaji Babatunde, he said, “Together, we can accelerate transition, and build a legacy of which future generations will be proud as we journey to a green economy.”
According to SGF, “Nigeria has taken a decisive step in the global endeavour to mobilise finance effectively, and our NDCs will lead to meaningful, lasting climate-resilient change.
“Climate change knows no borders; actions must be part of a global effort. We are working with international partners, sharing knowledge and resources in this critical issue. It is a call to action by governments, businesses, communities, and individuals,” Akume added.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal said: “We stand at a pivotal moment in our nation’s commitment towards tackling the threat of climate change and the document serves as a national blueprint for investment in climate-development action.
Lawal emphasised that scientific assessment reports/ documentations reveal the need to accelerate efforts towards climate mitigation and adaptation, adding, that adapting to the adverse impacts of it in future will be more challenging, especially for the developing countries.
Mariana P. Feldman, a development partner, lauded the effort of Nigeria to tackle climate change through an integrated whole-of-economy, whole-of-society approach, adding that its implementation will translate Nigeria’s 2030 climate commitment into an actionable plan.
She observed that the document is encompassing, that is, mitigation and adaptation actions to be taken by seven major sectors, agriculture, forestry and land use, water, energy, transport, waste and industry, saying, the mechanisms will allow them to track progress.
“The Government’s ongoing effort to align with its net-zero 2060 pledge, the NDC targets, the Energy Transition Plan, and the national economic development agenda will further consolidate an integrated approach towards climate and development,” Feldman stressed.
The Director General, National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Salisu Dahiru, said the Nigerian government has updated its NDC 2023-2030 which focused on mitigation, adaptation, and cross-cutting across agriculture, energy, oil and gas, transport, industrial processes and product use, waste, and water.
Dahiru explained that Nigeria’s Agenda 2050 is aimed at achieving middle-income status via a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and circular economy. He stated that heightened exposure to climate risk needs adaptation, resilience, and mitigation measures to safeguard future economic prosperity.
