FG develops biennual update report to UNFCCC

IN fulfillment of its obligation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the federal government has kick-started the development of Nigeria’s Biennual Update Report (BUR), which provides updates of national Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventories, including a National Inventory Report (NIR) and information on mitigation actions, needs and support received.

The process was began during a one-day initiation programme on development of Nigeria’s BUR organised by the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMENV) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently in Abuja.

In a presentation, the Director, DCC, Dr. Samuel Adejuwon explained that it is an obligation to non-Annex1 Parties under the UNFCCC to prepare and submit every two years, reliable, comprehensive and transparent reporting from the National Communications (NCs). “NCs are reports for providing information on how each Party is implementing their Convention commitments to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”

According to him, “it facilitates understanding of current levels of global emissions as well as the ambition of existing efforts to combat climate change, at both the national and international level. Serves as an input to the process (international consultation and analysis) that aims to increase transparency of mitigation actions and their effects.”

He stated that the national GHG inventory – inventory year captured in any BUR should not be more than four years. For instance,  if a country wants to submit its BUR in 2015, the inventory year should be from 2011 upwards.

On the NCs, Adejuwon noted that Nigeria prepared and submitted its First National Communication to the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany in November 2003 and the Second National Communication in June 2014.

“The document provided the baseline information on inventories of greenhouse gases, mitigations, vulnerabilities and adaptation to climate change, awareness and education activities and proposed projects for further monitoring and mitigating climate change,” he said.

Speaking on National Communications: The Contents and Challenges, Adejuwon disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment is the Focal Point and through the Department of Climate Change, has the responsibility for the co-ordination and implementation of the fulfillment of the country’s obligations under the Convention including preparation of National Communications.

His words: “We periodically prepare and communicate to the Conference of the Parties (COP) information related to implementation of the UNFCCC. Being a Party to the Convention, Nigeria is obliged to implement decisions adopted by the Conference of Parties to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to such changes.”

Giving an overview of the BUR project document for Nigeria, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo stated that FMENV/DCC is the Implementing Partner on behalf of the Government of Nigeria. The DCC will be the executing and operational unit that will coordinate and implement the project activities for the preparation of the Biennial Update Report.

He said:” The Government will provide support to the project through a number of initiatives, including the Low Emission Capacity Building Programme. It will also provide the technical support for preparation of GHG inventories through the relevant structures in the country. In addition, there will be provision of technical experts, office space and equipment, and conference and meeting space. It will also provide support to the coordinator (Project Coordinator) of the project.”

UNDP Nigeria is the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Implementing Agency for the project and will assist the country for the entire length of the project. It will support in implementing the activities set forth and will monitor and supervise the project on behalf of GEF.

Under the project,  FMENV will be responsible for the facilitation of all project activities such as international consultant missions, trainings for respective staff, ensuring appropriate access to project sites, relevant data, records, agencies and authorities.