FG gets committee to end greenhouse emission by 2060

The Federal Government has set up a committee to implement its long-term low emissions development strategy plan that would facilitate the achievement of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060.

Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Hassan Musa, said the duties are to ensure the country meets new long-term commitment as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari at COP26 in Glasgow.

Represented by the Director, Human Resources Management, Lawrence Adigwe, he said the President signed a new climate bill that creates five-year emission budgets to achieve it between 2050 and 2070 into law.

“To realise these bold initiatives and pronouncements, the Federal Government of Nigeria will now build on the initial long-term vision (LTV 2050) and the subsequent long-term commitment by the president to develop a full long term strategy.”

Musa emphasised that long-term strategies will provide a pathway to a whole-of-society transformation and a vital link between shorter-term Nationally Determined Contributions and the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement.

He further stated, “The long-term strategies will offer many other benefits, which include guiding countries to avoid costly investments in high-emissions technologies, supporting just and equitable transitions, and promoting technological innovations.

“We are planning for new sustainable infrastructure in light of future climate risks, and sending early and predictable signals to investors about envisaged long-term societal changes and on the devastating effect of global warming,” he said.

“Climate change is a reality that has come to stay and is having disproportionate negative impacts around the globe. This has long gone beyond being perceived as merely an environmental issue but scientifically proven and understood as a political, economic and social issue.”

He stated that the growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are available now will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient societies and economies, hence turning the challenges of Climate Change into opportunities.

Musa enjoined participants to seek efficiency that will ensure synergies between the Energy Transition Plan with the NDC as this will help to ensure buy-in and ownership by key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as non-governmental stakeholders of the final strategy.

Earlier, the Executive Director of 2050 Pathways Platform, Mr. Richard Baron, said the platform was created by some countries, including Nigeria to foster long-term plans on climate actions that will continue to work with to support the project.

“We see the strategic plan as one of the major processes, and a document to actually start its journey towards its development. There will be a signal from the Heads of State or a high-level decision to fully consider the decision of the long-term development,” Baron added.