• Minister, UN task developed countries on $20b biodiversity commitment
• FG deploys tech to reduce GHG emissions

President Bola Tinubu has called for a concerted effort by stakeholders, including development partners, to safeguard the environment and ensure a win-win transition that guarantees a clean and prosperous economic future for all.

Tinubu spoke, yesterday, on the occasion of World Environment Day (WED) marked every June 5 to raise awareness on environmental matters.

He emphasised, “To heal our world, we must begin by healing the land and its people.”

Dwelling on the theme of this year’s edition, ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience’, Tinubu noted the significance, particularly for Nigeria, where drought threatens parts of the country.

He urged a more proactive approach to protect the ecosystem through tree planting, water conservation and the cessation of indiscriminate felling of trees.

In his determination to make Nigeria achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, Tinubu set up the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, which he chairs, to oversee the nation’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, as well as green economy initiatives.

MINISTER of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, has appealed to developed countries to fulfil their $20 billion yearly commitment to biodiversity financing by 2025.

Making the plea, yesterday, at the WED event in Abuja, the minister commended the plan for wealthy countries to financially support developing nations that house the majority of the world’s biodiversity but lack the necessary resources for its conservation.

According to him, the Global South, which includes Nigeria, is home to 85 per cent of the world’s population and most of its biodiversity, adding that cooperation between the resource-rich Global North and the biodiversity-rich Global South is essential for mitigating climate change impact.

Noting Nigeria’s diverse ecosystems ranging from savannas to rainforests, the minister emphasised the economic value of preserving the biodiversity estimated at over $8 billion yearly and the need for the country to play leading role in promoting nature-based solutions and securing nature financing on the global stage.

Representative of Oxfam, Kenneth Abam, noted that through the African Activist for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project, the organisation had been instrumental in addressing poverty and amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities, adding that the collaboration aligned with the Federal Government’s agenda, particularly focusing on climate justice and sustainability.

The Climate Justice Youth Ambassadors initiative, he said, is aimed at harnessing the energy and potential of young Nigerians, positioning them as key players in addressing climate challenges and supporting the government’s efforts from local to global levels.

IN the same vein, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has asked countries to deliver on their commitments to restore degraded ecosystems and land.

Guterres stated this, yesterday, in a message to commemorate the 2024 WED, with the theme, ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience’.

The UN scribe said land use was responsible for 11 per cent of the carbon emissions heating the planet, while urging countries to use their new national climate action plans to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

Noting that “inaction is too costly”, he added,
“Humanity depends on land. Yet, all over the world, a toxic cocktail of pollution, climate chaos and biodiversity decimation is turning healthy lands into deserts, and thriving ecosystems into dead zones.

“Swift and effective action makes economic sense. Every dollar invested in ecosystem restoration creates up to $30 in economic benefits. We are Generation Restoration. Together, let us build a sustainable future for land and humanity.”

ALSO, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the country is working towards exploring modern technologies to drastically reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, especially in the transport sector and other domestic appliances.

Lawal explained that the government had started mainstreaming climate change adaptation and resilience-building measures into national development plans and policies.

He stated, “Nigeria will continue to collaborate with neighbouring countries in the Sahel region to implement the Great Green Wall projects as well as harness the expertise and resources of international organisations and donors.

“It is making significant progress in addressing land degradation and desertification through initiatives such as the Great Green Wall Project (GGW), Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL).”