The Nigerian government says it will use the National Climate Change Act to provide needed legal framework for the implementation of climate change policies and strategies in the country.
The government also stated that it would look forward to the utilisation of this policy to address and support the development of Nigeria’s Long-term low-emissions towards meeting the Net Zero commitment by 2060.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment Sharon Ikeazor, stated this during the launch of the 2nd Edition of the Nigeria Energy Calculator NECAL 2050, in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
NECAL is a tool that allows users to try different options for reducing emissions at a faster rate and to build a pathway that meets long-term emission targets, is designed to help industries and the energy sector to set their greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
‘’As we gather to launch the 2nd Edition of the Nigeria Energy Calculator NECAL 2050, I am more elated knowing that the completion of this Policy Tool could not have come at a better time than now. Versions of the 2050 calculator are now being used in over thirty Countries around the world and Nigeria is one of the ten counties supported through the UK Government’s International Climate Finance, ICF, programme to develop a calculator,” Ikeazor explained.
The Minister urged stakeholders to continue to strengthen needed engagements and capacity that will ensure inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in the utilisation of the NECAL 2050 to support transformative climate actions.
According to Ikeazor, the work is led by the Energy Commission of Nigeria and has resulted to the Nigerian Energy Calculator which is one of the tools used to inform the country’s Nationally Determine Conditions, NDC, and its Sustainable Energy for All Action Agenda (Vision 2030).
The Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to global climate protocols following recent declaration at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Glasgow, Scotland on achieving Net zero emissions by 2060.
“The Ministry of Environment as the national coordinating body of climate activities will leverage on this Tool for policy and decision making for the implementation of Nigeria’s long-term strategy for climate change under the Paris Agreement, as well as identifying solutions towards supporting the implementation of Nigeria’s Nationally Determine Contributions.” Ikeazor stated.
The Minister further said that the Department of Climate Change of Federal Ministry of Environment and United Kingdom jointly signed Memorandum Of Understanding in 2020 to initiates the commencement of the Project for the development of the NECAL as an updated version to address climate change in Nigeria.
She commended the British High Commission in Nigeria for the support provided in enabling the tripartite engagement with the UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.