Nigeria Urges Council To Develop Climate Change Adaptation Project

The Nigerian government has directed the National Council on Climate Change to develop a Comprehensive Climate Change Adaptation Project for Flood Management in Nigeria.

The government said this would help to avert future occurrences of severe floods across the country.

Nigerian Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima gave the charge at a one day workshop on Unpacking the Outcomes of the Fifty-Eight Sessions of the Subsidiary [SB58] of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Abuja the nation’s capital.

The vice president said that the project should also include resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin.

 

He said that Nigeria has shown great leadership in Africa and has played a critical role in the UNFCCC climate policy negotiation process, consistently advocating for a just and fair process in addressing climate change since it became a Party to the UNFCCC in 1994.

“In 2015, Nigeria joined the global community in adopting the Paris Agreement, the first binding mechanism for all countries towards addressing the challenges of climate change in keeping faith with the target of limiting the increase in global temperature within 1.5oC.” He said

Increased Climate Action
He also noted that Nigeria vision and expectations for COP 28 will include increased climate action on many fronts, particularly increased and available climate finance.

“We note with concern, the lack of progress on the mobilization of the $100 billion meant for adaptation financing by 2020 pledged by western countries since 2009 at COP15.

“The Loss and Damage agreement which provided hope for many low-income countries bearing the brunt of climate change, must be finalized in Dubai; Just Energy Transition where we expect discussions to focus incentivizing and enabling emerging economies to transit sustainably in accordance to their national priorities, capacities, and based on greater financial support must also be finalized, taking cognizance of the need to include more favorable terms for developing countries, along with technology transfer.” He explained.

The VP said Nigeria will continue to build on the success of COP 27, where the Article 6 conundrum was finally resolved, ushering in the possibility of operationalizing the African Carbon Markets.

He further said that the country’s vision and expectation of the COP 28 will be hinged on the operationalisation of the loss and damage funding as we continue to intensify efforts to mobilize additional climate finance.

SB58
The Director General National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, said that the meeting called the SB58 will help Nigeria stakeholders in negotiating during the COP 28, which comes up later in the year in Dubai.

He also noted that the meeting will also help Nigeria stakeholders on what role they are expected to play in providing information and data that will guide Nigeria in negotiating during the COP 28.

 

“The unpacking of this session(SB58) is to help break down the decisions that were reached at the preliminary or preparatory meeting for the Conference of Parties coming up in Dubai. That meeting is called the SB58. We attended it, and it was at that point at that meeting that the agenda of the item that is going to be discussed at the COP 28 was agreed upon. And it also helps us to identify the priority areas, whether those things that concern Nigeria the interest of Nigeria are well captured and form part of what is going to be discussed at the COP 28, So unpacking it is to let everybody, every stakeholder know what is been discussed and what role that stakeholder, institution is expected to play to in providing information and data that will guide Nigeria, in negotiating during the COP and also how it will implement those decisions that formed that fall within it mandate.” He explained.
He also commended the development partners for their support.

“From the goodwill messages, all the development partners that are in the forefront as far as climate change is concerned have assured us of their commitment to providing additional support to Nigeria to collaborate and partner with Nigeria and also assist or work side by side with the government in finding the lasting solutions that will help the country to advance.” The DG explained.

UNDP
The Representative of the UNDP, Mr Lealem Berhanu Dinku said that UNDP will continues to support the Nigerian government through all environmental players, especially the Federal Minister of Environment and the National Council on climate change in attaining a safe and sustainable development for Nigeria.

He, however, called on the developmental partners to take into consideration the issue of climate change, which has been an increasingly vulnerable world.

” Issues of climate change have been increasingly vulnerable to the world. UNDP will continue to support such areas as collaboration and coordination, strengthening capacity building ever, promoting transparency and accountability. identify barriers and solutions, and foster commitment and action.” He said.

Representatives of British High Commission in Nigeria, Samantha Harrison, said that the workshop is crucial moment for Nigeria to have some time to discuss and prioritise Climate objectives ahead COP28, and the African Climate Summit coming up in the first week of September.

“Nigerian issues and African issues will be at the forefront of people’s minds. This will really shape the agenda going into COP 28. So the work that is going to happen in this room today couldn’t be more timely. Having strong coordination on climate issues is incredibly important and really helps to influence these conversations.” She said.

US Embassy
US Embassy Climate officer in Nigeria , Mr James Nassbaumer while commending the Nigeria government on the leadership in tackling Climate crisis, said the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change and an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions NDC’s, Nigeria has shown itself as a leader on the African continent and limiting emissions of greenhouse gases.

“The United States is very proud of its partnership with Nigeria in combating climate change. A few weeks ago, we held a workshop with NNPC limited on methane abatement and leak detection and repair technologies. Nigeria was a founding partner in our netzero world initiative, which provides on demand technical assistance from our national laboratories on topics related to decarbonisation. ” He stated.

He said the US is ready to support and partner with Nigeria and its energy transition.
The workshop Unpacking the Outcomes of the Fifty-Eight Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB58) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is designed to prepare Nigeria for the Conference of Parties on Climate Change COP 28, taking place in Dubai this year.

 

 

 

Shakirat Sadiq