Nigeria Committed To Ending Climate Crisis – PMB

Nigeria has reiterated its resolve to embrace the various policies aimed at managing the crisis caused by climate change.

President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in his statement at the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) taking place in Marrakech, Morocco.

Also, the country planned to reduce emissions by 20% by the year 2030. This is in line with the intention of raising the target to 45%, with the support of the international community.

“We have reflected our determination for green growth in my country’s ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contribution.”

“This is one of Africa’s most ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contributions – covering all emissions from all parts of the economy.”

According to the President, Nigeria has no choice but to key into the global action on climate change.

“In Nigeria for instance, the impact is being felt by the more than 2.1m million people displaced by devastating floods that the country has continued to suffer since 2012,’’ he said.

The president declared the resolve of Nigeria to ensure that policies put in place to address climate change. This would make the country emerge as one of the world’s best examples of how reducing emissions could benefit the environment and the economy.

“We cannot afford to wait until 2020. We are already making far reaching changes in all sectors of our economy, including through substantially increasing the use of climate smart agriculture and diversification of our energy mix through renewable and efficient gas power.”

He added that the changes also included creating more efficient, cleaner and lower-carbon oil and gas sector. This is achievable through a gas to energy programme and initiating the implementation of clean-up of the Ogoni-Land in the Niger-Delta region.

“If not addressed by 2050, the human and financial cost would be colossal. For us in Nigeria, the larger dimension of the challenge goes beyond emission rights. Survival rights are also at stake.”

Climate Threats-Security Threats

President Buhari equally reminded the gathering of the agreement at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.  The agreement is that Climate threats and security threats go hand in hand and called for concerted efforts on them.

“The Lake Chad Basin for example, has shrunk to a mere 10% of its original size. This has seriously affected the livelihood of over 5m people and contributed to the growth of insecurity in the region. Hence the urgent need to resuscitate Lake Chad.

“In this regard, I seize this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation to those who have responded to our call and to encourage other well-meaning partners to join in our efforts to revive the Lake Chad Basin.

He further expressed that Nigeria is ready to join hands with the rest of the world for the desired change.