Cleaner environment: Our ambitious efforts towards zero emission are on course-FG

 

 

 

By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

 

 

The country’s determination to achieve emission-free environment devoid of climate hazards received a boost yesterday, as the federal government said its ambitious efforts towards zero emission were on course.

 

The minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi who dropped the hint at the 16th Meeting of the National Council on Environment in Abuja Thursday, said his ministry was promoting and embarking on climate-positive and nature-positive investments to enhance adaptive capacity and build resilience of the ecosystems while improving the livelihoods of the local communities and indigenous people.

 

According to the minister, “with funding from the annual Appropriation, Sovereign Green Bond, private sector, more than 20 million hectares of land have been planted up by the Ministry under the National Afforestation/Reforestation programme targeting degraded forest reserves, degraded landscapes and vulnerable ecosystems across all the ecological zones of the country. While more than 24,000 hectares of degraded lands and erosion sites have been reclaimed or mitigated with the support of Development Partners”

 

He stated further that; “in the area of climate change adaptation, a National Adaptation Communication (ADCOM) document, which provides a mechanism for Nigeria to report “priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions has been developed in addition to a National Adaptation Plan Framework to help with adaptation planning and governance.

 

“Giant strides have been recorded in the strengthening of the policy and legal framework. The key milestone being the signing into law by Mr. President in November, 2021, the Climate Change Act. The Act will go a long way in catalysing the realization of the country’s climate ambitions and commitments including contribution to zero emission. It is important to point out that the Act among others, provides for the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change and empowered to make policy and decisions on all matters related to climate change in Nigeria.

 

“Furthermore, the Act also establishes the Climate Change Fund which will help us address climate finance issues with regards to adaptation, loss and damage, innovations to reduce GHG emissions, development of technology for renewable energy and transition to a green economy, among others”.

 

Continuing, he said, “as part of efforts to ensure that the country meets its target of attaining net zero by 2060, the Act provides for the phenomenon of carbon budgeting which will be set in a five-yearly cycle with annual targets assigned to private and public entities, with the Council imbued with the powers to monitor and ensure that set budgets and targets are met as at when due”.

 

The minister informed that, just last week Mr. President appointed the pioneer Director General of the National Climate Change Council, while drawing attention to some fundamental issues in the implementation of the Act.

 

According to him, “the Act provides for establishment of State and Zonal Directors which tends to provide a humongous bureaucracy, also membership of the Council also inadvertently takes out Commissioners of Environment as members of the Climate Change Council, the Secretariat has no Directorates to support functions of the Director-General, no transitional provisions in relation to functions of  the Department of Climate Change and the Climate Change Council etc. So, the Ministry has initiated an amendment of the Act by setting up a technical review committee which has concluded its assignment providing next steps on the way forward.

 

“Also, since one of the country’s greatest means of balancing emissions is the provision of carbon sinks and biodiversity preservation, the Act makes a case for the exploration of nature-based solutions. Amongst these solutions is the establishment of the UN-backed Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) registry. The REDD+ programme which is currently being run under the department of forestry”.

 

He said Nigeria has developed an Energy Transition Plan (ETP) which he said shows a detailed roadmap for Nigeria to achieve both SDG 7 by 2030 and Net Zero by 2060.

 

“This roadmap highlights the scale of the effort required for a developing nation to achieve net zero including the scale of financing, renewables to be deployed and the importance of transition fuels.

 

To meet our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target and fast track our low carbon development pledges to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Nigerian Sovereign Green Bond was issued in line with our Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

 

“These Green Bonds are used in financing environmentally friendly projects through debts tied to sustainability targets.

In December 2021, We launched the Deep Decarbonization project with the support of the French Development agency (AFD).

 

“This project is a National research and capacity development project for the implementation of a Deep Decarbonisation pathway program for Nigeria.

 

“Nigeria has adopted a good number of measures to ensure that it sustainably manages its environment and these include developmental policies on the environment, solid waste management, plastic waste management, biosafety policy, gender and climate change.

 

“Through the operationalization of the aforementioned policies and programmes, accelerated implementation of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for restoration of polluted and degraded coast line through the West Africa Coastal Area Management Programme (WACA) is on course.

 

“Recently, Nigeria has continued to partner and support UK Forest, Agricultural and Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue, targeted at accelerating Nigeria’s low-carbon transition and maximize emissions reductions. Our belief in what the Dialogue sets to achieve the sustainability of commodity supply chains and promote trade”, he noted.

 

The minister further informed that “Nigeria assumed the leadership of the Pan African Great Green Wall (PAGGW) with the election of the Mr. President as the President of the , Conference of Heads of States and Governments for a two year term.

 

“A corollary to this, is my assumption of the Chairmanship  of the Council of Ministers of Member States. Accordingly, Mr. President is driving the funding initiative under the GGW Accelerator to fund each country’s priorities. Closely aligned to the objectives of the PAGGW is the need for a robust tree planting campaign which Mr. President launched on the sidelines of the PAGGW Council of Ministers Meeting on 16th June, 2022.

 

“Accordingly, States are encouraged to drive their tree planting campaign so that, collectively we can meet the 25 Million trees target by 2023”, he stayed.

 

Maintaining that there is no better time to reset the relation with nature than now, the minister said the entire world is being confronted with such enormous challenges that can be best described as unprecedented.

 

He called for the need for urgent collective step-up action by everyone irrespective of social status, religion, political leaning for drastic restoration of the God-given natural ecosystem.

 

The minister said, “as Government, we will not fail to provide every necessary support required to ensure a successful journey to zero emission while we all live in harmony with nature with brighter hope of sustainable development.

 

On his part, the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Malam Muhammad, represented by   Olusola Olasade, Permanent Secretary of FCT, said FCT administration will continue to plant trees and encourage residents to do same across the Territory:

 

He said the administration’s long-term Strategy is the use of electric vehicles for public transportation while it continues to sensitize residents on the need to protect the environment.

 

Speaking earlier, Jean Bakale, Country Representative and Regional Director, UNIDO Regional office Hub. represented by Osuji Otu said UNIDO is well positioned to support member states in identifying and addressing emerging environmental issues.

 

He assured that UNIDO will continue to provide technical support to Nigeria on achieving a net zero status through the promotion of: clean technology, renewable energies like small hydro power, circular economy and waste management, policy and regulatory framework development, energy efficiency, resource efficiency and cleaner production.

 

The UNIDO boss said the organisation is committed to supporting Nigeria in promoting inclusive sustainable industrial development and achieving a green and sustainable national development.

 

According to him, if any country including Nigeria must achieve sustainable industrial development, it must prioritise effective management of the environment.