By Abraham Olatunbosun
Nigeria has publicized it’s preparations towards the forthcoming 27th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding from November 6 to 18, 2022, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, at a media session in Abuja while launching both the logo and handbook for the COP, outlined plans for side meetings and high-level engagements of President Muhammadu Buhari with other world leaders in Egypt.
According to Abdullahi, the country’s COP27 National Logo represents the government alignment with the ideals and objectives of COP27, on what the nation wants to achieve on the issues of climate change.
He said that every participant at the COP27 must bear the National Logo.
Abdullahi explained that Nigeria’s COP27 priorities would focus on exploring options for climate finance and building partnerships that would drive the country’s emissions reduction, adaptation and climate change mitigation.
He said: “The focus will be on sustainable funding mechanism that drives nature-based solutions such as land restoration, reforestation, combating desertification, climate smart-agricultural practices as well as adaptation strategies. Nigeria will also seek collaboration and support on sustainable waste management, renewable and clean energy provision, and finance for loss and damage. Nigeria will push for developed countries to fulfil financial pledges to aid in tackling the climate crisis.”
The Minister also stressed that the expected outcomes of Nigeria’s participation included increased partnership building that would help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets.
He said: “There is no doubt that Nigeria’s participation at COP27 in Egypt will demonstrate the country’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change at both national and sub-national levels, will align with the rest of Africa on agenda items which will support partnerships building that will help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets including solidifying frameworks (as earlier alluded to) for establishing carbon markets, address adaptation and mitigation, establish sustainable financing for climate actions, resilience building, poverty eradication and sustainable development.”
He noted that Nigeria will not take a “know it all” position but will align with the West Africa region’s identification of the thematic issues faced by the continent.
“During the conference, Nigeria will hold bilateral Meetings and will provide a place for networking with potential investors and related opportunities for Nigerians, the side events to be hosted in the Nigeria Pavilion will relate to showcasing Nigeria’s best practices and exchanges with international communities through dialogues and green investment forums towards tackling climate change and moving Nigeria to a low carbon development pathway.”
In 2015, Nigeria joined the global community in adopting the Paris Agreement, a binding mechanism for all countries in addressing the challenges of climate change.
With the ratification of the Paris Agreement, Nigeria is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions unconditionally by 20% and conditionally by 45% which was reviewed to 47% in its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
