By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of Environment Mohammed Abdullahi,said Land-use change accounts for 23% of global emissions.
He said that forests and land-use related actions have the potential to deliver up to 30% of the emissions reductions needed for 1.5 degrees.
Abdullahi made the disclosure at the 16th meeting of National Council of Environment(NCE), recently in Abuja, with the
“Pursuit of Zero Emission – A Trajectory Towards Global Environment Renaissance”
He said that ecosystems aid efforts to adapt climate change through securing and regulating water supplies and protecting communities from flooding, storms and erosion.
“These activities are currently significantly under-resourced and under-leveraged; for example, they currently receive less than 5% of global climate finance”.
“Many countries and other stakeholders have stepped forward with ambitious programmes and commitments.
“Yet progress globally does not yet reflect the critical importance of forests to achieving global climate, biodiversity and development goals”, he said.
He said science shows further acceleration of efforts is needed if we are to collectively keep 1.5°C within reach.
“Together we can succeed in fighting climate change, delivering resilient and inclusive growth, and halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation”.
The minister said the federal government is committed in strengthen effort to converse forests, other terrestrial ecosystems and accelerate their restoration.
This will facilitate trade and development policies, internationally and domestically.
He explained that, the theme for the meeting was apt because it captures an environment in which we presently live in, an environment threatened by the debilitating effects of climate change.
He said human activities naturally occurred with emergencies that have exacerbated the impact of this global phenomenon in recent years.
“The impact of global warming is occasioned by deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, climate change, COVID-19 pandemic and other environmental and social factors have left their negative tolls on both the terrestrial and aquatic systems, with dire consequences on our planet and humans”.
He stated that Nigeria, through Mr. President joined the other World Leaders in endorsing the Glasgow Declaration on Forest and Land use committing to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation.
He maintained that, this will promote sustainable development,sustainable commodity production and consumption that work to countries’ mutual benefit.
He added that,this do not drive deforestation and land degradation; reduce vulnerability, build resilience and enhance rural livelihoods,through empowering communities.
Others are development of profitable, sustainable agriculture, and recognition of the multiple values of forests.
While recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, in accordance with relevant national legislation and international instruments, as appropriate.
In his address, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, represented by the permanent secretary, Olusola Olasade said the FCT Administration will continue to plant trees and encourage residents to do same across the Territory. However, its long-term strategy is the use of electric vehicles for public transportation.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the representative and regional Director, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Regional Office, Dr. Jean Bakale emphasised the need for Nigeria to decarbonise to reduce GHG generation.
According to him, the solution to the rising status of carbon dioxide “is to redirect our goals towards decarbonising and drastically reduce greenhouse gas generation in Nigeria and the world at large.”
Represented by Osuji Otu, Bakale said achieving a Net-zero emissions status has become a new ambition of every developed, developing and forward-thinking country in the world as its continuous experience increases climate change.
“Today, the sea levels are rising with frequent flooding that is destroying lives and properties worth several millions of dollars, global temperature is rising and wildfires are rampant, food security is greatly affected as farmers are increasingly finding it difficult to predict planting seasons, insecurity is on the increase, affecting food production (eg. in the Lake Chad region) and threatening livelihoods of rural communities and lots more.
“Climate change and the unimaginable are beginning to happen. With all these and more, the solution is to decarbonise and drastically reduce greenhouse gas generation.”
In his contribution, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Nigeria, Fred Rafeero said that the NEC theme is a call for action to achieving net-zero GHG emission and energy transition for Nigeria.
“I want to use this occasion, therefore, to congratulate the Federal Ministry of Environment for the signing into law of the Climate Change Act by the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The Climate Change Act has come at an opportune time and will be necessary for the attainment of the county’s commitment to achieving environmental sustainability goals,” he said.
Represented by the Assistance FAO representative: (Programme), Abubakar Suleiman said the vision of Federal Government aligns with FAO global efforts in supporting its member countries in their efforts to climate change adaptation and mitigation, working towards climate-resilient and low-emission agri-food systems.
“FAO as part of its mandate is presently supporting the Ministry in mobilising resources from the global climate finance (GCF) institutions, global environment facility (GEF), the adaptation funds and UK PACT programme to support implementation of the Nigeria nationally determined contributions (NDCs)
“FAO Nigeria through its programmes and projects has been able to support in strengthening capacities of government counterparts to better respond to climate change challenges including the ability to generate, collect, analyse and utilise data and information for climate action; better access to financial resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation; adoption of good practices and innovative solutions to climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation; mainstreaming of climate change considerations in national and subnational policies and strategies,”he added.
