By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
As Nigeria joined global leaders for the Conference of Parties (COP) of the Unite Nations Frame Work Convention on Climate Change at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi has expressed high optimism that the expectations of Nigeria and Africa at COP 27 will be achieved as issues that are of concern to them are already in the front burner of agenda for discussions.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by Akintunde Martins For Head Press and Public Relations.
Speaking on the expectations of Nigeria at COP 27 dubbed Africa and action COP, the Minister of Environment who is also the head of Nigeria’s delegation stated that amongst other issues Nigeria will push for loss and damage.
“We are focused on ensuring that we bring the issue of loss and damage to the fore and we are already making progress in this regards, because during the Pre-Cop engagement the COP 27 President, Sameh Shoukry highlighted flood related issue with particular reference to Nigeria and Pakistan amongst other nations as one of the key issue on the agenda for discussion, already the issues of flood is linked to loss and damage and that is of priority to us as a nation.”
Speaking further, the Minister added that Nigeria delegation will also focus on the African carbon market initiative as it try to kick start the framework for carbon trading.
He said that similar attention will also be giving to a nobel issue called debt for climate swap aimed to call the attention of developed countries on the impact of their industrialisation on the developing countries and the need for them to mitigate the impact on the continent of Africa and Nigeria in particular.
“In addition, Nigeria as the leader of the PAN African Agency for the Great Green Wall will focus on climate finance to support its activities in the Sahel Region particularly in the most endemic Northern states described as the front line states where there is fast approaching desert encroachment and of course wetland drying up, these and others are huge issues that we will be focusing on” Abdullahi affirmed.
Speaking on unfulfilled promises made to the developing countries by the developed countries during past COPs the Minister stated that Nigeria will not take a know it all approach but will align its position with the African agenda that was agreed at Dakar meeting.
