As the country prepares for the 29th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, the federal government has emphasized the importance of evaluating the results of the previous session, COP28, held in Dubai. The government believes that the outcomes of the negotiations at COP28 have significant implications for Nigeria’s development goals and climate action across all sectors.
COP is the highest governing body of the UNFCCC that meets annually to evaluate progress in addressing climate change and plan for climate action within the UNFCCC guidelines. At COP28, Nigeria emphasized the need for its inclusion in the G7’s climate partnership list for the Just Energy Transition Partnership to effectively address the socio-economic effects of energy transition. The country also called for urgent scaling up of adaptation finance, expansion of adaptation acceleration programs, and a substantive global goal on adaptation.
At a one-day workshop in Abuja, stakeholders gathered to review the outcomes of COP28. The meeting was organized by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the Delegation of the European Union in Nigeria. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, emphasized the urgent need for resolute action in the face of escalating climate crises and environmental challenges. He urged stakeholders to collaborate, unite, and take shared responsibility, harnessing the collective wisdom, expertise, resources, and firm commitments to advance Nigeria’s environmental goals.
Dr Salisu Dahiru, the Director General of the NCCC, noted that the agreements reached at COP28 require a strategic review of Nigeria’s national actions and climate goals, particularly for an oil-producing and developing nation like Nigeria. He stated that the workshop provides an opportunity to reflect on these outcomes and chart a path towards sustainable solutions as the country transitions to a climate-resilient future.
The NCCC aims to facilitate an inclusive and participatory process to motivate actions towards higher ambitious goals for the transition to a low carbon economy and create a forum for government, businesses, states, and other stakeholders to shape and strengthen the climate action processes in Nigeria.
