By Faridat Salifu
In a keynote address at the 4786th Inland Transport Committee Conference held at the United Nations House in Geneva, Nigeria’s Honorable Minister of Environment, H.E. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, emphasized the urgent need to address greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector to combat the environmental crisis facing the planet.
Leading delegates, colleagues, and experts convened at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe-organized conference, “Taking Ambitious Climate Action – Moving Towards Decarbonized Inland Transport by 2050,” on February 20, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, to deliberate on methods of cutting transportation-related emissions.
Minister Lawal highlighted the significant contribution of the transport sector, including road, rail, and inland waterways, to greenhouse gas emissions and stressed the importance of transitioning towards a sustainable transport system.
He affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to creating an enabling environment to support emission reduction efforts, emphasizing the need for technological innovation, regulatory measures, and international cooperation.
Acknowledging the global nature of the challenge, Minister Lawal called for partnerships and knowledge-sharing initiatives to drive progress on a global scale.
He urged stakeholders to actively engage in consultation processes to refine strategies for addressing the pressing issue of inland transport emissions.
In his closing remarks, Minister Lawal encouraged all participants to work together towards creating a sustainable and resilient transport system that not only safeguards the environment but also promotes economic prosperity and social equity.
The address by Nigeria’s Minister of Environment underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector to ensure a sustainable future for the planet.