By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The president-designate of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, Alok Sharma has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to set out net zero targets and ambitious plans to decarbonise Nigeria’s economy by 2030.
Sharma stated this during a 4-day visit to Nigeria.
According to a press release by the UK government posted on their website on Monday, the COP 26 President has visited Africa for the second time in a month since taking on COP Presidency full time to drive forward climate priorities on the continent.
Sharma concluded a four-day visit to Egypt and Nigeria, encouraging both countries on exciting innovations to drive climate action.
Received by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, Sharma spoke about the importance of Nigeria’s leadership in climate action and noting the country’s potential to mobilise its young population and transition to renewable energy.
He also met with the Ministers of the Environment and Finance, and the Chief of Staff to the President to discuss the progress that Nigeria is making on both mitigation and adaptation.
He welcomed the removal of the petroleum subsidy and encouraged more renewable energy to be added to the grid which will provide greater access to electricity for Nigerians.
He further said “I have been strongly encouraged by my visits to both Egypt and Nigeria as I continue to work with countries across the globe in the lead up to COP26.
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“It is only by working together that we will be able to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and it’s vital to engage with countries that are not only vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but also have a role to play in mitigating it.
“I thank the leadership in both countries for their openness and enthusiasm so far and look forward to meeting again ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow later this year.”
The statement also added that the COP26 President emphasised the importance of submitting more ambitious and measurable short term climate action plans through NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution) and long term strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050, to align line with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees and pursue best efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
Egypt and Nigeria are two of Africa’s largest economies and emitters of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). Egypt also leads regional efforts to transition to clean energy and is an important voice in the climate negotiations for the Middle East and Africa.
In his remarks, the Minister for the Environment, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, said, “Good to meet Alok Sharma, the COP26 President-Designate on his visit to Nigeria and discuss a range of issues on Nigeria’s climate change agenda.
“ We welcome the UK’s leadership on this critical global agenda and look forward to its hosting of COP26 this November that firmly recognises the particular needs and circumstances of Nigeria’s and Africa’s climate change challenges.
“We look forward to the continued support of the UK as we rise to meet those challenges in ways that protect the environment whilst also supporting economic growth and long term stability and prosperity.
Nigeria is a major player on the continent, both in terms of its population size and its economic influence. Forty three per cent of its population is below the age of 15 and 60 percent of the population now lives in urban environments.
It is Africa’s second largest emitter of GHGs and has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. While heavily reliant on oil and gas, the country has the potential to generate its own renewable energy and their May 2020 Economic Sustainability Plan has committed to extend the Solar Homes Systems to some five million households. From a climate change perspective, it faces both significant challenges but also has huge opportunities.
From Egypt and Nigeria, Sharma will now travel on to India and Nepal where he will meet with leaders from government, business and civil society to hear how climate change is impacting communities and to discuss solutions.
Naturenews reports that the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 1 to 12 November 2021.
