By Fatima Saka
Nigeria is set to host the 27th Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, starting from 6th to 18th November 2022, as the Federal Ministry of Environment launched logo on Conference of Parties (COP27).
The minister of Environment Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi unveiled the logo on Friday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen, where he said that “Nigeria as a signatory is expected to actively participate”.
Abdullahi further revealed that Nigeria efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is explicitly of about 20% implementation, with reservations of 45% and reformed to 47% in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The minister lamented over devastating global climate which has infused negativity on the environment as a result of human induced activities causing emissions of green-house gases into the atmosphere.
He further stated that the outcome of climate change increases temperatures, torrential rainfall causing flooding, drought and desertification, land degradation, more frequent extreme weather events, a declining freshwater resources and loss of biodiversity among others.
Barr. Abdullahi added that the effects of the flooding which has ravaged some communities and took lives, leaving some people homeless, giving an instance of Kogi, Nasarawa, Abia, Jigawa States and some other parts of the country. Adding that this also has decreased farms production, loss of properties, health challenges and heightened insecurity.
The minister reiterate that the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that delaying action is a luxury that Nigeria can no longer afford. Adding that unless countries expeditiously boost climate action and ambition on mitigation and adaptation, then the whole world will be facing a future of 2oC or more.
Related Posts
However, He stressed that in order to address climate change and its impacts, the Conference of Parties (COP) which is the supreme decision-making forum of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the convenes Parties to the Convention annually.
He added that Nigeria has been part of the UNFCCC in 1994, which ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2004. In 2015, with the global community in adopted the Paris Agreement, binding mechanism for all countries in addressing the challenges of climate change, with the ratification of the Paris Agreement.
“The hosting of COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh this year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“In the thirty years since, the world has come a long way in the fight against climate change and its negative impacts on our planet; we are now able to better understand the science behind climate change, betterassess its impacts, and better develop tools to address its causes and consequences.
“COP27 is a rare opportunity for parties and observers to come together and grapple with a challenge that is impacting all of humanity and to showcase unity against an existential threat that we can only overcome through concerted action and effective implementation.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recent report has made it clear that are now in extraordinarily dangerous territory.
“With any small delay to proportionate action, Nigeria move closer to irredeemable damage to the climate and its ability to sustain the human population.
“This urgency is recognized in the convening of countries at COP27 and in the call for countries to revise their NDCs ahead of the conference.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria’s participation at COP 27 in Egypt will demonstrate the country’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change at both national and sub-national level, will align with rest of Africa on agenda items which will support partnerships building that will help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets including solidifying frameworks (as earlier alluded to) for establishing carbon markets, address adaptation and mitigation, establish sustainable financing for climate actions, resilience building, poverty eradication and sustainable development,” minister said.
