By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria has taken stock of its accomplishments in compliance with the global climate action policies and procedures.
Speaking at COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to taking proactive measures to confront the impacts of climate change.
He reported that Nigeria has issued its third Sovereign Green Bond, funding projects that advance NDC commitments, and partnered with international initiatives such as ACReSAL, the Great Green Wall, and NEWMAP to restore degraded lands, protect watersheds, and improve livelihoods.
Lawal said Nigeria’s Green Economic Empowerment initiative promotes e-mobility and sustainable transport, creating green jobs through electric tricycles distributed under a lease-to-own model, economically empowering women and youth.
Reporting further, the minister said, through the National Flood Management and Resilience Programme, Nigeria invests in hydraulic infrastructure, shore protection, and river desilting to safeguard communities and restore catchments, while transboundary water cooperation in the Sahel strengthens resilience, ecosystem restoration, and peacebuilding.
The country, he said, has also operationalized the National Carbon Market Framework to ensure integrity and transparency, while initiatives such as the Farmers Soil Health Scheme, Smart Mining Technologies, and the Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy advance sustainable resource management and low-carbon growth.
Lawal said the country continues to strengthen data systems, inclusive governance, and sustainable cooling technologies through the Montreal Protocol, Kigali Amendment, and Nigeria Cooling Action Plan.
He urged developed countries to honor the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge, stressing the need for timely resources, technology transfer, and local innovation to support adaptation, mitigation, and a just transition.
The minister spoke about the country’s vulnerability to climate change, especially in the aspects of desert encroachment, land degradation, and declining livelihoods in arid zones, alongside coastal erosion threatening communities and ecosystems.
He underscored Nigeria’s commitment to moving from pledges to tangible action, being the first country in West Africa to submit an enhanced Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which aligns with national development priorities to enhance resilience, energy access, adaptation, and emissions reduction across key sectors.
Lawal highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to expand protected areas, safeguard biodiversity, and implement nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration.
He called for collective global action, emphasizing that commitments made at COP30 must translate into tangible efforts to safeguard the planet for present and future generations.
