Participants at the project launch in Abuja. Photo: Godson Elekwachi
The Federal Ministry of Environment has inaugurated a steering committee for the elaboration of Nigeria’s Long Term Low Emissions Development Strategy to build on the initial long-term vision 2050.
Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Hassan Musa represented by the Director, Human Resources Management, Lawrence Adigwe stated that
“During COP26 in Glasgow, President Muhammadu Buhari announced a new long-term commitment of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2060.
Towards this end, Mr President signed a new climate bill that creates five-year emission budgets, to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions between 2050 and 2070 into law.
“To realize these bold initiatives and pronouncements, the Federal Government of Nigeria will now build on the initial long-term vision (LTV 2050) and the subsequent long-term commitment by the President to develop a full Long Term Strategy.”
Mr Musa emphasized that Long-term strategies provide a pathway to a whole-of-society transformation and a vital link between shorter-term Nationally Determined Contributions and the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement.
On the devastating effect of global warming, Mr Musa opined that Climate Change is a reality that has come to stay and is having disproportionate negative impacts around the globe.
“There is however a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are available now that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient societies and economies hence turning the challenges of Climate Change into opportunities”, he stated.
The Director Department of Climate change, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe said the strategy was to ensure more effective ways to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Earlier in his remarks, The Executive Director 2050 Pathways Platform, Mr Richard Baron, said the platform was created by some countries including Nigeria, to foster Long-terms plans on climate actions and will continue to work with Nigeria to support the project.
We see the Long-Term Strategy as one of the major processes, it’s not about the document but about the process the country put in place, to actually start its journey towards its development, there has to be a signal from the Heads of State or a high-level decision that it is important to actually considered the decision of the Long-Term development, he stated.
Reporting by Godson Elekwachi; Editing by Abdullahi lamino