The Federal Government says it has concluded plans to formally inaugurate the National Climate Change Council and its Secretariat, as part of efforts to implement the Climate Change Act 2021.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2021, signed the Climate Change Bill into law which led to the establishment of the climate change council.
A statement by the presidency showed that the move was part of the government’s approach to mobilising Nigerians to transition the country to a low-carbon economy and society in line with global best practices.
The statement read that the Climate Change Act 2021, signed into law by President Buhari in November 2021, provides an overarching legal framework to achieve Nigeria’s long-term climate goals.
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“These goals include meeting Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions; among which is President Buhari’s pledge, at the COP 26, for Nigeria to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060,” the statement read.
In addition to making provisions for National Climate resilience, the Act institutionalises climate reporting, auditing, finance and funding through fiscal and other mechanisms and incentives, while also mainstreaming climate change actions into national development priorities, and imposing climate obligations, including reporting, on both public and private sector institutions.
“The act thus requires a whole-of-government approach to mobilise all Nigerians to transition our country to a low-carbon economy and society,” the statement revealed. “The NCCC is the implementing body charged with superintending the CCA and coordinating government and society in transitioning to a low carbon economy”.
The statement concluded that the government was aware of the need to promptly appoint a director general to lead the secretariat upon inauguration, hence the president’s directive to screen the recommended candidates, from whom the pioneer director general will be unveiled and announced.
Story was adapted from Punch.
