The Federal Government has advised stakeholders on the need to adopt the long-term Strategy for Low Emission Development to effectively address climate change challenges.
The country’s Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi who made this known during a stakeholders meeting in Lagos, said that the strategy was importance, especially giving the country’s Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy.
Abdullahi, who was represented during the meeting by the Director of the Department of Climate Change, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said that climate change was a reality that had come to stay and was having disproportionate negative impacts around the globe.
He explained that Climate change is no longer an environmental issue because it has been scientifically proven and understood as a political, economic and social issue. He however noted that with affordable and scalable solutions, climate change challenges would be turned into opportunities.
“There is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are now available that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient societies and economies, hence turning the challenges of climate change into opportunities.
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Speaking further, he said, “Nigeria’s commitment to the low-carbon pathway is evident in the ratification of the Paris Agreement as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions, which can be achieved with financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building from the more advanced and willing international partners.”
According to Abdullahi, the development of the Nigerian LTS/LT-LEDs complied with the Paris Agreement Article 4.19.
“The article invites countries to formulate and communicate ‘long-term, low greenhouse gas emission development strategies’ or long-term strategies and support the achievement of low-carbon and climate-resilient societies,”he said. “The Nigerian long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy builds on the commitment made by the President at COP26 in Glasgow, UK for long-term decarbonisation by 2060,”.
The minister further stated that the recognition of long-term strategies would provide a pathway to a whole-of-society transformation, a vital link between the short-term NDC and the long-term objectives of the Paris Agreement, adding that it would enable countries to avoid costly investments in high-emissions technologies.
Story was adapted from Punch.
