Climate Change: Buhari Commits To Nigeria’s Reduction Of Emissions

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared the resolve of the Nigerian government to ensure implementation of policies that will address climate change.

He says Nigeria will emerge as one of the world’s best examples of how reducing emissions could benefit the environment and the economy.

In his speech at the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) taking place in Marrakech, Morocco, President Buhari outlined the plan of the administration towards aligning with the global objectives on climate change and ensuring inclusive growth and environmental sustainability.

“In Nigeria, we are launching a strategic plan for the implementation of our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and we have equally embraced the issuance of green bonds as an innovative means and alternative way of raising climate finance both locally and internationally.

“We cannot afford to wait until 2020. We are already making far reaching changes to all sectors of our economy including through: Substantially increasing the use of climate smart agriculture, diversification of our energy mix through renewable and efficient gas power, creating a more efficient, cleaner and lower-carbon oil and gas sector especially through a gas to energy programme and initiating the implementation of the clean-up of the Ogoni-Land in the Niger-Delta region,” he said.

President Buhari also announced Nigeria’s ambitious but achievable commitment to ‘green growth’.

“We have reflected our determination for green growth in my country’s ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. We have also announced our plans to reduce emissions by 20% by the year 2030, with the intention of raising this target to 45%, with the support of the international community. This is one of Africa’s most ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contributions – covering all emissions from all parts of the economy,” he told the gathering.

President Buhari also affirmed that Nigeria had no choice but to key into the global action on climate change.