President delivering his address on Tuesday 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 Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria will be one of the world’s best examples in emission reduction.

The President made this known on Tuesday in his statement at the 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) taking place in Marrakech, Morocco.

A statement issued in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said Buhari outlined Federal Government’s plan toward aligning with the global objectives on climate change and ensuring inclusive growth and environmental sustainability.

President Buhari, therefore, declared the resolve of government to ensure that policies put in place to address climate change would make the country emerge as one of the world’s best examples of how reducing emissions could benefit the environment and the economy.

He added that “in Nigeria, we are launching a strategic plan for the implementation of our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

“We have equally embraced the issuance of green bonds as 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 in all sectors of our economy, including through substantially increasing the use of climate smart agriculture and diversification of our energy mix through renewable and efficient gas power.’’

He said that the changes also included creating more efficient, cleaner and lower-carbon oil and gas sector, especially through a gas to energy programme and initiating the implementation of clean-up of the Ogoni-Land in the Niger-Delta region.

The President stated that Nigeria planned to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2030, with the intention of raising the target to 45 per cent, with the support of the international community.

He noted that “we have reflected our determination for green growth in my country’s ambitious Intended Nationally Determined Contribution.

“We have also announced plans to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by the year 2030, with the intention of raising this target to 45 per cent, 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.”

According to the President, Nigeria has no choice but to key into the global action on climate change.

He said that “in Nigeria for instance, the impact is being felt by the more than 2.1 million people displaced by devastating floods that the country has continued to suffer since 2012.

“If not addressed by 2050, the human and financial cost would be colossal.

“For us in Nigeria, the larger dimension of the challenge goes beyond emission rights. Survival rights are also at stake.”

He equally reminded the gathering of the agreement at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly that climate threats and security threats go hand in hand and called for concerted efforts on them.

“The Lake Chad Basin for example, has shrunk to a mere 10 per cent of its original size, and this has seriously affected the livelihood of over five million people and contributed to the growth of insecurity in the region, including the emergence of Boko Haram as a terrorist group.

“Hence the urgent need to resuscitate Lake Chad. In this regard, I seize this opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation to those who have responded to our call and to encourage other well-meaning partners to join in our efforts to revive the Lake Chad Basin,” President Buhari said.

He expressed the readiness of Nigeria to join hands for the change that the whole world was working toward.

“We, therefore, stand ready to engage in meaningful partnerships to tackle the menace, and call on our neighbours and developing partners to fulfill their financial obligations in support of efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change,” Buhari added.

He also called on world leaders to “recommit ourselves to the achievement of the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement that we collectively signed in 2015 for the benefit of this and future generations.”

President Buhari disclosed that Nigeria had submitted its instrument of ratification for the new global agenda on climate change.

“We urge others to do the same in order to make the world a safe place.” (NAN)