Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express my profound appreciation to the President of the United States, His Excellency, Joe Biden, for convening this Summit at a time the world is experiencing tremendous vulnerability from the COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Change impacts, among several other global challenges.
The issue of Climate Change has taken the front burner globally, as its effects can be seen and felt all around us; ranging from increased atmospheric temperature to irregular rainfall patterns as well as sea level rise owing to the melting of glacial ice.
Nigeria commends the Biden Administration for the positive decision of returning the United States to the Paris Agreement. In addition to bringing about abundant green economic opportunities to the US economy, the move further complements the larger transition process of global economies to low carbon development pathways.
This Summit would, indeed, prove instrumental in galvanizing high-level political support for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its Katowice Rulebook as well as inviting more countries and stakeholders to take more climate-oriented responsibilities. As one of the most vulnerable nations, Nigeria is undertaking major environmentally sound and climate-friendly programmes and treading the path of sustainability.
Since ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2016, Nigeria has rolled-out several policy enablers, set up institutional frameworks to cut emission by 20% unconditionally and 45% conditionally with international support by 2030.
Nigeria is convinced that, through net-zero transition, tremendous prospects are available for job creation and other economic benefits.
We are expeditiously implementing programs that stimulate gradual transition away from the use of wood stoves to kerosene, Liquefied Natural Gas, biogas and electricity. The immediate effects include healthy competition among private sector players leading to higher productivity, employment and faster service delivery.
In the Agriculture production and supply chain sector, we are targeting improved efficiency and productivity through the provision of accurate and timely weather forecasting to farmers, supply of drought tolerant and early maturing crop varieties and promoting empowerment towards the diversification of sources of livelihoods.
Beyond ending gas flaring by 2030, the oil and gas sector has undertaken steps for diversification; risk management system; insurance hedging; research and development and emergency/crisis planning.
Your Excellencies,
We have developed a tool-kit that mainstreams our national developmental plans with the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Nigerian government, in 2017, launched the green bond programme as part of its commitments contained in the Paris Climate Agreement signed on September 21, 2016.
The overall outcome of the highlighted actions have translated into food supply sufficiency, improved nutrition, less hunger, increased employment, new jobs opportunities, better livelihoods, reduced poverty, decreased vulnerability to health challenges and higher quality of life.
Excellencies,
Nigeria calls on countries to embrace Circular Economy and Sustainable Production and Consumption models in order to expedite attainment of the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.
I wish your Excellencies to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to galvanizing relevant stakeholders for climate action and our readiness to extend support to regional, continental and global multilateral processes for the attainment of the lofty objectives of the Paris Agreement. The fight to redress the impact is the responsibility of all.
I thank you.
