TheCable

The federal ministry of environment says at the UN climate change conference, Nigeria’s priorities will be on seeking climate finance and partnerships that will focus on emission reduction.

The 27th edition of the conference, otherwise known as COP27, is set to take place at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18.

At a media briefing on Friday, Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of environment, said the federal government will “walk the talk at COP27”.

“The country’s COP27 priorities will focus on exploring options for climate finance and building partnerships that will drive the country’s emissions reduction ambitions, adaptation, and climate change mitigation,” he said.

“The focus will be on sustainable funding mechanism that drives nature-based solutions such as land restoration, reforestation, combating desertification, climate smart-agricultural practices, as well as adaptation strategies.

“Nigeria will also seek collaboration and support on sustainable waste management, renewable and clean energy provision, and finance for loss and damage. Nigeria will push for developed countries to fulfil financial pledges to aid in tackling the climate crisis.

“The expected outcomes of Nigeria’s participation will include increased partnership building that help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets, address adaptation and mitigation, establish sustainable financing for climate actions, resilience building, poverty eradication, energy transition and sustainable development.”

He added that Nigeria will also collaborate with other African countries to drive action on issues affecting the continent.

“Nigeria will not take a position of ‘know it all’ but will align with the West Africa region’s identification of the thematic issues faced by the continent and the group’s interim position on each which includes doubling adaptation finance by 2025,” he said.

He also listed other focus areas as “clarification on the support arrangements to address loss and damage; closing the climate financing gap; scaling up Africa’s mitigation ambition and implementation; strengthening the linkage between technology and financial mechanisms; the global stocktake on progress on the Paris Agreement; transparency; gender and climate change; agriculture; Article 6 and carbon pricing and Africa’s unique needs and particular circumstances”.

According to the minister, Nigeria will include young professionals to understudy the negotiators and advance the country’s position during the conference.

“This is part of the ongoing capacity building sessions by the ministry in the development of its bank of youth negotiators,” he added.

“Finally, as part of my briefing today, we are also launching Nigeria’s COP27 national logo which represents our alignment with the ideals and objectives of COP27 but distinctively projecting our national priorities as a country.”

See photos below.