UN Climate Change Executive Secretary in Nigeria on plan for economic growth, environmental protection

The UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, will visit Nigeria for a four-day trip to discuss the opportunities a strong climate plan can bring with government officials, business leaders, civil society, and other key stakeholders.

A statement by Dr Oluseyi Soremekun – National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (UNIC)- said
The Executive Secretary would first visit Abuja, from 4-5 March, where he’ll engage with Nigerian government officials and civil society.

After meeting with key government officials in Abuja, he will attend a symposium on the “Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, Mangrove, and Art” on 6 March, convened by Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Km19 Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki Peninsula, in Lagos.

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At approximately 10:05am (WAT), the Executive Secretary will deliver a speech on the opportunities of Nigeria’s new climate plan (also known as their Nationally Determine Contribution or NDC), which will be open to media attending the event between 09:00 and 14:00.

The speech will focus on how Nigeria can realise new economic opportunities with a new national climate plan and why bold action on climate change can lift people out of poverty, and secure energy access for all.

The Executive Secretary will emphasize that key sectors in Nigeria’s economy are on the verge of take-off, and that bold climate plans are key to them taking flight, bringing significant benefits for households, businesses, and governments.

He will talk about how protecting the environment boosts Nigeria’s resilience to extreme weather caused by climate change, saving lives and livelihoods.

From preserving mangrove forests that protect coastal areas from flooding to growing a Great Green Wall in the Sahel to restore degraded land, Nigeria has a clear path forward in adapting to the impacts of climate change on its people, crops, and infrastructure.

Additionally, the Executive Secretary will participate in a panel discussion with business leaders at the symposium on 6 March and meet with civil society representatives on 7 March.

● About UN Climate Change (UNFCCC)

With 198 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.

● National climate plans

This year, all countries are putting together new and strengthened national climate plans under the Paris Agreement, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

A strong new plan is the pathway to a stronger economy, reduced fossil fuel pollution and a healthier, wealthier population.

These plans, and the Paris Agreement on climate change are delivering real progress. Without them, the world would be headed toward 5 degrees Celsius of global heating, which most of humanity would not survive.

However, based on the current pledges of all countries, we are still on course for around 3 degrees, which would still cause catastrophic damage to every economy and its people.

The next rounds of NDCs are due this year. Strong plans are essential if the world is to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and avoid dangerous climate change impacts.