Nigeria to cut in greenhouse emissions by 20 pct
Nigerian government commits to a 20 percent unconditional and 45 percent conditional reduction of greenhouse gases
LAGOS, Nigeria
Nigeria has committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2020, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement on Monday as world leaders meet in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change conference (COP 21).
"This is an action plan that represents a fair and meaningful contribution to addressing climate change," the statement said.
"President Buhari has approved the submission of the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to address climate change to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)," the statement said.
"The Federal Government’s policy to address climate change, as espoused in the country’s INDC, commits to a 20 percent unconditional and 45 percent conditional Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission reduction post 2020," according to the statement.
The statement said that the country's INDC was approved on Nov.26 and submitted to the UNFCCC on Nov. 28, ahead of the conference.
The action plan reaffirms President Buhari’s commitment to an economic transformation which places inclusive, green growth as key priority for this administration, the statement said.
"President Buhari is fully aware of the acute threat that climate change poses to Nigeria’s development through flooding, desertification and insecurity, and many of these accrue from weather-related natural disasters," the statement said.
"In Paris, the issue of Lake Chad’s current depletion, which has become a cause of international concern, will be the major focus of a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Summit of Heads of State and Government, which President Buhari will attend with Nigeria’s delegation on Tuesday, December 1," the statement said.
Experts say Lake Chad is currently less than 10 per cent of its original size and little of the remaining waters are in Nigeria - a depletion that is both a threat to the environment and food security.
Of an estimated 20 million people that lived on the Lake Chad Basin as of 2013, about 11.7 million were in the North Eastern region of Nigeria, according to and expert report.
The statement said Buhari will participate in the launching of the International Solar Alliance by the Indian Prime Minister and the French President at the conference, where he will seek international partnerships to deliver Nigeria’s climate change response.
