Climate Change: FG restates commitment to UNFCCC negotiation

The Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, says the Federal Government is committed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiation to address climate change.
Mohammed, who said this in Abuja on Friday while briefing newsmen on Nigeria’s participation at the UNFCCC in Marrakesh, Morocco, said Nigeria is also striving toward climate compatible sustainable development.
According to the minister, the domestication of the Paris agreement will move Nigeria into a new phase of transformation implementation through a strong ownership development plans.
Mohammed said: “There is the need to align policies, resources, institutions and legislation in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and the global commitment on climate change.”
The minister said that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to officially announce the ratification of the Paris agreement on climate change at the ongoing Conference of Parties 22 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Buhari had on September 22 signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in New York.
The Minister said the ratification of the agreement was included in the national statement that would be presented by President Buhari at the conference’s high level session on November 15.
Mohammed said: “The President will be accompanied by the Ministers of Power, Water, Environment and Foreign Affairs, including two state governors.”
She said the agreement entered into force on November 4 before the official conference date which started on November 7.
The minister said the agreement committed Nigeria along with other countries to put forward their efforts through the “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” and to strengthen the efforts in the years ahead.
She said: “Nigeria together with other parties to the UNFCCC reached a historic agreement to combat climate change, to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low carbon future.”
Mohammed said the conference’s central focus was to enhance ambition, promoting implementation and providing support.
According to her, delegates will deliberate on the operationalisation of the Paris agreement which covers issues such as the transparency regime, the information required in communicating Nationally Determined Contributions.
Mohammed also said: “Delegate will also deliberate on the processes to take stock and raise ambition, facilitate implementation and promote compliance.
“There will be discussions on climate finance including the roadmap that developed countries will have prepared for mobilising 100 billion dollar in climate finance for developing countries by 2020.
“Delegates will be developing the rules surrounding international cooperation on mitigation including cooperative approaches, non-market approaches and sustainable development mechanism.”
Mohammed said delegates would be developing new technology framework envisaged in the Paris agreement.
Nigeria had in collaboration with the UNDP developed its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution.