The Federal Government has called for better understanding of the Long-Term Strategy for Low Emission Development (LTS-LED) to tackle climate change challenges.
Minister of the Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi made the call at the stakeholders meeting on the elaboration of Nigeria’s Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategy (LTS- LEDS) yesterday.
Abdullahi was represented at the event by Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change in the Ministry of Environment.
The minister said the meeting was an important milestone in the country’s collective efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change.
“Climate Change is a reality that has come to stay and is having disproportionate negative impacts around the globe,” Abdullahi said.
He said that climate change was no longer an environmental issue.
Abdullahi said climate change had been scientifically proven and understood as a political, economic, and social issue.
Read Also: Fed Govt moves to address high burden of hypertension
The minister, however, noted that with affordable, scalable solutions climate change challenges would be turned into opportunities.
He said: “There is a growing recognition that affordable, scalable solutions are now available that will enable us all to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient societies and economies, hence turning the challenges of climate change into opportunities.
“Nigeria’s commitment to the low-carbon pathway is evident in the ratification of the Paris Agreement as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which can be achieved with financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity building from the more advanced and willing international partners. The development of the Nigerian LTS/LT-LEDs complies with the Paris Agreement Article 4.19. The article invites countries to formulate and communicate “long-term, low greenhouse gas emission development strategies” or Long-Term Strategies and support the achievement of low-carbon and climate-resilient societies.
“The Nigerian long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy builds on the commitment made by the President at COP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom for long-term decarbonisation by 2060.”