By Dare Akogun
In her effort to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2060 Nigeria has achieved what looks like another major milestone by launching its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy on Friday, December 1, 2023, at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.
The event, which was graced by dignitaries and delegates from different countries around the world, was held at the African Pavilion in the Blue Zone and was moderated by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Development, AEFUNAI, and Dr Eugene Itua, Executive Director of the Natural Eco Capital, the organisation that coordinated and led the development of the LT-LEDS, which was started under the supervision of the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of the Environment, and concluded under the auspices of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
Director General of the NCCC, Dr Salisu Dahiru, who was temporarily represented by Ms Halima- Bwa-Bari, stated that Nigeria was proud to launch the LT-LEDS, which is guaranteed to support sustainable development and climate-resilient economy for the nation.
Minister for Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo (SAN), who represented the Minister for Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said that the LTS was an important milestone in Nigeria’s effort to implement the country’s net-zero pledge made at COP26 in Glasgow.
He said that Nigeria was committed to pursue the transition from a fossil fuel-dependent economy to a low-carbon future in keeping with the global trend and the Paris Agreement and urged international development partners to support the implementation of the LT-LEDS.
Global Director of the NDC Partnership, Mr. Pablo Vieria, said that Nigeria should be very proud of its accomplishment.
He stated that by developing the LTS, Nigeria is joining a distinguished group of countries that are exhibiting leadership in developing a clear strategy to decarbonise their economies in response to global climate change. He urged the country to take the next step in adopting the LT-LEDS and pledged the NDC Partnership’s cooperation in this regard.
Mr. Richard Baron, Executive Director of the 2050 Pathways Platform, expressed his joy at having assisted Nigeria in the design of the LT-LEDS and the precursor document, the Long-Term Vision (LTV 2050) which was also developed by Natural Eco Capital for Nigeria and submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021, served as the initial first step to the LT-LEDS.
He expressed his delight that the modeling work for the LT-LEDS was done by Nigerian academics at the CCCD-AEFUNAI, led by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, and praised the collaboration between the Nigeria Deep Decarbonisation Project, the 2050 Pathways, the National Council on Climate Change, and Natural Eco Capital, with Dr Eugene Itua as the National Coordinator, which resulted in the creation of a high-quality document.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, who had now arrived at the event in person, stated that while the launch of the LT-LEDS was a significant milestone, he would like to see all hands on deck to ensure that the document does not sit on the shelf but that the many projects identified in the documents are translated into practical investment.
He stated that the two important next steps are the creation of an LT-LEDS Implementation Plan and the mobilization of capital from domestic and internal sources to implement the LT-LEDS.
By Gboyega Olurufemi, Senior Climate Change Analyst and Fellow at the Centre for Climate Change and Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria
