How Nigeria’s Vision 2050 'II Accelerate Implementation Of Paris Agreement

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja 

There is an indication that Nigeria’s low emission vision 2050 document would accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. 

This is coming on the heels of the formal publication of Nigeria’s Long-term Vision 2050 (LTV 2050) document by the United Nation’s Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretarat. 

Reacting to the landmark achievement in Abuja yesterday, Minister of State for the Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor said the document is crucial towards the actualisation of Nigeria’s quest to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and in attaining its decarbonation targets. 

According to her, "I'm happy that the LTV document has been published by the UNFCCC and I wish to express our appreciation to the 2050 Pathways that funded the vision and all the stakeholders that contributed to the vision".

She said that a key part of the Paris Agreement was the invitation to Parties to formulate and communicate by 2020, the long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.

Ikeazor explained that LTV 2050 is the initial step towards the development of  Long-term Strategies (LTS) to lower Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and contribute to the objective of reaching net-zero emissions globally by the middle of the century.

She said, “It provides a clear sense of direction for a well-managed transition to a low-carbon economy that will grow existing and new sectors as well as create new jobs and economic opportunities for the nation".

“The LTV highlights that by 2050, Nigeria being a country of low-carbon, climate-resilient and high-growth circular economy will reduce its current level of emissions by 50 percent and move towards having net-zero emissions in the second half of the century across all sectors of its development in a gender-responsive manner", she added. 

Ikeazor stated that another important task ahead is the development of Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) that would assist in translating the vision 2050 document into quantified emission reduction targets in addition to technology options and costs implications.

She was hopeful that the LTS document would compliment Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and provide options for meeting the decarbonisation target as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari during the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, United Kingdom last year. 

These were contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Environment, Saghir el Mohammed.