Ahead of the forthcoming Conference of Parties 27 (COP27) in Egypt, the Federal Government has said Nigeria will focus on a sustainable funding mechanism that will drive nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change.

It said the funding mechanism would focus on solutions such as land restoration, reforestation, combating desertification, climate smart-agricultural practices as well as adaptation strategies.

The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Nigeria’s preparations for COP27, said the country would also seek collaboration and support on sustainable waste management, renewable and clean energy provision, as well as finance for loss and damage.

“Nigeria will push for developed countries to fulfill financial pledges to support Africa in tackling the climate crisis,” he stated.

Abdullahi said the expected outcomes of Nigeria’s participation would include increased partnership to help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets, address adaptation and mitigation, and establish sustainable financing for climate actions, among others.

He said Nigeria would not take a position of ‘know it all’, but would align with the West Africa region’s identification of the thematic issues faced by the continent.

The minister stated that the country would also align with the group’s interim position on doubling adaptation finance by 2025; clarification on the support arrangements to address loss and damage; and closing the climate financing gap.

Others include scaling up Africa’s mitigation ambition and implementation; strengthening the linkage between technology and financial mechanisms; the global stock-take on progress on the Paris Agreement; transparency; gender and climate change; and agriculture.

Abdullahi said there was no doubt that Nigeria’s participation at COP27 in Egypt would demonstrate the country’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges of climate change at both national and sub-national levels.

He said, “Nigeria will align with rest of Africa on items that will support partnership building to help Nigeria achieve its emission reduction targets, including solidifying frameworks for establishing carbon markets, address adaptation and mitigation and establish sustainable financing for climate actions.”

The minister inaugurated Nigeria’s COP27 logo on behalf of the President, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and noted that the logo was a reflection of country’s identity with ideals of COP27.

Source: Punch