What Nigeria needs to prioritize in COP 28

The Conference of the Parties (COP) serves as the highest authority of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This convention focuses on addressing climate change and its impacts. A crucial role of the COP is to scrutinize the reports and emission records submitted by Member States. Using this data, the COP assesses the impact of actions taken by these States and their progress in achieving the Convention's main goal. In 1994, Nigeria joined the UNFCCC as a participating member. Since then, Nigeria has been committed to ensuring the climate change goals of the global world are also its concern.

In a few weeks, members of the UNFCCC will convene again for the next COP, COP 28. This COP is important for Nigeria as it serves as the first COP under our new government.?

Nigeria’s positioning at different COP in the past four years

COP 24, 2018 had the primary objective of concluding the regulations that will govern the Paris Agreement, scheduled to be effective by 2020. COP 24 was the first COP Session where Nigeria had its pavilion. This made it easier for Nigeria to show its climate change actions that were engaged by different Agencies and Ministries in the country. COP25 was supposed to play a crucial role in the ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement and in preparing for more ambitious carbon reduction commitments by governments at the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow, UK. At COP 25, two Nigerian officials were elected as members to two Committees: Dr. Yerima P. Tarfa was elected to become an Advisory Board member of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Committee; whilst Ms. Asmau Jibril was elected as an Executive Board Member of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Committee.?

COP26 yielded two significant accomplishments that garnered widespread attention. First, the conference marked a historic moment with the signing of the Glasgow Climate Pact. The second noteworthy achievement was the consensus reached on the Paris Rulebook. It was at that same COP that former President Muhammadu Buhari pledged that Nigeria would cut its emissions to net zero by 2060. At COP 27 hosted in Egypt, the main outcome was the adoption of the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan (SHIP) as the central decision for guiding ambitious climate actions. This plan is seen as a way to advance efforts from previous conferences, particularly in addressing the issue of loss and damage. A historic decision was made during COP27 to establish a fund for responding to loss and damage, a significant milestone for climate justice. COP 27 had a big implication for Nigeria as Ministers from ten African nations, including Nigeria, approved a new Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative Declaration called the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI). This declaration outlines a unified set of principles for the responsible production of agricultural goods in Africa.

What Nigeria needs to prioritise at COP 28

COP 28 comes at a critical juncture because the first Global Stocktake, which distills different kinds of documents and consultations relating to where the world stands regarding the Paris Agreement, was published in September. The first Global Stocktake Synthesis Report acknowledges the advancements made since the Paris Agreement, with projections indicating a rise in global temperatures to around 2.4-2.6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, an improvement from the 3.7-4.8 degrees Celsius forecasted in 2010. This proves that though climate change efficiency is often scrutinized by many, the yearly meetups and committees working together, as in COP, are providing slow but progressive results. To be able to achieve more, the report highlights that moving away from fossil fuels, scaling renewable energy, and transforming transportation and industry are key issues that must be addressed.

The new administration has so far implemented policies and taken decisions that have a bias for improving Nigeria as an investment destination, and a possible thriving business environment. For this reason, Nigeria’s engagements and participation at COP 28 must be targeted with our national interest in view. At COP 28, two things need to be prioritized in Nigeria’s case: renewable energy and climate finance.?

Nigeria possesses considerable untapped renewable energy potential, which presents a valuable opportunity. Over the past decade, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has effectively executed more than 2,000 electrification projects, benefiting approximately five million Nigerian citizens and improving their quality of life. In line with the 2021 Climate Change Act, the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change is responsible for shaping Nigeria's strategies regarding both mitigation and adaptation to climate change. In preparation for COP 28, the National Council on Climate Change can develop a comprehensive national renewable energy roadmap that aligns with the Renewable Energy Master Plan. This roadmap will outline the country's strategic intent to harness its evolving renewable energy resources over the next four years during the current administration. Presenting this roadmap at COP 28 would serve as an opportunity to attract investments in the renewable energy sector, signaling the government's commitment to further developing this vital energy source as an alternative to GHG energy sources.

In the context of climate finance, Nigeria should align itself with the consensus reached by fellow African countries at the recent African Climate Summit. The pivotal outcome of this summit, known as the Nairobi Declaration, puts forth the idea of a unified commitment among nations to establish a new Global Climate Finance Charter. The proposed Global Climate Finance Charter offers several advantages for Nigeria, in line with its economic interests. Within this framework, economies like Nigeria stand to receive compensation and certain benefits. These incentives and perks could significantly bolster Nigeria's efforts to address climate-related challenges and enhance its sustainable development goals. By endorsing and participating in the development of this Charter, Nigeria not only demonstrates its commitment to global climate action but also positions itself strategically to leverage climate finance opportunities that can contribute to the nation's environmental and economic well-being. This alignment with the collective vision of the African Climate Summit, as articulated in the Nairobi Declaration, serves as a pivotal step in securing Nigeria's interests and advancing climate resilience and sustainability on the African continent.

In conclusion, Nigeria needs to take advantage of the opportunity to interact with the global community at COP 28. As national priorities, the country should go to COP 28 focusing on renewable energy and climate finance. These two focus areas are directly in the interests of the global move towards sustainability, and also a progressive growth in our national economy.?