Dubai, Dec. 2, 2023 – Nigeria has launched its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE.
It is another major milestone in her effort to achieve a net zero carbon economy by 2060.
The event, which was attended by dignitaries from all parts of the world, was held at the African Pavilion in the Blue Zone.
It was moderated by Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, the Director of the Center for Climate Change and Development, AEFUNAI and Dr Eugene Itua, Executive Director of the Natural Eco-Capital, the organization that coordinated the development of LT-LEDS.
LT-LEDS 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.
Dr Salisu Dahiru, the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), who was temporarily represented by Ms Halima- Bwa-Bari, said Nigeria was proud to launch the LT-LEDS to support sustainable development and a climate resilient economy in Nigeria.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister for Aviation and Aerospace, who represented Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the Minister for Environment, said that the LTS was an important milestone in Nigeria’s effort to implement the country’s net-zero emission as pledged at COP26 in Glasgow.
He said that Nigeria was committed to the transition from a fossil fuel dependent economy to a low carbon future in keeping with the global trends and the Paris Agreement.
Keyamo urged international development partners to support the implementation of the LT-LEDS.
Mr Pablo Vieria, the Global Director of the NDC Partnership, said Nigeria should be proud of this accomplishment.
He said by developing the LTS, Nigeria was joining a distinguished group of countries that had been exhibiting leadership in developing a clear strategy to decarbonise their economies in response to global climate change.
Vieria urged Nigeria to take the next step in adopting the LT-LEDS and pledged the NDC Partnership’s cooperation in this regard.
Ms Mathide Bord-Laurans, the Head Climate and Nature at the French Development Agency (AFD), congratulated Nigeria on the launch of LT-LEDS.
She said that AFD was delighted to have provided support to the Center for Climate Change and Development, Alex Ekwueme Federal University under the Nigeria Deep Decarbonization Project (DDP) which enabled the Center to lead the creation of scenarios and the modelling work that went into the development of the LT-LEDS.
She said banks would stand firmly by Nigeria and support investments that are geared towards the implementation of the LT-LEDS.
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).
He said the LT-LEDS was developed in collaboration with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, making it a truly national document of which Nigeria could be proud.
Baron expressed delight that the modelling of the LT-LEDS was done by Nigerian academics at the CCCD-AEFUNAI, led by Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke.
He commended the collaboration between the Nigeria Deep Decarbonization Project, the 2050 Pathways, the National Council on Climate Change and Natural Eco-Capital which resulted in the creation of a high-quality document.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of the NCCC, who had now arrived at the event in person, said 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 would not sit on the shelf, but many projects identified in the documents are translated into practical investment.
He said the two important next steps were the creation of an LT-LEDS Implementation Plan and the mobilisation of capital from domestic and internal sources to implement the LT-LEDS.
Miss Chioma Amudi, Desk Officer at the NCCC, said translating the LT-LEDS into investments would require finance, effective stakeholder engagement and adequate institutions, among other key factors.
Terseer Ugbor, the Deputy Chairman House Committee of Environment in the House of Representatives, pledged the support of the national parliament in implementing the LTS. (GBN)
