Michael Olugbode in Abuja
The federal government at the weekend said Nigeria’s 2050 Long-term Low Emission Vision document was a demonstration of the nation’s commitment to play a leading role in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Minister of State for the Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, made this assertion sequel to the formal publication of Nigeria’s Long-Term Vision (LTV) document by the Secretariat of the United Nation’s Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Ikeazor described the document as a landmark for actualising Nigeria’s quest for mitigating the negative effects of climate change and a road path to meeting its decarbonation targets.
She said: “I am 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,” while recalling that a key part of the Paris Agreement was the invitation to parties, “to formulate and communicate by 2020 long term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.”
Ikeazor explained that the LTV 2050 was the initial step towards development of the Long-Term Strategies (LTS) which explores options to lower GHG emissions and contribute to the objective of reaching net-zero GHG emissions globally around the middle of the century.
He explained that: “It provides a clear sense of direction for a well-managed transition to a low-carbon economy that grows existing and new sectors and creates new jobs and economic opportunities for the nation.
“The LTV communicates the vision that by 2050, Nigeria is a country of low-carbon, climate-resilient, high-growth circular economy that reduces its current level of emissions by 50 per cent and moves towards having net-zero emissions in the second half of the century across all sectors of its development in a gender-responsive manner.”
According to the Minister, the next step would be the development of the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) which would develop scenarios and models that helps to translate the vision document into quantified emission reduction targets together with technology options and costs implications.
She added: “I am looking forward to the development of the LTS to compliment Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and provide options for meeting decarbonization target as announced by President Muhammadu Buhari at COP 26 in Glasgow.”
