Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has emphasized the urgency of accelerating climate action plans through national financing strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), highlighting their critical role in climate action financing.
Orelope-Adefulire made these remarks at a pivotal Climate Finance Side Event hosted by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) in collaboration with the European Union, EU, and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, at COP28 in Dubai.
The event showcased Nigeria’s dedication to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.
She emphasized the significance of addressing climate challenges as the global community approaches the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, while highlighting the importance of the event in fostering discussions on financing strategies critical for climate action.
Demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to the global climate agenda, Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change and reminded the audience of Nigeria’s pledges at COP26 in 2021, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
The SSA underscored the integrated approach to SDGs implementation in Nigeria, aligning short and medium-term national development plans with the SDGs since 2016. She emphasized the importance of the Integrated National Financing Framework as a manifestation of Nigeria’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development.
Looking ahead, she outlined Nigeria’s commitment to prioritizing key initiatives and reforms outlined in the INFF Roadmap. Despite global fiscal challenges, the nation aims to mobilize public and private financing, ensuring prudence in public sector investments to support SDGs achievements. The Presidential aide stressed the importance of partnerships with the United Nations Development system, private sector, and non-state actors for a holistic approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.
In his remarks during the panel session, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Nigeria’s INFF, highlighted how Nigeria would accelerate her Climate Action Plan through the INFF.
He noted that with global efforts in the implementation of the SDGs, climate action, inclusive facing serious challenges, climate action and ambition must be accelerated through international cooperation, collaboration, and mobilization of the necessary financial resources.
Edun also emphasized that the SDGs require increased investments and alignments from public, private, domestic, and international sources, as the climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response.
Also speaking, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa, praised Nigeria on the INFF initiative adding that Nigeria recognized that understanding its internal financing landscape, making deliberate efforts to consider all economic dynamics, would benefit economic development, social enhancement, and the tackling of climate change.
She noted that to bridge the disconnect between the issues and funding, over 80 countries are turning to the INFF, insisting that the INFF, as one of the 12 SDGs stimulus packages, can help finance national climate goals and integrate the financing of climate actions and Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.
“Let’s not forget, climate change has an unwavering attack and impact on development gains. We are losing a lot of ground because of climate change. Many investments that have been made over decades are being lost. So, what we are looking at today is a serious threat to our very essence. Let’s fight back by using the INFF as a tool to accelerate and build a resilient economy and resilient communities.” she stated.
