President Bola Tinubu has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with other African countries to obtain global funding for climate change, which is crucial for tackling urgent climate issues.
During his speech on Tuesday at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tinubu emphasised the importance of making it easier for countries to get climate funds. Speaking through Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment and Ecological Management, he said, “We need simpler and more direct access to these funds, including grants, to support our government’s efforts to deal with climate change.”
Tinubu emphasised the need for a major increase in funds for adapting to climate change, so that developing countries can speed up their efforts to become more resilient. He also pointed out the importance of quickly setting up a fund to help with the costs of climate-related losses and damages, to lessen the harsh impacts of climate change.
He confirmed Nigeria’s support for the Harare Declaration, which was made by African health ministers, and promised strong action to deal with the health problems caused by climate change.
“Nigeria is one of the countries most affected by the bad effects of climate change,” Tinubu said. “There is more and more proof that the country is facing many problems because of climate change and its effects.”
To handle these problems, Tinubu explained Nigeria’s current efforts to put in place policies that aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions and include climate solutions in the country’s development plans. “We are investing in renewable energy, making energy use more efficient, planting more trees, improving transportation, and doing other things that help the climate,” he added.
Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s dedication to adopting modern advancements in renewable and alternative energy technologies. He said, “Almost ten years after the Paris Agreement, the world is at a crucial point in moving away from fossil fuels.”
He also mentioned that Nigeria is using interconnected technologies, such as renewable energy sources, compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles, and electrification technologies, as part of its overall plan to switch to sustainable energy solutions.
