Published By Olukayode Idowu, Abuja
Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar has called on all political elites in the country to commit towards supporting the Nigerian Youth for climate innovation and solutions in order to drawn attention to environmental challenges and position the nation for development.
Speaking on Thursday at the launch of Nigeria’s Long-term low emission Vision 2050 and Investment / Financial Flow Assessment Reports. Abubakar said pledges and support are expected in all forms to optimize the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youth and make the innovative hub fully functional.
He said Nigeria was committed to Article 6 of the Framework Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, seeking to empower citizens to engage in climate actions, through youth engagements, education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and international cooperation.
He noted that the Inter-generational equity is one of the Article 3 principles underpinning the UNFCCC, stressing that in a context of all inclusiveness, the Nigeria Youth has made tremendous input into promoting climate actions and these efforts must be encourage at all levels. In appreciation of this, and “noting the role of the Youths as well as inter-generational principle in climate actions, Regional Youth Innovation Workshops on Climate Action themed ‘Unlock Youth Innovativeness in Nigeria’s Climate Action’ were organized across the six geopolitical zones.”
He said: “Furthermore, through the NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package, the 2050 Pathways supported the Ministry to develop its first Nigeria Long – Term Vision 2050 as an initial and first useful step towards designing Long Term – Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). The process provides Nigeria the forum to discuss the opportunities and challenges that might arise in terms of a cleaner, more dynamic, and more sustainable growth model, and the options for the country to implement a less carbon-intensive model of economic development in the face of decreasing global reliance on fossil fuel energy for development practices.
“It is hoped that this vision will promote sustainable development and guarantee a climate proofed economy through multi-stakeholders’ engagement across multiple sectors that include the bioeconomy, blue, green and food economies that also align with critically important SGDs such as poverty eradication, access to affordable energy and zero hunger.”
In her remark, the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor said as the nation’s move toward Long-term low emission Vision 2050, some of the actions expected to be invested in include: Ending gas flaring by capturing and commercializing flared gas by 2030;?switching the use of power generators running on premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil towards Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Compressed Natural Gas; increasing renewable energy generation up to 13GW for grid, mini-grid and off grid connections by 2030; expanding gas pipelines and increasing gas pipeline infrastructure accompanied with fugitive methane leaks management.
Others include: expanding Liquefied Natural Gas / Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas to switch fuel utilization for cooking, power generation, and industry; establishing grazing reserves, developing feedlots and capacity building on agroforestry; improving the efficiency of gas power plants in the country by upgrading the current Open Cycle Gas Turbines to Combined Cycle Gas Turbines and optimizing gas utilization; deploying energy efficient measures in industrial materials, machineries, equipment, and processes specifically in Cement and Steel Industries; fuel switch (whole or partial) in Industries from use of high carbon fossil fuels to use of natural gas, among others.
She said: “One of the goals of this government is to incentivize climate actions, creating economical value from the adaptation and mitigation actions that will be undertaken by the public and private sectors. Implementation of these activities will definitely push Nigeria to low Carbon Development Pathways.
Ikeazor noted that: “Young people are socially conscious, active agents of change, responsible, idealist, and well-versed in technology. They are great role models for society. Youth activism and engagement can bring about important social and environmental change that could sustain the earth.”