The Climate Change Bill which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law on Thursday, November 18 generally provides a framework for environmental-economic accountability, so says Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), a civic group.
The group says the legislation also provides for the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change to promote and adopt nature-based solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change issues in Nigeria.
According to PLAC on its website, the new law also establishes a registry with sub-national nodes for ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation’ (REDD+), a mechanism developed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to facilitate intergovernmental co-operation on forests and climate change.
‘’The National Council is also expected to provide support for REDD+ activities, as well as collaborate with the National Bureau of Statistics on the development of Natural Capital Accounts for Nigeria. The data from these accounts are expected to be utilised in establishing National Development Plans.
‘’It is commendable that Nigeria is making efforts towards a global action such as climate change, especially in view of its position as a major producer of oil and gas and the environmental impact of fossil fuel.’’
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) which held earlier in November 2021 at Glasgow, United Kingdom, President Buhari pledged that Nigeria will work towards achieving net-zero carbon emission by 2060, alongside other world leaders.
Provisions of the newly enacted Climate Change Act are also geared towards the realisation of this goal, to stabilise global temperatures.
President Buhari also stated that Nigeria is investing in renewable energy projects and would require the collaboration of partners in innovation, technology and finance to make the transition from fossil fuel to clean energy.
