Climate Watch: Nigeria launches low emission strategy to decarbonise economy

Despite directly impacting our communities, health and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:

• Nigeria has begun the process of elaborating its long-term low emission development strategy (LT-LEDS) aimed at decarbonising the country’s economy. The long-term strategy (LTS), which was launched on May 12, aims at ensuring the implementation of the plans for achieving low-carbon, decarbonisation and climate-resilient societies. The strategy also aims to provide stakeholders with a clear direction on how to properly manage the transition to a low-carbon economy. 

• President Muhammadu Buhari said the country is constrained by funds in meeting its climate commitments. He spoke at the summit of heads of state and government at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) organised by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He however, said despite the lack of funding, his administration is committed to fulfilling its pledges.  Read more here.

• Clean Tech Hub, an energy innovation centre, has launched a green economy tracker to monitor the implementation of Nigeria’s climate policies. During the launch in Abuja on May 11, Wole Hammond, assistant manager, environment and climate action at Clean Tech, said the tracker aims to help measure Nigeria’s readiness for a green economy transition. He added that it would help drive policy action from the government and help hold them accountable.

• Amid unfulfilled pledges made by international development partners to developing countries, President Muhammadu Buhari has called on organsiations like the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) to activate the $19 billion pledge under the One Planet Summit initiative. Buhari, who spoke at a side event at UNCCD COP15 in Abidjan, said the fulfillment of the pledge will help in land restoration, development as well as to restore the socio-economy of places like Lake Chad and reduce the migration of people to Europe from the area. Read more here. 

• Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), has asked countries to invest in land restoration policies. Mohammed spoke at UNCCD COP15 in Abidjan. She said countries can either reap the benefits of land restoration now or continue on the path of climate crisis. She encouraged countries to invest in tackling desertification and land degradation which she said connects to achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Read more here.