Former lawmaker, Sam Onuigbo, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to mainstream climate change in their annual budgets as enshrined by the Act establishing it.
The lawmaker, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency from 2015 to 2019, made the call in an interview on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Enugu.
He said that the Section 22 of the Act mandated the MDAs to have a Climate Change Desk Officer that would ensure climate action was mainstreamed into annual budget plans and budgeting of all MDAs in Nigeria.
The climate change expert, however, regretted that many MDAs were not aware of the Act and emphasised the need to create awareness towards implementation of the law.
The former lawmaker said that the strict adherence to 2021 Climate Change Act would mitigate the impact of climate change in the country.
Onuigbo said such adherence would also enable the country to achieve its target of net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070 and harness gains of climate change.
He explained that the Act provided legal backing for Nigeria to attain their climate goals, adding that without the legal framework, the country would have no obligation to enforce the law.
According to Onuigbo, the Act was structured to provide overarching on climate actions in the country and actualise its net-zero pledge.
“It provided Nigeria a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions, inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development.
“These responsibilities were not just for public entities but include private sectors, civil society organisations as well as inclusion of climate education in our educational curricula at all levels.
“Also, there is need to reduce emission from deforestation, forest degradation to sustain and manage our forestry.
“The carbon budget will make five-yearly provisions that will help with emissions reductions and guide the country to net zero by 2050 to 2070,” he stressed.
Onuigbo equally said that flourishing global carbon market offered the country opportunity to explore climate while the Act made provision for setting up mechanism for carbon emissions trading and carbon tax.
He lauded the Federal Government for taking key actions on climate change which include enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 for improved access to renewables and Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Others are launching of Nigeria’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy, flagging off the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan, mandating MDAs to buy CNG powered vehicles, and launching of National Clean Cooking Gas Policy, among others.
By Alex Enebeli
