The Federal Ministry of Environment (FMoE) has been asked to closely monitor developments at the Adaptation Fund to ensure that Nigeria benefits maximally from the financial resources provided by the fund.
The Adaptation Fund is an international fund that finances projects and programs aimed at helping developing countries to adapt to the harmful effects of climate change. It is set up under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The charge formed part of resolutions by participants at a daylong post-COP22 Stakeholders Consultative Meeting held recently in Abuja at the instance of the FMoE and Surez Global Resources Limited.
COP22 implies the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. The two-week event held lat November in Marrakech, Morocco.
Participants also expressed the need to strengthen the climate finance unit already in place to become a functional structure for climate finance in the country and also to pursue the Green Bonds and other initiatives to a logical conclusion.
They agreed to set up a technical committee to look at the various issues raised and make inputs into the expected submissions by parties before April 1, 2017; and forward nominations of experts to participate in the activities of the established ad hoc technical expert group on response measures, through the coordinators of the regional groups and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) Chairs.
The forum, which signosts fresh effort by the nation to ascertain her obligations under the new global agreement in Paris and effective strategies for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) targets, agreed that Nigeria should submit proposal to the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (RPSP) towards the preparation of its long overdue Technology Need Assessments (TNA).
The discussions, anchored by the Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC), Dr. Peter Tarfa, focused on the activities and outcomes of COP22 and role Nigeria played at the global conference. It likewise analysed the implications and opportunities presented by the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as role of the relevant stakeholders in fulfilling Nigeria’s obligation.
Dignitaries at the event, which included the Chairmen of the Climate Change Committees in the National Assembly, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, senior officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media, also agreed to review the nation’s Gender and Climate Change Action to make it more robust to incorporate many of the issues that the country is expected to address as it communicates with the Convention.
They recommended for a co-ordinated national approach to COPs, such as a robust leadership to head the delegation – the need for President/Minister to attend; early notification to be sent to various stakeholders; identify core negotiators/designated negotiators and adequate budgetary allocation for participants.
The participants also sought for designations of clear roles and responsibilities; enhance synergy with MDAs, States and Federal Government; need to facilitate knowledge fare before conferences within MDAs.
They also agreed for a research conference to support Climate Change negotiations to be hosted in Abakaliki through a robust preparatory/planning committee; research on sustainable low carbon development pathways, especially on key mitigation measures mentioned in Nigeria’s INDC.
Stakeholders further called for Nigeria to develop a Gender and Climate Change Action for the COPs, adding that relevant knowledge should be equipped in the issues of loss and damage, developments and transfer of technologies, gender and climate change action and capacity building.
However, to ensure consistency of delegates participation to COP meetings; they agreed that the ministry should pursue early accreditation to ensure readiness; setting up a desk Unit within DCC for COP activities to enhance information sharing.
