Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, who led the Nigerian delegation to the resumed Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in Nairobi, Kenya, has disclosed measures being undertaking by the country to tackle inherent environmental challenges.
The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It addresses the critical environmental challenges facing the world today and Nigeria is a member of the UNEA.
While delivering Nigerian’s National Statement at the UNEA-5.2, she stated that Nigeria has adopted various strategic approaches which include the development and implementation of National Forest Policy aimed at promoting sustainable forest Management practices; National Policies on Plastic Waste Management and Solid Waste Management which support and promote circular economy; as well as Drought and Desertification Policy to actualise land degradation neutrality and increase community resilience, among others.
The Minister also reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to Global Environmental sustainability and achievement of the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with 20% emissions reduction unconditionally and 47% emission reduction conditionally by 2030.
She further stated that Nigeria has developed an Energy Transition Plan as a partway to achieve net zero by 2060. This is also in addition to the enactment of a climate change law in November 2021, which provides a legal framework at climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Minister also had some bilateral engagements with the Director General, World Wild Fund (WWF) For nature, Mr. Marco Lambertini, on Nigeria’s commitment to Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the need to collaborate with WWF on the management of the 10 new national parks approved by Mr. President, especially the two designated Marine Protected Areas in Bayelsa State.
She also had an engagement with the Swedish Minister of Environment on the preparation and areas of collaboration for the upcoming Stockholm +50 to commemorate 50 years since the first UN Conference on Human Environment was held in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden. The theme of the conference is “Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all-our responsibility, our opportunity”.
Nigeria has signed and ratified all the chemicals and waste related treaties, and is currently strengthening her legal and institutional infrastructures for the sound management of chemicals and waste.
The Minister had another engagement with the Egyptian Minister on Environment and COP27 President and discussed activities on the upcoming COP27 at Egypt in November 2022. The two Ministers also discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties with both countries on environmental issues.
