By SALISU SANI-IDRIS

Vice-President Kashim Shettima will unveil Nigeria?s green transition roadmap to world leaders positioning the country to turn its climate commitments into concrete investment opportunities and projects.

The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Tenioye Majekodunmi, made this known while addressing newsmen at the ongoing 30 Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 30) in Bel?m, Brazil.

Majekodunmi noted with delight that Nigeria?s pioneering status as the first West African nation to submit its National Determined Contribution positions the country to leverage COP 30 for substantial investment gains and partnerships.

?This is particularly what we call the implementation COP that we have all been waiting for here in Belem, and we are very excited that it has come.

?COP 30 is particularly important for us in Nigeria because of the momentum that we have gathered in the last two months leading up to the summit.

?First with the submission of our NDC 3.0 and us being the first West African country to submit?this is a turning point for Nigeria.?

She also used the opportunity to highlight three key takeaways for Nigeria as the country participates in COP 30.

Majekodunmi said that the gains of the summit will further boost investors? confidence in doing business with Nigeria.

?One of the main things we are hoping to take away is to turn all the deliverables in our NDC 3.0 into pipeline projects, partnerships and pay-for-performance because we need to start turning from paper to projects, and COP 30 is where Nigeria would be doing this.

?Secondly, just a few days ago, the Nigerian government approved the National Carbon Market Framework and also moved for the operationalisation of our National Climate Change Fund.

?That decision really gives investors a clear policy direction and signals that Nigeria is open for high-integrity carbon investments which deliver real mitigation and community benefits,? she added.

Majekodunmi emphasized that COP 30 serves as the right time and place to activate the market framework for Nigeria.

?Belem gives us the right global matchmaking platform to be able to achieve this, and we are quite excited about what is going to happen,? the NCCC DG stated.

As part of the gains of COP 30, Majekodunmi said, Nigeria will use the global gathering to deepen its South-South cooperation as it concerns climate change matters.

?It is something that has never happened before. We are here in the Amazon, we are in the forest, and this collaboration with the Amazon, Congo, and Guinea region forest dialogue?building on what Brazil?s forest protection initiatives have put in place?really just strengthens the Belem agenda.

?We are excited to be able to see how we can improve on this collaboration and take a lot of things home,? she said.

The Spokesperson for the Vice-President, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, said the participation of Nigeria demonstrates the country?s commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Accord, and the sustained effort at actualizing goal 13 of the accord.

?For us as a country, it is not just about our participation at COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, but it shows clearly the President?s commitment to the 2016 Paris accord.

?Nigeria is a signatory, and it will ensure that article 13 of that accord, which talks about climate change, is duly pursued and being implemented to the letter.

?So, here in Belem, the Vice President of Nigeria will definitely be speaking to the spirit and body of Nigeria?s intent with particular emphasis on the country?s 3rd National Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0),? he stated.

The presidential aide also said Nigeria is fully committed to its targets of reducing emissions by 32 per cent by 2035 as well as attaining net-zero emissions by 2060.

NAN reports that the main theme for COP 30 is ?Climate Action and Implementation ?, ?with a strong focus on climate adaptation, forests, biodiversity, and climate justice.

The conference will emphasize putting plans into action through thematic days dedicated to energy, forests, agriculture, cities, and human development. (NAN)

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