PRESS STATEMENT ON RAISING AWARENESS ON NET-ZERO PROJECT IN NIGERIA

A Press Conference on Raising Awareness on Net Zero In Nigeria By The International Climate Change Development Initiative, Centre For 21st Century Issues & Connected Advocacy Held On Tuesday 27th Of June 2023 In Lagos.

Background

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released in 2021 which the UN Secretary-General called a “Code Red for Humanity” underscored the urgency for deep cuts in carbon emissions within the next few decades with the aim of averting catastrophic climate changes. Earlier in 2018, the IPCC had stated that the world needs to reach net zero by the year 2050 if it is to meet the temperature goals of 1.5°C set out in the Paris Climate Agreement adopted in the year 2015.

The word “Net-Zero” is increasingly gaining momentum in the climate space, and it is a term being used to convey the urgency of deep cuts and or greenhouse gas emission reductions leading to zero emissions with the aim of preventing dangerous climate change.

The Paris Agreement requires that nations that are parties to the agreement should submit their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) — an action plan by countries to cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change with an update every five years. Many countries including Nigeria have been submitting their NDCs but an aggregation of these NDCs according to UNEP’s Emission Gap reports of 2022 has indicated that NDC commitments submitted so far are inadequate to achieve the Paris Agreement Temperature Goal. It is therefore incumbent on all stakeholders from both developed and developing countries to redouble their efforts to reduce their carbon emissions to meet the Paris temperature goal.

Awareness of Net-Zero in Nigeria

Countries are articulating their carbon emission strategies to achieve deep emissions cuts and/or net zero parties agreement. Nigeria is in the process of formulating its own low-emission strategies and all stakeholders including civil society organizations CSOs are enjoined to support Nigeria on the road to low-carbon development.

The International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21ST) and Connected Advocacy (CA) are the CSO platforms championing awareness of NET-ZERO carbon emission in Nigeria. Accordingly, the three organizations to support Nigeria’s low carbon transition will be implementing the Raising Awareness on Net Zero in Nigeria namely, the RANZ Nigeria Project.

The project’s main goal is to “provide information and tools to communities, media, and CSOs to take action for deep emission reductions in Nigeria”. The specific objectives however include:

1. Raising awareness about emission reductions and Climate Change mitigation in Nigeria.
2. Building the capacity of local communities, media, and CSOs to understand Net Zero and engage with Climate change mitigation.
3. Provide feedback from communities, the media, and CSOs to policymakers on mainstreaming community concerns into long-term mitigation strategies for Nigeria.

Forthcoming Net-Zero Activities in Nigeria

The activities to deliver on the stated goal and objectives are highlighted below.

1. Community Consultations on Net Zero in 6 Geopolitical Zones of Nigeria.
2. Develop Information, Education, and Communication Material (IEC)
3. Media Engagement
4. Engagement with CSOs on Net Zero
5. Engagement with Policy Makers

With the support of development partners, we would be rolling out these activities in collaboration with relevant policymakers and climate institutions in Nigeria within the next 6 months. We would be working with the Nigerian Climate Change Council and some selected states’ Climate Change Departments across Nigeria’s states and local governments.

Thank you for your attention.

1. Olumide Idowu — International Climate Change Development Initiative
2. Ms Titilope Akosa — Center for 21st Century Issues.
3. Prince Israel Oreka — Connected Advocacy for Empowerment and Youth Development Initiative.