President Muhammadu Buhari ratifies Paris Agreement on Climate Change as Nigeria becomes the latest country to ratify the Paris Climate agreement, which aims to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change by cutting carbon emissions.
Nigeria had demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to global effort to reverse effects of the negative trend by signing of the agreement at a special event in New York, hosted by the former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September last year.
To date, out of the 197 parties, 141 have ratified the convention. The Paris agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, 30 days after the date on which at least 55 parties to the convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the depository.
With the ratification, Nigeria has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent. The Paris agreement is expected to deliver $100 billion per year by 2020 in support of developing countries, to take climate action.
Under the agreement, each country submitted an emissions reduction proposal known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Nigeria is considering 30 per cent energy efficiency in industries, homes, businesses and vehicles, and increased use of natural gas in generators and renewable energy.
Other measures being considered include stopping gas flaring, capture of gas, setting standard for appliances, generators, buildings and climate smart agriculture, all is expected to lead to $4.5 billion benefits to the country.
