Paris Agreement Protects Nigeria’s Interest, Says FG

By Bennett Oghifo
 

The Federal Government has said that it was committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change, following the decision of President Donald Trump to pull-out the United States of America from the Agreement.

The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius; above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. 

To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework would be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework.

Already, 147 Parties have ratified of 197 Parties to the Convention. On October 5. 2016, the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved. The Paris Agreement entered into force on  November 4, 2016. The first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) took place in Marrakech, Morocco from 15-18 November 2016.

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril said in statement yesterday that “Despite the pulling out of the United States from the Paris Agreement, I want to state categorically that Nigeria joined the Paris Agreement as a Sovereign Country taking into account its national circumstances and convection in a global approach to tackle climate change.

“Nigeria is committed to the provisions of the Paris agreement as it is in accordance with its National interest.”

Also yesterday, the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said in a statement that it regretted the announcement by the President of the United States that his government would withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

“The Secretariat also notes the announced intention to renegotiate the modalities for the US participation in the agreement. In this regard, it stands ready to engage in dialogue with the United States government regarding the implications of this announcement.

“The Paris Agreement remains a historic treaty signed by 194 and ratified by 147 counties. Therefore it cannot be renegotiated based on the request of a single Party.

“The Paris Agreement is aimed at reducing risk to economies and lives everywhere, while building the foundation for a more prosperous, secure and sustainable world. It enjoys profound credibility, as it was forged by all nations and is supported by a growing wave of business, investors, cities, states, regions and citizens. 

We are committed to continue working with all governments and partners in their efforts to fast forward climate action at global and national levels.”