Buhari Departs For Climate Change Confab, Today

President Muhammadu Buhari will today leave Abuja for Marrakech, Morocco, to attend the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as COP-22.

A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the event would take place in Marrakech between November 14 and 16.

He said Buhari would participate in the official opening plenary on November 15 where he would deliver his national statement during the High Level Segment of COP 22.

According to him, the presidential address is expected to highlight, among other key issues, Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and policy actions aimed at tackling climate change through environmental sustainable efforts.

He said that the president would also use the occasion to rally international support for the clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta and the resuscitation of the Lake Chad Basin.

Adesina said while in Marrakech, the president would attend the Africa Day Commemoration at COP 22 with the theme, “Moving from Commitments to Action with Intended Nationally- Determined Contributions and African Renewable Energy Initiative.”

He said the president would also attend the Summit of African Heads of State on the sidelines of the Climate Change conference.

The COP 22, will be attended by representatives from 197 countries including world leaders, environment ministers, government officials as well as a wide range of representatives from civil society and the private sector.

The conference is the first meeting of State Parties since the entry into force of the landmark Paris Agreement on November 4, 2016.

The legally binding international Agreement on climate change, among others, addresses issues of global warming, including its impact on food security and agriculture.

It would be recalled that Buhari signed the Paris Agreement on September 22, 2016, at the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“Buoyed by that commitment, the Nigerian delegation is optimistic that COP22 will provide a platform to promote and enhance delivery of the purpose-driven environmental sustainable agenda of the Federal Government,” Adesina added.

But the United States may not be participating in the conference as its President–elect, Donald Trump has indicated willingness to opt out of the convention on climate change.