‘What Nigeria is Doing to Reverse Biodiversity Loss, Climate Change’
The Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, has reassured the global community that Nigeria is strongly committed to taking bold steps to reverse biodiversity loss and to mitigate climate change.
Her reassurance was given at the opening ceremony of the 33rd Session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere Programme (MABICC)
.
The event, organized by UNESCO, held in Abuja.
According to Ikeazor, through the Ministry of Environment, Nigeria joined the Global Ocean Alliance and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People calling for the protection of 30% of worlds lands and seas by 2030.
This is to halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital ecosystems.
“Mr. President also recently approved the establishment of ten new additional National Parks across the ecological zones of the country two of which will be designated Marine Protected Areas.
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“Other notable measures taken by Nigeria in this respect is the issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds to assist Nigeria in meeting her Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and facilitate our transition to a low carbon pathway,” she said.
The Minister, also explained that various reforestation programmers have been initiated under the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, SGF, Boss Mustapha, declared the event opened.
He said there is a need for communities around the world to promote respect for natural habitats, in order to conserve biodiversity.
“Changing our behavior, respecting the natural habitat and living in peace and harmony with nature are paramount to a future resilient generation where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used while maintaining ecosystem services and delivering social benefits to the people,” said Mr. President.
In her remarks, Director General of UNESCO, Miss Audrey Azoulay, noted with dismay, the reality of the erosion of biodiversity, which continues to threaten human existence.
She said: “The erosion of biodiversity is no longer a hypothesis, but a fact, one that can already be seen and felt in our everyday lives we are currently confronting. Biodiversity is collapsing, at an unprecedented speed.”
