Climate Change: Nigeria To Hold National Youth Consultation On NDC Enhancement
By: Iccdi Africa
Tags: Wash, Ndc, Nigeria, Youth Development, Climate Change

In continued efforts to ensure youth involvement and active engagement in climate policy development, the Federal Ministry of Environment is partnering with a non-profit German foundation, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) & International Climate Change Development Initiative to conduct a nationwide Youth Consultation on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Enhancement in Nigeria. The consultation is expected to hold virtually on Friday, 11th September 2020 via zoom with H.E Sharon Ikeazor, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister for State, Environment and Daniel Mann, Resident Representative of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Nigeria expected to deliver crucial remarks.

Building upon the International Youth Day event and the virtual validation workshop of NDC Youth Action Manual which held August 12th and 25th respectively, the National Youth Climate Consultation on NDC Enhancement in Nigeria will establish clear plans for permanent and meaningful youth engagement in Nigeria’s NDC process beyond the current enhancement including in the wider activities of the ministry

It is expected that this consultation will bring meaningful youth engagement into Nigeria’s NDC Enhancement process and in tracking the implementation process. Samira Ibrahim, the Center Director, Center for Policy Research & Development Solutions would moderate the event while Barr. Huzi Mshelia, NDC Revision Coordinator Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Olumide Idowu, Co-founder, International Climate Change Development Initiative and Seyifunmi Adebote, Environmentalist and Host, Climate Talk Podcast would be speaking. It would be recalled that Nigeria had youths as part of its official delegation for the first time at the Conference of Parties during the COP25 in Madrid and this is furtherance of such concrete engagement.

As an outcome of this Youth Consultation on NDC, eight (8) NDC Youth Working Groups (YWGs) would be established across these 8 sectors to officially feed into the final government NDC: Agriculture, Energy, Oil & Gas, Industry, Transport, Water, Waste Management Group and Cross-Cutting Issues (Finance & Investment, Gender and Youth). Nigerian youths are encouraged to be a part by registering to attend via https://bit.ly/3hVp2xd.

The NDCs which embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and central to the achievement of these long-term goals.

Nigeria and 185 other countries submitted their first NDCs in 2015 and Nigeria is planning to submit the revised NDC by 1st quarter of 2021. Considering that the NDCs are submitted every five years to the UNFCCC secretariat, an updated NDC is required for all party members. Each climate plan reflects the country’s ambition for reducing emissions, taking into account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. The updated NDCs is expected to enhance the ambition of the Paris Agreement and provide a progression compared to the previous NDC while reflecting its highest possible ambition. Until recently, only 4 Parties have submitted their second NDCs, namely; Moldova, the Marshall Islands, Suriname and Norway.

by Seyifunmi Adebote