The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, emphasized the pressing need for action against climate change, highlighting that it is not solely the responsibility of governments but also extends to corporations, civil society organizations, and individuals.
While recognizing the importance of systemic reforms led by governments and influential corporations, Speaker Abbas stressed that individual actions play a crucial role in addressing climate crises. He made these remarks during a forum on lifestyle for the environment at the 9th P20 Summit and G20 Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, India.
Speaker Abbas discussed the unique challenges that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and diverse country, faces due to climate change. The Nigerian delegation to the event included other parliamentarians and aimed to give global governance a legislative dimension, enhance political support for international agreements, and ensure effective implementation at the local level.
In response to the impact of climate change on developing countries, Speaker Abbas explained that these regions are more vulnerable and less equipped to adapt to the changing climate. For example, increasing desertification in northern Nigeria has had adverse effects on agriculture, while unpredictable rainfall patterns in the southern regions have affected crop yields.
These challenges result in economic strain as agriculture is a significant sector of Nigeria’s economy. Additionally, coastal areas, particularly around the Niger Delta, face higher risks of flooding due to rising sea levels and shifting rainfall patterns. This demonstrates the need for concerted efforts at multiple levels to combat the effects of climate change.
“More so, Nigeria relies on hydroelectric power for a significant portion of its electricity, and variability in river flows often affects energy availability. Given these challenges, it is crucial for Nigeria, as with many developing countries, to address mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (preparing for and responding to the effects of climate change).”
He said parliamentarians could allocate funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts during the budget process, as well as hold governments accountable for their climate commitments and actions by effectively utilising the wide range of oversight tools and powers available to them.
“The 10th House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy oversees national strategies to counter the effects of climate change and ensure that laws about all aspects of climate change are adequate and implemented effectively. Nigeria is committed to transitioning from fossil-based energy to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower to ensure sustainability.”
He added that parliaments could push for educational programmes and training on climate change at all levels, noting that Nigeria is reorganising its Ministry of Education to address climate-related issues within educational institutions adequately.
He recalled that the United Nations Environment Programme estimated that if one billion individuals out of the global population of eight billion were to embrace environmentally friendly lifestyles, global carbon emissions could decrease by approximately 20 per cent.
He said this underscored the transformative power of individual actions to mitigate climate change, in light of which parliamentarians could play vital roles in the fight against climate change.
He said, “As elected representatives and policymakers, parliamentarians can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. We have the power to influence, design, and implement measures that can mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future.”
He lauded the LiFE initiative for its focus on encouraging the adoption of sustainable lifestyles to tackle the challenges of environmental degradation and climate change.
“The vital role that parliamentarians can play in supporting the ‘LiFE’ program is enormous and includes drafting, proposing and enacting legislation to regulate emissions, promote renewable energy and set environmental standards.”
He further informed the forum that Nigeria passed the Climate Change Act in 2021 to chart a path toward low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable growth.
“This legislation established the National Council on Climate Change and is the first comprehensive climate change legislation in West Africa. Moreover, Nigeria recently submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution Interim Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, demonstrating its commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 20 per cent unconditionally and 45 per cent with international support by 2030.”
He listed other interventions by the Nigerian National Assembly including the enactment of the HYPPADEC Establishment Act in 2010, which led to the creation of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission to address ecological challenges from the operations of Hydroelectric Dams.
He said the Nigerian government, in January this year, adopted new Methane Guidelines that include mandatory measures for oil and gas companies to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, as well as the establishment of the Sovereign Green Bond Programme in 2017 following the Paris Agreement of 2015.
Other policies and activities of the Nigerian government to combat climate change, he said, included implementing rural electrification programs to extend access to clean energy in remote areas; sustained tree planting, and reforestation endeavours to combat deforestation and rehabilitate ecosystems, among others.
“The National Assembly consistently allocates budgetary resources to support these initiatives, which can serve as exemplars for addressing environmental degradation. Legislative interventions have cascaded to the sub-national level, where state legislatures are enacting legislation to address waste management and recycling, fostering responsible consumption and waste reduction.”
