The Niger State Government led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, amongst other world leaders, gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, as the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) kicked off.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) takes place every year, and is an opportunity to negotiate new measures and review Parties’ progress against the overall goal of the UNFCCC to limit climate change, notably the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted by 196 Parties at the COP21 in Paris in 2015.
The overarching goal of the Paris Agreement is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”.
To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline by 43% by 2030.
Niger State Government as a leading sub-national on green initiatives would be expected to follow up with a series of engagements and MOU signed following the COP28 in Dubai, as well as participate in other side meetings with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Global Environment Facility, and Global Climate Fund, etc.
The COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, will center around two critical pillars: enhancing ambition, urging all parties to commit to ambitious climate action plans; increasing transparency and accountability; and enabling action by mobilizing finance to implement climate strategies. The focus will be on reducing emissions, adapting to climate change, and addressing loss and damage.
The 2024 COP29 event will also provide opportunities for the state new Agency – *Niger State Agency for Green Initiatives* to network with potential NGOs and investors on carbon markets and showcase Niger State’s ambitious plan towards greening with vast economic potential, and benefits as well as contribution towards Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Net zero emission.
The State delegation will also use this platform to interface with major actors by leveraging their rich technical and financial experiences to create opportunities and enhance Niger State capacity to implement the State Green Economy blueprint. Inception meeting and capacity-building activities between the Niger State delegation and the National and International consultants (FutureCamp Germany) will also be held as a follow up to the State’s participation at the 2023 COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
