COP 24: Climate Change department gives update on preparation

The Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment has made known its preparations for the upcoming 24th session of the Conference of Parties, COP 24, to the UNFCCC holding this December in Katowice, Poland.

On December 3-14, 2018, Poland will host the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In a memo presented at the recent National Council on Environment in Akure, Ondo State, the Department informed the Council that it had set up a Planning Committee; and hosted the first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (ICCC) towards the Conference.

The department said it had commenced online registration for delegates, facilitated an online National Talanoa Dialogue survey to generate positions to inform participation at the Conference;  and developed a National Delegation handbook for the conference.

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The department has also engaged a COP24 facilitating consultant to assist in the planning and arrangements for side events. Planning the second meeting of the ICCC, and training for the negotiators were underway, the department informed council.

A note by the Director of the department, Dr Peter Tarfa states: “Recognising the consequences and adverse impact of climate change on Nigeria, the country joined the global community to adopt treaties meant to tackle climate change. Nigeria became a Party to the UNFCCC in 1992 and ratified the Convention in 1994, it also became a Party to the Kyoto Protocol in 2004. Nigeria ratified the Paris Agreement (PA) in March 2017, which was approved by the UNFCCC on May 16, 2017 and entered into force on 15th June 2017.”

Due to the importance attached to the issues of climate change and global warming, and in view of the enormity of activities required for the implementation of the climate change treaties to which Nigeria is a party, the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Department of Climate Change in the Federal Ministry of Environment to serve as the vehicle for driving National Climate Action efforts.