In 2015, countries of the world instituted a new, integrated vision (Nationally Determined Contributions) for a common future which rests firmly on the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) is a term coined at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference representing actions that all countries would implement for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions signed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in order to cap maximum changes in global temperature at 1.5 degrees.
Currently, 95 countries have submitted their final NDCs and filtering through the NDC website (indicates it’s an interim listas at 10th November 2016 ), however, notably absent on the list is Nigeria. Nigeria which has the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa would certainly not be expected to be absent on the list with countries like Somalia, Namibia, Niger, Ghana and South Africa clearly visible. It is important to note that the first draft was submitted by the Nigerian government in 2015. But even as global leaders gather once again in Marrakech, Morrocco for COP22, there is still an obvious delay in action by the Nigerian government. This is not far-fetched with the economic downturn the country is experience from crude oil prices nosediving and the Nigerian economy slipping into recession, Nigerians consider that the government has bigger problems than trying to address issues concerning climate change.
After a critical analysis of the 22-page INDCs document submitted by the Nigerian government, one can observe its superficial nature. Apart from the plot that considers the mitigation contributions both conditional (only implemented upon receiving financial support) & unconditional, one can observe there is a gap in terms of financials to achieving these goals both in the sectors of agriculture and power which Nigeria considers as key mitigation areas. Notwithstanding, Nigeria’s annual greenhouse emissions actually contributes less than 1% globally, however, without the attachment of the information on cost or investments necessary for the implementation of adaptation & mitigation measures, it is difficult to adequately plan for such scenarios with 2020 or 2030 milestones in mind. The only mention of an estimated cost proposed by the World Bank in the document, focuses only on “Low Carbon Development Opportunities for Nigeria” which only addresses the energy problem.
Contrastingly, the shorter NDCs submitted by the South African government addresses this by tying each goal to a commensurate adaptation investment cost per annum over a 10-year period (2020–2030). With such information, it is possible for the South African government to monitor, report, review and verify the effectiveness of the proposed its NDCs. Somalia, Ghana and Niger have also addressed this much better than the Nigerian NDCs document.
The stark reality of the daily challenges facing the Nigerians limits their concern towards the well-being of the surrounding environment. Some of the challenges faced by the poor and low-income citizens in Nigeria are the lack of access to energy, high unemployment rate, unaffordable housing leading to slum proliferation, inflation, corruption etc which are constantly headlining the news where the implemented government policies are doing little to alleviate them.
As the Nigerian government battles the economic downturn and recession, Nigeria and Africa as a whole must still focus on tangible and evident plans that can be monitored for performance, reported and appropriately financed. We need to put our money where our mouth is, as the impacts of the climate change — drought, famine, forced migration will be felt the most by our continent — if we remain unprepared. COP21 was a remarkable achievement but only the next decade will define its success realistically.