Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for urgent measures to protect Africa’s ecosystem as a crucial strategy in addressing climate change.
Speaking at the second Africa Climate Forum (ACF) 2024 in Abuja, themed “Africa’s Climate Future: Pathway from Dependence to Leadership,” Shettima stressed the importance of building climate resilient communities and adopting sustainable practices across the continent.
Shettima highlighted the need for Africa to secure its green future, emphasizing that such efforts would bolster global initiatives to combat climate change.
According to him, this approach would help transform Nigeria’s role from a passive recipient of climate impacts to a proactive leader in climate action.
“Securing a sustainable and resilient Africa is no longer just a vision but a responsibility.
We have moved from words to action in our efforts to mitigate climate change,” Shettima stated, underlining Nigeria’s leadership in advocating for climate resilience.
He expressed concern about the significant toll climate change has taken on nations worldwide, particularly in Africa.
“This commitment starts from our acute awareness of the consequences of climate change, a threat that has left nations across continents asking for balance and one that demands nothing less than a collective response,” Shettima said.
He pointed out that Nigeria, like many other nations, has faced the devastating effects of climate change, including recurring floods, disruptions to agriculture, energy shortages, and food crises.
He remarked, “This climate-driven reality is not just a call to action but a reminder that none of us is immune to the consequences.”
Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s proactive stance through its Climate Change Act of 2021, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Nigeria has been proactive in taking steps to address climate change through the Climate Change Act of 2021, which aims to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions,” he noted.
The Vice President concluded by emphasizing that Africa’s climate interventions would not only ensure a greener future but also position the continent as a global leader in climate action.
“As stakeholders in Africa’s climate future, we are entrusted with the weighty responsibility of altering the course of our continent in the face of one of the world’s most formidable challenges, climate change,” Shettima stated.
