The Federal Ministry of Environment on Monday launched Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Strategy programme, REDD+, a nature-based solution approach to national development programme that seeks to protect and preserve forests and fight against climate change.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, who launched the REDD+ document stated that the programme would run for the next thirty years.
According to him, the programme was targeted to reduce emissions by 20% in the next ten years and become a climate-resilient and self-reliant nation.
He called on the United Kingdom and other international partners to continue to support Nigeria’s effort to protect its natural resources as well as contributing in combating global climate change.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Ibrahim Bukar who was represented by his friend, Suleiman Gumi stated that effective implementation of RADD+ programme would increase foreign earnings from the agriculture sector and as well as having abundant natural resources.
He pleaded for support from every stakeholder involved to ensure that the programme would yield positive results
Lending her voice, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen stated that women should be engaged as they would play a major role in the process.
Sean Melbourne, Head of Climate Change and Energy West Africa and a British High Commissioner representative stated that the United Kingdom was working with the Nigerian government to secure its ecosystem and fortifying it against disaster caused by climate change.
He highlighted several engagements and efforts of the Commission in the fight against climate change and ecosystem preservation globally.
The World Bank Country Representative, Shudbam Chaudhuri, who was represented by Dier Montovani commended the Nigerian ministry of environment for their relentless effort in developing the programme
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation REDD+ was borne out of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change in Cancun, which encouraged developing country parties to contribute to climate mitigation action in the forest sector.
