President Muhammadu Buhari Says the coming of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) 50 years ago created awareness on the need to make climate and environmental action a priority for the entire world.
The President therefore called for a concerted action to make the organisation’s efforts a success story.
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President buhari in a congratulatory message to the Special Session to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ body on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya, lauded the efforts of UNEP and encourage broader action to overcome climate change, biodiversity, rising levels of pollution and waste being the three major crises threatening the planet.
He said desertification and drought are threatening lives and livelihoods which further underscores the need to boost biodiversity in ecosystem restoration.
The President thanked UNEP for its role in reducing biodiversity loss and for being a major player in the global movement to slow deforestation and accelerate aforestation.
The Nigerian leader used the occasion to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment towards addressing the devastating effects of climate change.
The President said Nigeria is working with other countries in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and in doing so has increased her conditional contribution to reduce greenhouse gas from 45% to 47%.
He praised the efforts of the Ministers of the Environment who had worked tirelessly prior to the Special Session for their commitment to the cause of the environment.
He called for collective efforts to improve and sustain climate action, nature action, chemical and pollution action, air, bio-safety, disasters and conflicts, green economy, gender, oceans and seas, resource efficiency, water, and youth education in order to save our planet and achieve the 2030 agenda on sustainable development.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma