Nigeria Bids to Host COP32 Climate Summit in Lagos, 2027

Nigeria has announced its bid to host the COP32 climate summit in Lagos in 2027, emphasizing the city’s capabilities and Nigeria’s leadership in climate action. Environmental officials have expressed readiness to secure the summit, which would enhance Nigeria’s global visibility and economic opportunities in climate initiatives. A decision on the host country will be made at COP30 in Brazil this November.

Nigeria has expressed its intention to host the COP32 United Nations climate summit in Lagos in 2027. The announcement was made during a visit from Simon Stiell, the chief of the UN’s climate arm. Nkiruka Maduekwe, head of Nigeria’s climate change council, asserted that Lagos possesses the necessary capabilities to conduct COP32 effectively.

During a symposium that welcomed Mr. Stiell, Maduekwe emphasized Nigeria’s leadership role as a “champion” in climate action, asserting that it’s time for Nigeria to host a COP summit. Lagos state environment commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab, highlighted the city’s readiness and drew a comparison to Azerbaijan, questioning why Nigeria could not do the same.

The Nigerian environment ministry discussed the benefits of hosting COP32, stating that it would enhance the country’s “climate leadership, global visibility and economic opportunities.” The decision on the host country will be made collectively by African nations at COP30 in Brazil in November, with final approval required at the conference.

Nigeria is the first nation to announce its bid to host the summit, a move that Mr. Stiell commended. He noted the competitive nature of hosting the conference and affirmed support for Nigeria to build alliances with fellow African nations.

The COP summits involve all 198 countries that have ratified the UN climate change convention (UNFCCC), facilitating global negotiations on climate policy. With COP32 set for Africa, this will mark the continent’s turn to host after Egypt held COP27 in 2022.

According to research by Net Zero Tracker, Nigeria uniquely enshrines a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target in law, aiming for 2060, while being Africa’s largest oil producer. The country heavily depends on oil and gas revenue for its budget. Following the agreement at COP28 in 2023 to transition away from fossil fuels, specifics on implementation remain vague.

On the international stage, Nigeria has consistently advocated for wealthier nations to provide greater climate funding for developing countries. President Bola Tinubu has been vocal on this issue, asserting that without sufficient climate finance, compliance with climate commitments from developed nations would not be feasible. At COP29, Maduekwe garnered attention by expressing strong disagreement with proposals for climate finance, deeming them inadequate.

In summary, Nigeria’s bid to host the COP32 climate summit underscores its commitment to climate leadership within Africa. By leveraging Lagos’ potential and advocating for increased support from developed nations, Nigeria seeks to enhance its role in global climate discourse. The collective decision-making process among African nations will determine the ultimate host, marking a significant step in climate negotiations.

Original Source: www.climatechangenews.com