The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured the WASCAL member Nations the readiness of the Federal Government of Nigeria in implement all the key decisions taken at the Maiden Conference.
Balarabe disclosed this recently in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the maiden conference of West African Science Service Centre on Climate change and Adapted Land Used WASCAL) an International Conference on Climate Change, Energy Transition (13C-JET), with the theme: Sustainable Climate Resilience and Just Energy Transition.
The Minister believe that the Conference was a bold step toward a low-carbon and climate-resilient future that no one should be left behind in the journey, that Nigeria aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 while ensuring universal access to modern energy by 2030.
The Minister further noted that Africa’s determination to respond to climate change is unwavering and guided by a collective will to safeguard lives, economies, and ecosystems while pursuing sustainable growth that leaves no community behind.
Balarabe emphasized on the Nigeria’s Climate Change Act which provides the legal foundation for these ambitions, while the pioneering Green Bond Programme demonstrates how innovative finance can drive sustainable development.
He also used the forum to call on all participants to use the conference as a platform to deepen dialogue to strengthen partnerships, translate scientific research into actionable policies that would transform the societies and safeguard our shared future.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Governing Board of (WASCAL), Professor Chinedu Nwajiuba, stated that the aim and objective of the conference was to trigger Africa’s scientific and intellectual communities, in alliance with her political leadership, and global partners, for evidence-based responses to climate change and just energy transition.
He said part of the conference is to trigger thought backed by science, evidence to engage policy makers for action to address current and future challenges, emphasizing that WASCAL has committed to taking the outcomes of the conference beyond the conference rooms, and this would be able to address policy and action briefs to the stakeholders.
While speaking, the Executive Director of WASCAL, Prof. Emmanueal Ramde expressed his profound appreciation to the Honorable Minister of Environment for the honor of hosting the conference, adding that Nigeria has not only provided its capital city, Abuja, as a welcoming ground for the event, but has also demonstrated leadership and generosity in advancing the course of climate and energy transition agenda across West Africa.
Emmanuel revealed that the conference, I3C-JET, was not just an event — it was a movement as well as providing a unique platform for dialogue between science, policy, and society to bridge gaps, exchange ideas, and design, actionable solutions for climate resilience and energy justice in Africa.
He pledged to foster new partnerships, policy recommendations, and innovative models that would influence national, regional, and global climate strategies.
Signed
Ibrahim Haruna
Director Information and public Relations.
