By Dipo Olowookere
Yesterday, the world was taken aback with the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, which it assented on April 22, 2016 with the agreement coming into force on November 4, 2016 after its acceptance on September 3, 2017.
President Donald Trump, while announcing the withdrawal of the US from the agreement, said the reason was because the deal did not favour America. He hinted that the United States could make a return if it was renegotiated.
Since Thursday’s event, which sparked global outrage, some Nigerians have wondered why the Federal Government assented to when it joined.
It is important to note that the Paris Climate Accord came into place on November 4, 2016, thirty days after the date on which at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Depositary.
Since then, 147 parties have ratified of 197 Parties to the Convention.
Nigeria is one of the parties that have had its entry ratified. It signed the accord on September 22, 2016 and was ratified on May 16, 2017, and it is expected to come into force on June 15, 2017.
Digs done by Business Post showed that Nigeria agreed to work “towards ending gas flaring by 2030” and also “work towards Off-grid solar PV of 13GW (13,000MW)” at the same period.
The Federal government said it hopes to achieve “efficient gas generators, 2 percent per year energy efficiency (30% by 2030), transport shift car to bus, improve electricity grid, and climate smart agriculture and reforestation.”
The country also promised to achieve Business as Usual (BAU) of around 3.4 tonnes CO2e by 2030.
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