Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Belém, Brazil, where he will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the high-level leaders’ summit ahead of the 30th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
The meeting, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in collaboration with global partners, is scheduled for November 6 to 7 in Belém, the capital of Pará State in the Amazon region. It will bring together heads of state, international development agencies, and private sector leaders to discuss new strategies for tackling the global climate crisis.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the plenary session. He will outline the country’s climate action priorities, ongoing reforms, and steps being taken to meet its international commitments on climate change.
The Tinubu administration has emphasized that Nigeria’s participation at COP30 is not just about highlighting challenges but also about exploring opportunities for climate financing, green investments, and sustainable development.
President Tinubu recently said Nigeria’s main goal at this year’s conference is to “harness climate financing opportunities for projects that make the country more climate-resilient while supporting economic growth.”
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures, desertification, flooding, and coastal erosion have already caused damage to farmland, infrastructure, and livelihoods across the country.
The government says it plans to use the COP30 platform to seek partnerships that can help fund renewable energy, reforestation, and climate-smart agriculture projects.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) is the world’s biggest annual gathering focused on the environment and global warming. It brings together leaders from nearly 200 countries to negotiate policies and commitments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the planet.
This year’s edition, COP30, carries special importance because it is being held in the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” the Amazon absorbs huge amounts of carbon dioxide and helps stabilize the global climate.
However, the region faces severe threats from deforestation, illegal mining, and wildfires. Brazil, under President Lula da Silva, has made protecting the Amazon a top national priority, and by hosting COP30 there, the country aims to draw global attention to the importance of safeguarding tropical forests and biodiversity.
The theme for this year’s conference — “Climate Action and Implementation” — focuses on moving from promises to practical solutions. Discussions will center on adaptation, forest protection, biodiversity, and climate justice — ensuring that developing nations receive fair support to deal with the impact of climate change.
Nigeria has made several international commitments on climate change over the years. In 2021, the country announced a target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. The government has also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030 with domestic resources, and up to 47 percent with international support.
To meet these goals, the government has launched policies such as the National Climate Change Act, the Energy Transition Plan (ETP), and the Green Energy Project. These initiatives focus on shifting the country away from heavy dependence on fossil fuels toward cleaner sources of energy like solar and wind.
Nigeria is also investing in climate-smart agriculture, waste-to-energy initiatives, and reforestation projects to restore degraded land and create jobs in rural communities.
Vice President Shettima is expected to highlight these efforts in his address at COP30, while calling for stronger international cooperation and equitable financing for developing countries.
One of the major challenges facing developing nations, including Nigeria, is limited access to climate finance — the funding needed to implement green projects and adapt to changing weather conditions.
According to professionals, Africa contributes less than four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change, such as droughts, food shortages, and extreme weather.
Nigeria plans to use its presence at COP30 to press for fairer financial support mechanisms from richer nations, which are historically responsible for the bulk of carbon emissions.
Shettima is expected to meet with leaders from other developing countries, international donors, and private investors to discuss innovative ways to finance Nigeria’s renewable energy and environmental sustainability programs.
The federal government believes that climate investment could also boost job creation, industrial growth, and energy access for millions of Nigerians who currently lack reliable electricity.
After his engagements in Belém, Vice President Shettima will travel to Brasília, the capital of Brazil, for a meeting with his counterpart, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.
The visit is a follow-up to Alckmin’s three-day official visit to Nigeria earlier in June, where both countries discussed strengthening trade, agriculture, and energy cooperation.
Nigeria and Brazil share a long history of diplomatic relations, with both nations collaborating in sectors such as agriculture, defense, and culture. Brazil is also home to one of the world’s largest populations of people of African descent, with deep ancestral ties to West Africa.
During his visit, Shettima is expected to promote Nigeria as a hub for green investment, encouraging Brazilian and Latin American companies to invest in renewable energy, technology, and agriculture.
Environmental experts have said Nigeria’s strong participation at COP30 could shape its economic future. Climate change is already affecting key sectors such as agriculture, health, and infrastructure, making adaptation an urgent priority.
Flooding in 2022 alone displaced over 1.4 million Nigerians and destroyed farmlands worth billions of naira. Desertification continues to expand in the north, forcing farmers and herders into competition over shrinking land and water resources — a factor that fuels insecurity.
