Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says the Federal Government is mitigating the effects of climate change through improved energy management and fuel efficiency.
Keyamo said this on Tuesday when the members of House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change and Security, led by Rep. Kama Nkemkanma, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
The minister said that the carbon footprint for Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos was reduced by six per cent in 2021 due to improved energy management.
According to him, the nation`s growing aviation industry must balance the need for development with the imperative to reduce its carbon footprint and adopt sustainable practices.
“As the world increasingly focuses on climate change, the aviation sector is under pressure to innovate, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce emissions.
“Nigeria, as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), is committed to playing its part in global efforts to combat climate change.
“We are aligned with the Paris Agreement and ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which sets ambitious targets for the aviation sector to mitigate its environmental impact,“ it said.
Keyamo stated that the agencies under the ministry were embarking on several initiatives to reduce and mitigate the impact of climate change.
The minister said that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) addressed climate change by producing seasonal climate predictions and partnered with other agencies to promote climate action.
He added that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was one of the global airport operators that was voluntarily participating in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme.
“This is the only internationally recognised programme that provides a framework for measuring, reporting and managing emissions of Green House Gases (GHG) from airports globally.
“As a result of this, the carbon footprint for MMIA Lagos was reduced by 6 per cent in 2021 due to improved energy management, earning the airport a Level 2 ACA accreditation (Reduction).
“In addition, there are ongoing plans to achieve Level 3 (optimisation) accreditation for Lagos and Level 1 (mapping) accreditation for Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports this year,” he said.
He added that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was actively addressing climate change and aviation environmental protection through its commitment to ICAO CORSIA initiative and submission of State Action Plan (SAP) on CO2 emission reduction.
Keyamo affirmed that the development and deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), Low Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) and cleaner energies were other initiatives in collaboration with the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
According to him, the ministry has recognised the importance of collaborating with the committee to implement policies that address climate change and environmental sustainability.
“Through this collaboration, we hope to achieve a unified approach to climate change, policy advancements, public and private sector synergy and global leadership.
“I believe that this courtesy visit marks a significant step towards advancing our shared objectives of tackling climate change.
“The aviation industry has a vital role to play in achieving a sustainable future, and through collaboration with the House Committee on Climate Change, we can ensure that Nigeria’s aviation sector leads by example in adopting green technologies and practices.“
He said the ministry was ready to work closely with the committee to implement the necessary policies and actions that would create a more sustainable, resilient and environmentally responsible aviation sector in Nigeria.
The Minister directed that a communication committee be set up to report all the ministry’s achievements on climate change.
According to him, the membership of the committee will comprise members from the two house committees on Aviation, the ministry, FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NiMET and the Special Assistant to the Minister on Climate Change.
He urged the committee to send their report quarterly.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Climate Change and Security, Rep. Kama Nkemkanma, commended the ministry for its strategic role in Nigeria’s development.
According to him, there is need for increased collaboration to tackle climate change and its growing impact on various sectors, especially aviation.
“This visit was part of the Committee’s roles to engage with government agencies and private sector in effort to drum up increased action in tackling the climate change menace which possess challenges to Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
“With the aid of Climate Change Act 2021, Nigeria is making huge efforts to address the issue of climate change and to position the country on the way to sustainable growth and development,“ he said
He said the minister deserved the accolades by the public for compliance with the climate change Act.
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