By Hillary Asemota
The Federal Government and Head of States representing over half of global Gross Domestic Products (GDP) on Friday set out an ambitious 12-month action plan to help make clean technologies, cheaper and more accessible everywhere.
The Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, is standing in for President Muhammadu Buhari, at the epoch COP27 Climate Change meeting.
The disclosure came to the fore as countries on Friday launched a package of 25 new collaborative actions to be delivered by COP28 to speed up the de-carbonisation, under 5 key breakthroughs of power, road transport, steel, hydrogen and agriculture
Already, historic support by 3 COP Presidencies for COP26, COP27 and COP28 drives forward implementation from Glasgow to Sharm El Sheik and into the United Arab Emirates-hosted COP and sends a signal of intent to the private sector is becoming evident, EXTRAORDINAIRE ONLINE NEWS learnt.
The information added: “Actions target sectors accounting for more than 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are also designed to reduce energy costs and enhance food security, with buildings and cement sectors to be added to the Breakthrough Agenda next year
“Today, under the breakthrough agenda countries representing more than 50% of global GDP set out sector-specific ‘Priority Actions’ to de-carbonise power, transport and steel, scale up low-emission hydrogen production and accelerate the shift to sustainable agriculture by COP28.
“These measures are designed to cut energy costs, rapidly reduce emissions and boost food security for billions of people worldwide.
“The actions under each breakthrough will be delivered through coalitions of committed countries – from the G7, European Commission, India, Egypt, Morocco and others, supported by leading international organizations and initiatives, and spearheaded by a core group of leading governments. These efforts will be reinforced with private finance and leading industry initiatives and further countries are encouraged to join.”
Accordingly, the priority actions include agreements to: Develop common definitions for low-emission and near-zero emission steel, hydrogen and sustainable batteries to help direct billions of pounds in investment, procurement and trade to ensure credibility and transparency
“Ramp up the deployment of essential infrastructure projects including at least 50 large scale net-zero emission industrial plants, at least 100 hydrogen valleys and a package of major cross-border power grid infrastructure projects
“Set a common target date to phase out polluting cars and vehicles, consistent with the Paris Agreement. Significant backing for the dates of 2040 globally and 2035 in leading markets will be announced by countries, businesses and cities on solutions day.”
The intention of the organisers, is also to use billions of pounds of private and public procurement and infrastructure spend to stimulate global demand for green industrial goods.
With this, it is believed that it will systematically strengthen financial and technological assistance to developing countries and emerging markets to support their transitions backed up by a range of new financial measures, including the world’s first major dedicated industry transition programme under the climate investment funds.
This no doubt will drive investment in agriculture research, development and demonstration (RD&D) to generate solutions to address the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and environmental degradation.
