Reps pass Climate Change Bill

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to
provide a legal framework for mainstreaming of climate change
responses and actions into government policy formulation and
implementation.

The bill also proposed the establishment of a council to
coordinate climate change governance as well as support the
adaptation and mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change
in the country.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the
sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia-PDP), said that the
need for a strong national institution to address the effects of
climate change compelled him to come up with the bill.

According to him, the absence of a law on issues of climate
change has scared investors from investing in the country.

‘‘Today, there is no law on climate change, all we have are
policies and that has been a serious setback for the country as far
as climate actions are concerned.

‘‘Climate change is a global issue that cuts across the world
and that is what informed the move of the United Nations’
convention on climate change.

‘‘But back home, there is no law both at the national and
sub-national levels and that has necessitated this bill.

‘‘The early coming into force of the 2015 Paris Climate
agreement reinforced the necessity of a climate change
legislation.

‘‘It will facilitate the domestication of the agreement and
enable Nigeria to effectively implement its commitments,
particularly the emission reductions target,’’ he said.

Onuigbo further said that absence of a law that prescribed legal
obligation for compliance with elements of national climate policy
and all other climate-related initiatives and programmes had also
inhibited climate change management in the country.

‘‘But this bill will provide a framework for a federal budget
appropriation process that institutionalises transparency and
accountability of climate related sources, including international
climate finance,’’ he said.

The lawmaker added that the bill intended to balance
institutions and approaches responsible in addressing climate
challenges across economic sectors and through public and private
participation.

He said it would also aid the ‘‘setting up of guidelines for
prescription of range of economic instruments and regulatory
techniques to reduce Green House Gas emissions.

‘‘Pursue high economic growth rate at a low carbon trajectory at
the same time reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcity in
an inclusive manner, and growing new jobs.’’

Onuigbo said the bill would be transmitted to the Senate for
concurrence on Wednesday and subsequently to the President for
assent.

‘‘Every leader determines what happens to his subjects, and the
President has given climate change a go by the signing the UN
treaty on Climate Change and his subsequent speeches back home,’’
he added.

NAN recalled that the House of Representatives adopted the
committee report on Climate Change on Oct. 26.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to
provide a legal framework for mainstreaming of climate change
responses and actions into government policy formulation and
implementation.

The bill also proposed the establishment of a council to
coordinate climate change governance as well as support the
adaptation and mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change
in the country.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the
sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia-PDP), said that the
need for a strong national institution to address the effects of
climate change compelled him to come up with the bill.

According to him, the absence of a law on issues of climate
change has scared investors from investing in the country.

‘‘Today, there is no law on climate change, all we have are
policies and that has been a serious setback for the country as far
as climate actions are concerned.

‘‘Climate change is a global issue that cuts across the world
and that is what informed the move of the United Nations’
convention on climate change.

‘‘But back home, there is no law both at the national and
sub-national levels and that has necessitated this bill.

‘‘The early coming into force of the 2015 Paris Climate
agreement reinforced the necessity of a climate change
legislation.

‘‘It will facilitate the domestication of the agreement and
enable Nigeria to effectively implement its commitments,
particularly the emission reductions target,’’ he said.

Onuigbo further said that absence of a law that prescribed legal
obligation for compliance with elements of national climate policy
and all other climate-related initiatives and programmes had also
inhibited climate change management in the country.

‘‘But this bill will provide a framework for a federal budget
appropriation process that institutionalises transparency and
accountability of climate related sources, including international
climate finance,’’ he said.

The lawmaker added that the bill intended to balance
institutions and approaches responsible in addressing climate
challenges across economic sectors and through public and private
participation.

He said it would also aid the ‘‘setting up of guidelines for
prescription of range of economic instruments and regulatory
techniques to reduce Green House Gas emissions.

‘‘Pursue high economic growth rate at a low carbon trajectory at
the same time reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcity in
an inclusive manner, and growing new jobs.’’

Onuigbo said the bill would be transmitted to the Senate for
concurrence on Wednesday and subsequently to the President for
assent.

‘‘Every leader determines what happens to his subjects, and the
President has given climate change a go by the signing the UN
treaty on Climate Change and his subsequent speeches back home,’’
he added.

NAN recalled that the House of Representatives adopted the
committee report on Climate Change on Oct. 26.