President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing climate-smart agricultural practices, aimed at enhancing food security and reducing environmental impacts. He made the statement during his address at the ongoing Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, held in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

In his 12-minute discourse titled “Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity, Bridging Africa’s Global Energy Future,” President Tinubu emphasized the need for international cooperation in achieving sustainable development and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

As Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, Tinubu stressed Nigeria’s responsibility to take the lead in addressing climate issues, highlighting that the country’s path to success lies in innovation, collaboration, and decisive action.

“We have embraced the vision of sustainability while addressing the local realities. Our efforts are anchored on three pillars: energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development,” Tinubu stated. He further outlined his administration’s recognition of the importance of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources.

The president underscored Nigeria’s commitment to promoting climate-smart agricultural practices as a means of boosting food security while mitigating environmental damage. He also highlighted the government’s approval of development policies such as the National Clean Cooking Gas Policy, aimed at promoting a cleaner energy environment and fostering socioeconomic development.

Describing these initiatives as pillars of Nigeria’s sustainable development strategy, Tinubu emphasized that the country’s approach involves responsibly reducing carbon emissions while promoting economic growth and social equity.

Tinubu also provided insight into Nigeria’s energy transition plan, noting that the country is diversifying its energy sources and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. This transition is central to Nigeria’s national development strategy and is aligned with the global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

“Nigeria is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 in line with global climate objectives. We are developing infrastructure to utilize compressed natural gas and electric vehicles,” the president explained.

The Nigerian government is also focused on responsibly exploring solid minerals and critical metals needed for advancing the green energy transition.

In his address, Tinubu acknowledged Nigeria’s pressing environmental challenges, such as deforestation, desertification, coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution. He cited the shrinking Lake Chad as a stark example of the environmental threats the country faces.

“Our government is working with local communities to implement solutions to mitigate these effects and build resilience in the face of environmental challenges,” Tinubu said.

Furthermore, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of international collaboration in financing green projects. He noted that Nigeria became the first African country to fund green initiatives through Sovereign Green Bond issuances, with the third issuance currently underway. He called on investors to partner with Nigeria in these efforts.

“Nigeria became the first country in Africa to initiate funding for green projects through green bond proceeds. We urge investors to collaborate with us,” Tinubu added.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s growing adoption of new technologies in clean energy, water conservation, land restoration, waste management, and the circular economy. Tinubu stressed that technological innovation is essential to driving sustainable development, mentioning the country’s partnership with global leaders to find innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

“We are finding new and innovative ways to address our environmental challenges through technology,” the president remarked, also noting Nigeria’s potential for advanced technological farming, including the use of artificial intelligence.

President Tinubu concluded by reminding global leaders that environmental challenges are a shared concern and called for collective action grounded in mutual respect and a shared vision for the future. He reiterated that sustainable development is a global imperative, urging the international community to strengthen cooperation to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and mitigate the impact of climate change.

In his closing remarks, Tinubu reflected on the powerful image of children waving the UAE flag on the first day of the event, symbolizing the call for all to protect the planet for future generations.