Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on world leaders to move beyond pledges and take concrete action to tackle climate change, warning that the planet’s survival depends on immediate and coordinated efforts.
Speaking on Thursday at the Leaders’ Climate Summit during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima urged the international community to deliver on past promises and ensure climate finance reaches developing countries most affected by environmental degradation.
“Let COP30 be remembered as the moment when the world moved from pledges to performance, from ambition to action, and from dialogue to delivery,” Shettima declared.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions by 32% by 2035, following the launch of the National Carbon Market Framework and the Climate Change Fund — two key components of Nigeria’s climate finance architecture.
The initiatives are expected to attract billions of dollars in clean energy investments and provide direct support to communities impacted by floods, droughts, and desertification.
“The Earth speaks in the language of loss and warning. It tells us that our survival is tied to its well-being,” Shettima said. “No nation can finance climate ambition with goodwill alone.
We need an equitable architecture that empowers developing countries to deliver on global commitments.”
He also announced a five-year Carbon Market Roadmap to establish an Emissions Trading System and Carbon Tax Regime supported by fiscal incentives to encourage industrial innovation.
Shettima noted that Nigeria’s Decade of Gas Strategy remains central to the country’s energy transition, balancing gas utilization with an expansion of solar and off-grid electrification to promote sustainable growth.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the same session, warned that the world had failed to stay within the 1.5°C temperature limit, urging leaders to act urgently to minimize the impact of the “inevitable overshoot.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the need for global solidarity, calling for “collective efforts” to combat climate change through inclusive action involving civil society, indigenous communities, and grassroots organizations.
Prince William, representing King Charles III, called on the global community to act with courage and unity, saying, “Our children and grandchildren will stand on the shoulders of our collective action. Let us rise to meet this moment with decisive commitment.”
Nigeria’s participation at COP30 underscores its growing leadership role in climate diplomacy and sustainable development efforts on the African continent.
