Climate-Smart Agriculture: EU Partners with Nigeria

EU Funds Nigeria's Sustainable Agriculture Drive

“The EU Global Gateway is an EU strategy to invest in sustainable infrastructure projects...”

The European Union reaffirms support for Nigeria's climate-smart agriculture, digitalization & sustainable development initiatives.

The European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria's sustainable development, focusing on climate-smart agriculture and digitalization. This pledge was made by Massimo De Luca, head of the EU delegation, in a statement released in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 16.

The EU's dedication to sustainability will be showcased through its Climate Month initiative, featuring impactful events leading up to the Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, next month. Climate Month aims to promote climate action and sustainable practices.

The EU's support for Nigeria's development is part of its broader commitment to regional cooperation and integration. The EU and ECOWAS have a comprehensive partnership, encompassing political dialogue, development cooperation, trade, and regional integration. Vital areas of cooperation include:

Peace, Security, and Regional Stability: Supporting ECOWAS's role in promoting peace and security in West Africa.

Regional Integration and Trade: Fostering economic growth through trade facilitation and regional integration.

Resilience, Food Security, and Natural Resources: Promoting sustainable agriculture practices and addressing food insecurity.

The EU's Climate Month initiative and ongoing cooperation with ECOWAS demonstrate its resolve to address pressing global challenges, such as climate change, and support sustainable development in Nigeria and West Africa.

The EU Climate Month, themed 'Opportunities for Growing Green Together', is all about fostering collaboration between the European Union, Nigeria, and other key stakeholders to drive sustainable development. This month-long initiative is packed with impactful events that highlight the importance of working together to protect our planet.

Some of the key areas of focus for the EU's sustainable development efforts in Nigeria include:

Green and Digital Economy: Supporting Nigeria's transition to a low-carbon economy and promoting digital innovation.

Governance, Peace, and Migration: Strengthening institutions, promoting peace, and addressing migration challenges.

Human Development: Improving access to education, healthcare, and social services.

By working together, the EU, Nigeria, and other stakeholders can create a more sustainable future for all. The EU has committed €508 million to support Nigeria's development priorities from 2021 to 2024, with a focus on these key areas.

The statement said, “the EU Global Gateway is an EU strategy to invest in sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide.

“In Nigeria, the initiative focuses on sectors such as energy, transport, digitalisation, agriculture/climate-smart value chains, as well as health and education.”

The EU Climate Month is packed with exciting events that promote sustainability and climate action. Here are the key events you can look forward to:

Green Bond Stakeholder Dialogue (GBSD): A platform for stakeholders to discuss and explore opportunities in green financing.

EU-Nigeria Climate and Energy Dialogue (NCED): A bilateral discussion between the EU and Nigeria to address climate and energy issues.

Training for Nigeria's Climate Negotiators: Preparing Nigerian negotiators for the upcoming COP29, ensuring they're equipped to tackle climate challenges.

Methane Emissions Reduction Programme (MERP) Workshop: Focusing on reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector, a critical step towards mitigating climate change.

Launch of Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) III and Global Energy Transformation Invest (GETI): Initiatives that promote renewable energy and sustainable development.

Discussion on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Exploring alternatives to traditional fossil fuels in aviation, reducing the sector's carbon footprint.

These events demonstrate the EU's commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria and globally.

“The support for the SAF programme will focus on decarbonising the aviation sector by promoting the use of plant- based biofuels instead of conventional crude oil-derived fuels.

“This event is part of a broader EU multi- country intervention, for which Nigeria was prioritised,” the statement added.

On October 10, top representatives from European investors and Nigeria's public and private sectors gathered in Abuja to explore opportunities in Nigeria's green bond market. This meeting was timely, as it preceded the launch of the European Union's Global Green Bonds Initiative, which aims to inject €15-20 billion into green investments. The initiative seeks to support the development of green bond markets in partner countries, mobilizing capital from institutional investors to finance climate and environmental projects.

The Global Green Bond Initiative is a Team Europe initiative that will help countries access private capital for an inclusive and sustainable transition. It's designed to build the capacity of issuers and provide confidence and de-risking mechanisms for private investors. This will be achieved through two pillars: building issuers' capacity and know-how at the local level, and crowding-in private investors through a Green Bond investment vehicle.

Some of the key focus areas of the initiative include:

Mobilizing Private Investors: Providing technical assistance to green bond issuers and crowding-in private investors through a dedicated public-private fund.

Supporting Green Bond Issuers: Helping partner countries develop credible and interoperable green bond frameworks to identify pipelines of green projects.

Strengthening Local Capital Markets: Enhancing the development and strengthening of local capital markets through green bonds.

The European Investment Bank and the Green Climate Fund are working together to promote green bond markets in Africa, with the African Development Bank joining as a strategic partner. This collaboration aims to support the growth of Africa's green bond market and contribute to financing sustainable development.

Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized the EU's strong commitment to collaborating with Nigeria on sustainable development, stating that the EU Climate Month embodies this dedication to finding environmentally friendly solutions through partnership.

This commitment is part of the EU's broader goal to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, as outlined in the European Green Deal. The EU Climate Month features various events, including the Green Bond Stakeholder Dialogue, EU-Nigeria Climate and Energy Dialogue, and training for Nigeria's Climate Negotiators, demonstrating the EU's comprehensive approach to addressing climate change and promoting sustainability in Nigeria and globally.

“Each event provides an opportunity not only to share knowledge and best practices but also to inspire innovation in tackling climate challenges.

“Our goal is to foster lasting, impactful change through collaboration, empowering both Nigeria and the EU to grow green together.”

He further added, “This initiative is part of the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, which focuses on investing in sustainable infrastructure globally.

“Through these efforts, we aim to support green growth, particularly in key sectors like energy, climate-smart agriculture and digitalisation, contributing to Nigeria's sustainable development goals.”

The training for Nigeria's climate negotiators ahead of COP29 is all about boosting their knowledge and negotiation skills, empowering them to effectively advocate for climate action. This capacity-building initiative aims to enhance the ability of Nigerian climate leaders to navigate complex climate negotiations, ensuring they're well-prepared to address the nation's specific climate challenges.

By strengthening their negotiation prowess, these climate champions will be better equipped to:

Articulate Nigeria's Climate Interests: Effectively communicate the country's needs and priorities in international climate talks.

Forge Strategic Partnerships: Build alliances with global stakeholders to advance Nigeria's climate agenda.

Drive Climate Innovation: Identify and promote innovative solutions to mitigate climate change impacts on vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture.

This training is crucial, especially considering Africa's vulnerability to climate change. The African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) has been organizing strategy meetings to harmonize African priorities with global climate objectives. With COP29 just around the corner, Nigeria's climate negotiators will play a vital role in shaping the global climate conversation.