Shettima departs Abuja to represent Tinubu at UN climate conference in Brazil

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Brazil, where he will represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 30th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).

The high-level global summit, hosted by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in partnership with international climate organizations, is scheduled to take place from November 6 to 7 in the city of Belém, the capital of Pará State in the Brazilian Amazon.

Vice President Shettima is billed to join other world leaders, development partners and business executives at the event themed, “Climate Action and Implementation,” with a strong focus on adaptation, forests, biodiversity, and climate justice.

On the first day of engagements in Belem, Mr Shettima will attend the general plenary of leaders where he is expected to present Nigeria’s climate action address.

He will also take part in the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, and participate in a roundtable chaired by President Lula on Climate and Nature before attending an Amazonian Cocktail for Heads of Delegation, hosted by the president of Brazil.

On the second day of the summit, Vice President Shettima will participate in two roundtables chaired by President Lula on energy transition as well as the review of the Paris Agreement, with a focus on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Financing.

On the sidelines, Mr Shettima will hold bilateral meetings focused on establishing and managing Nigeria’s participation in the carbon markets, enabling the nation to unlock between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually in carbon finance over the next decade to help meet climate goals.

At the conclusion of his COP 30 engagements, the Nigerian vice president will proceed to the city of Brasilia for a reciprocal visit to his Brazilian counterpart, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who had embarked on a historic 3-day visit to Nigeria earlier in June.

During Vice President Alckmin’s visit to Nigeria, a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) across critical sectors, including defence cooperation, agricultural technology transfer, energy collaboration, and cultural exchange programmes, were signed by officials of both countries.

In the city of Brasilia, VP Shettima, accompanied by top Nigerian government officials, will engage with his Brazilian counterpart to further deepen Nigeria’s South-South diplomatic ties.

The vice president is expected back in Nigeria at the end of his engagements in Brazil.