The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Simon Stiell, is set to visit Nigeria from March 4-7 to engage with government officials, business leaders, and civil society on the economic opportunities tied to robust climate policies.
During his visit, Stiell will emphasize how Nigeria’s strengthened climate plan, known as its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), can drive economic growth while protecting the environment. He will highlight how ambitious climate action can create jobs, improve energy access, and strengthen resilience to extreme weather events.
Stiell will first visit Abuja from March 4-5 for meetings with Nigerian government officials and civil society representatives. On March 6, he will travel to Lagos to participate in a symposium titled “Intersecting Worlds of Climate Change, Mangrove, and Art,” organized by Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) at the Lekki Conservation Centre. At 10:05 AM (WAT), he will deliver a keynote address on Nigeria’s climate strategy and its potential economic benefits.
The Executive Secretary will stress that key sectors of Nigeria’s economy are primed for growth and that a bold climate agenda is essential for unlocking these opportunities. He will also discuss how environmental protection efforts, such as preserving mangrove forests and expanding the Great Green Wall initiative, can safeguard lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure from the impacts of climate change.
On March 7, Stiell will conclude his visit with a panel discussion alongside business leaders and further engagement with civil society representatives.
Background
With 198 Parties, the UNFCCC is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, with efforts to cap it at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. As countries prepare new and strengthened NDCs this year, Stiell’s visit underscores the urgency of ambitious national commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions and secure a sustainable economic future.
