BY BRIGHT JACOB
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is advocating the coming together of African governments and leaders in order to develop a common resolve to push the Climate Positive Growth Agenda, which emphasizes how the continent can offer solutions to the global climate crisis while attaining economic growth in their countries.
Osinbajo stated this on Sunday during a meeting with Africa Europe Foundation, themed “Earthshot 2023 Milestone” on the sidelines of the Ibrahim Governance Weekend programme, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Vice President made the call on the same day he held a bilateral meeting earlier with Kenyan President William Ruto at the country’s State House in Nairobi.
At the meeting, both leaders agreed that Africans have to shape a narrative on the Climate Change crisis such that the point of view of the continent is well stated by Africans.
They also both expressed the hope that such an African narrative which is not antagonistic would soon be accepted because it is not “us versus them,” but one that seeks to balance the global perspectives on the issue.
The leaders agreed that the challenges of Climate Change were real and global, requiring prompt and positive actions.
At the meeting with the AEF afterwards, the Vice President noted that “the Climate Positive Growth Agenda is important. For me, the next steps are crucial; first, we need to get African governments and heads of state around this agenda and that is crucial because the Climate Positive Agenda is a win-win situation for Africa and the rest of the world.
“It certainly needs a lot of fleshing out and a lot more in terms of getting African governments in particular to understand our place in it and how to take this forward.”
Setting Nigeria as an example, Osinbajo said “we may not probably be a country you think of when it comes to a green economy, but the truth is that Nigeria’s hydropower is the core of its energy resources, our Energy Transition Plan as well as renewable energy plan both emphasise great ambitions for renewable energy.
“We are a gas-rich country, so the question is how you make that case for Nigeria in such a way that you are able to emphasise the trade-offs and the actual benefits.
“And I think, it is a straightforward enough case, but we have to present to each government where the benefits lie and where the trade-offs may lie so that we get a consensus as quickly and as effectively as possible.”
