Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Department of Climate Change (DCC), Federal Ministry of Environment have received commendation for the just concluded North-West Regional Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Business Roundtable.
UNDP and DCC was commended for bringing the discourse closer to the critical sectors-small businesses.
The 2-day roundtable which seek to communicate the NDC targets and facilitate enhanced organised private sector’s involvement in the process took place in Kaduna.
It also seek to sensitise and increase private sector participation.
A press release by the National Coordinator of the Nigeria UNDP NDC Support Programme, Mr. Huzi Mshelia stated that participants agreed that increased public awareness on the NDC for small and medium businesses is critical as the zone is predominantly informal driven economy; Government preference for major businesses as against small businesses is a disincentive, therefore more interventions to making it attractive for small business is required; More success stories are needed to demonstrate viable business models that can be replicated. Therefore, dedicated capacity building sessions for practical learning is important.
“Tourism and other services should be fully integrated into the NDC with clarity on their contribution to emission reductions; The use of local production plants and technologies should be encouraged and promoted rather than continued heavy reliance on importation of foreign technologies. Therefore, private sector to lead in R&D with government creating the enabling environment; Mapping of the industrial sector to be able to attract foreign investors.”
The meeting also stressed “need for a baseline study on the industrial sector to the respective states with view to assess the nature and kind of investors required; Implementation of the NDC requires strong regulatory instruments and the need for a legal framework long overdue; Need for deliberate policies to connect the mining industry (for silicon) to the manufacturing of local solar panels; Climate finance critical for catalysing productivity, therefore need for more capacity building on development of bankable project proposals; Private sector encouraged to bundle project activities to leverage finance.”
They agreed further that “SMEs should start their sustainability transformation now, while seeking further support through partnership; Organised private sector in the region agreed a collaboration with REAN for increasing access to solar energy for productive uses; Need for one-stop shop at the DCC (Environmental Clinic) for providing solutions; Need to explore other form of renewable energy within the region, especially the exploiting of small hydro power potentials.”
The final discourse with the private sector holds in the South-East on Monday and Tuesday.
