President Bola Tinubu met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday to discuss pressing global and regional issues, with a particular focus on climate change.
The meeting, initiated by the British monarch, centered around “global and regional matters of shared priority,” especially the urgent and complex challenges posed by climate change, according to the Nigerian presidency.
This marks the second meeting between the two leaders since the COP28 climate change summit in Dubai in 2023, and comes in anticipation of the upcoming COP29 Summit in Azerbaijan and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
During the discussions, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to combating climate change, emphasizing the country’s commitment to align its climate actions with its energy security objectives. According to a statement by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, “President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to addressing climate change in a manner that aligns with the country’s energy security objectives while affirming Nigeria’s readiness to adopt global strategies for sustainability.”
The two leaders explored innovative approaches to climate financing and funding, expressing a shared interest in strengthening partnerships by leveraging Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa and the Commonwealth.
At COP28, which took place between November and December 2023 in Dubai, several significant pledges were made outside formal negotiations. These include commitments on fossil fuels, methane reduction, renewable energy, sustainable food systems, deforestation prevention, and public health. Additionally, financial commitments were made to support the Green Climate Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Special Climate Fund, and the Adaptation Fund.
The United Kingdom pledged $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund during the G20 Summit in September and announced further investments in bilateral aid packages and climate research projects. Additionally, over 100 countries, including the UK, committed to advancing renewable energy through the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, co-launched by the EU and the COP28 Presidency.
The COP28 Presidency also introduced the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, which was endorsed by 51 companies representing 40% of global oil production. The charter aims to decarbonize direct emissions and reduce methane across the oil and gas sector.
COP29 is scheduled to take place from November 11 to 22, 2024, and will focus on the critical issue of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The conference will prioritize boosting investments in climate action, enhancing national commitments, and operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable countries.
