SHETTIMA DEPARTS FOR UN CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT IN BRAZIL

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday departed Abuja for Brazil to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), taking place in Belém, Pará, from November 6 to 7.

The Vice President is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the leaders’ plenary on the opening day of the summit, outlining the country’s commitments to climate action and sustainable development.

According to a statement from the State House, Shettima will also participate in the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, an initiative championed by the Brazilian government to promote forest conservation and carbon finance.

He is also scheduled to attend a high-level roundtable on climate and nature, chaired by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as discussions on energy transition and the review of the Paris Agreement with a focus on climate finance and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

On the sidelines of the conference, the Vice President will hold bilateral meetings with global climate leaders and investors to explore opportunities for Nigeria to access international carbon markets and attract between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually in carbon financing over the next decade.

Following the summit, Shettima will travel to Brasília for a courtesy visit to Brazil’s Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, as part of efforts to deepen Nigeria–Brazil relations in areas such as defence, agriculture, renewable energy, and cultural exchange.

The COP30 summit is expected to bring together world leaders, policymakers, and environmental experts to review global progress on climate action and discuss strategies to meet the targets set under the Paris Agreement.

Shettima is expected back in Nigeria at the conclusion of the summit.