Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Belem, Brazil, for Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 30th Session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), where Nigeria reaffirmed its leadership role in driving climate action across Africa.
The conference, convened by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in collaboration with the United Nations and other global partners, was held from November 6 to 7 in Belem, the capital of Pará State in the Brazilian Amazon.
During the global summit, Vice President Shettima joined world leaders, development partners, and business executives at the Leaders’ Climate Summit – COP30, where he highlighted Nigeria’s renewed commitment to tackling climate change.
“Our climate agenda represents not just an aspiration but a solemn national commitment to preserve the planet for future generations,” Shettima declared.
He also represented President Tinubu at a high-level thematic session on “Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans,” where he delivered Nigeria’s statement titled “The Rational Soul of Nature.” In his address, Shettima urged global partners to recognize the economic value of nature and to channel significant financing toward environmental protection and restoration through predictable and equitable mechanisms.
While in Brazil, the Vice President participated in the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, attended a roundtable on climate and nature chaired by President Lula, and joined other heads of delegation at a high-level reception hosted by the Brazilian President.
On the sidelines of the conference, Shettima held bilateral meetings focused on expanding Nigeria’s participation in carbon markets — an initiative projected to unlock between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually over the next decade to support the country’s climate goals.
Speaking on Nigeria’s engagement at COP30, the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, reaffirmed the country’s determination to lead Africa in the search for sustainable climate solutions.
