Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after leading Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, where the nation pushed for greater international climate finance.
During the Leaders’ Climate Summit in Belém, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Vice President represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He delivered Nigeria’s national statement, calling for a new approach to funding environmental protection.
In his address, titled “The Rational Soul of Nature,” Shettima urged fellow world leaders to fundamentally change how nature is valued. He called on them to “recognise the economic value of nature and to channel significant finance towards protecting and restoring it through predictable, equitable, and accessible funding mechanisms.”
He further emphasised the seriousness of Nigeria’s own commitments, stating that the country’s renewed climate agenda represents “not just an aspiration, but a solemn national commitment to preserve the planet for future generations.”
Beyond the main summit, the Vice President’s schedule focused on practical financial agreements. He held a series of bilateral meetings centred on carbon market cooperation.
The goal of these talks is to secure a major new stream of funding for Nigeria’s green transition. The government is aiming to unlock between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually in carbon finance for the nation over the coming decade.
This potential revenue is intended to directly support the country’s shift towards a low-carbon economy, financing projects that reduce emissions and promote sustainable development.
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