Nigeria's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).

This Nigeria's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a multi-sectoral policy document for the period of 2015-2030. The INDC has communicated both conditional (on international support) and unconditional mitigation targets: to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 20% compared to Business as Usual scenario (BAU) unconditionally and 45% compared to BAU with international support by 2030.
The mitigation and adaption actions included in the INDC to a large extent implement or enforce existing policies or strategies. In terms of mitigation, to attaining the unconditional mitigation target, key measures include: establishing 13 GW of off-grid solar PV; increasing energy efficiency by 20%; and ending gas flaring by 2030. Key measures for attaining the conditional mitigation target, in addition to the measures for the unconditional target, include further increases in energy efficiency, a significant reduction in the use of generators, and providing energy access to all Nigerians.
Policies or strategies outlined in the INDC also promote to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, including: Enhance artisanal fisheries and encourage sustainable aquaculture as adaptation options for fishing communities; Adopt better soil management practices; Increase planting of native vegetation cover and promotion of re-greening efforts; reduction of methane emissions from livestock, through improved feeding and breeding; Support recommended climate change adaptation policies and programmes in sectors that affect biodiversity conservation, including agriculture, forestry, and livelihoods; Support and implement programmes for alternative livelihoods in order to reduce unsustainable resource use that contributes to loss of biodiversity; etc.
To contribute to climate change mitigation, the INDC hilights the measures for agriculture and land use: o Climate Smart Agriculture (CAS) o Stop using charcoal. CSA seeks to address the combined challenges of food security and climate change. Its aims are to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and support equitable increases in farm incomes, enhancing food security and development. It is also aimed at adapting and building resilience of agricultural and food security systems to climate change, thus, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from crops, livestock and fisheries. The use of fuel wood and charcoal for fuel is a major source of degradation of Nigeria’s forests. Charcoal provides essential fuel for many in Nigeria and its use cannot simply be reduced without providing alternatives. Efficient cookstoves are one way to reduce fuel demand, and alternative heating sources such as LPG could be provided. The INDC further highlights adaptation strategies for some high-emitting sectors. A. Strategies for Agriculture (Crops and Livestock) include: 1. Adopt improved agricultural systems for both crops and livestock (for example, diversify livestock and improve range management; increase access to drought resistant crops and livestock feeds; adopt better soil management practices; and provide early warning/meteorological forecasts and related information). 2. Implement strategies for improved resource management (for example, increase use of irrigation systems that use low amounts of water; increase rainwater & sustainable ground water harvesting for use in agriculture; increase planting of native vegetation cover & promotion of re-greening efforts; and intensify crop and livestock production in place of slash and burn). 3. Focus on agricultural impacts in the savanna zones, particularly the Sahel, the areas that are likely to be most affected by the impacts of climate change. B. Strategies for Forests: 1. Strengthen the implementation of the national Community-Based Forest Resources Management Programme. 2. Support review and implementation of the National Forest Policy. 3. Develop and maintain a frequent forest inventory system to facilitate monitoring of forest status; and initiate a research programme on a range of climate changerelated topics, including long term impacts of climatic shifts on closed forests. 4. Provide extension services to CSOs, communities and the private sector to help establish and 5. restore community and private natural forests, plantations and nurseries. 6. Improve management of forest reserves and enforce low impact logging practice.