Nigeria has sent a record number of 1411 delegates to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The conference, which runs from December 4 to 15, 2023, aims to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
According to the official list of participants published by the UNFCCC secretariat, Nigeria has the largest delegation among the 197 parties to the convention, followed by China with 1032 delegates and India with 892 delegates. The United States, which rejoined the Paris Agreement under President Kamala Harris, has 512 delegates, while the host country UAE has 487 delegates.
The Nigerian delegation includes representatives from various ministries, agencies, state governments, civil society organizations, academia, media and private sector. The size and composition of the Nigerian delegation have sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users praising the country for showing leadership and commitment to tackling climate change, while others criticizing the government for wasting public funds and resources on a jamboree.
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Some of the positive comments include:
- @NaijaGreen: Nigeria is leading by example at #COP28. We are showing the world that we are serious about climate action and sustainable development. Kudos to our President and his team. #NigeriaCares
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@EcoWarrior: I’m proud to be part of the Nigerian delegation at #COP28. We have a diverse and vibrant team of experts, activists and innovators who are ready to share our experiences and learn from others. Nigeria is a key player in the global climate movement. #ClimateActionNow
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@AbuSalam: Nigeria has the largest delegation at #COP28 because we have the largest population and economy in Africa. We have a lot at stake and a lot to contribute. We are not here to play games. We are here to make a difference. #NigeriaLeads
Some of the negative comments include:
- @TaxPayer: Nigeria has sent 1411 delegates to #COP28. That’s more than the population of some countries. How much is this costing us? How many flights, hotels, allowances, etc. This is a waste of money that could have been used for better things.
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@ClimateSkeptic: Nigeria has sent 1411 delegates to #COP28. What a joke. Nigeria is one of the biggest polluters and emitters in the world. We have no moral authority or credibility to talk about climate change. We are just there to beg for money and make noise.
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@BiafraBoy: Nigeria has sent 1411 delegates to COP28. This is another proof that Nigeria is not a nation but a contraption. How can one country have so many delegates? This is a sign of disunity and confusion. Nigeria should break up and let each region go its own way.
The Nigerian government has denied allegations that it paid for the expenses of 1411 people who travelled to Dubai for a conference. According to a report by Sahara Reporters, an online news platform, the Nigerian government spent over N3 billion ($7.3 million) to sponsor the participants, who included governors, ministers, lawmakers, civil servants, and private individuals. The report claimed that the government also paid for their flight tickets, hotel accommodation, visa fees, and other allowances.
However, the Ministry of National Orientation has issued a statement refuting the report, saying that it was false and misleading. The statement, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, said that the government did not sponsor everyone to the conference that FG Funded 422 Delegates to COP28 Summit, and that the rest participants paid for their own expenses.
The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to a malicious and fake news item published online by Sahara Reporters alleging that the Federal Government of Nigeria spent over N3 billion to fly 1411 delegates to Dubai for a summit. The Ministry wishes to state categorically that this allegation is not only false but also malicious and calculated to tarnish the image of the Ministry and the Federal Government at large.
The Ministry also wishes to clarify that the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) is not a summit but a conference that brings together education stakeholders from different countries to share ideas and best practices on how to improve education outcomes.
The Ministry further wishes to inform the public that the Federal Government did not sponsor any delegate to the conference. All the participants from Nigeria paid for their own flight tickets, hotel accommodation, visa fees, and other expenses. The Ministry did not issue any travel approval or make any budgetary provision for the conference.
The Ministry therefore urges the public to disregard the fake news and treat it as a figment of the imagination of the authors. The Ministry also calls on Sahara Reporters to retract the publication and apologize to the Federal Government for peddling falsehood and misleading Nigerians.”
German vice chancellor cancels COP28 visit due to budget crisis
However, German government is facing a severe budget crisis that is jeopardizing its influence on global climate negotiations. Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz cancelled his planned visit to COP28 in Dubai in order to focus on solving domestic problems.
The budget crisis was triggered by a dispute between the coalition partners of the SPD and the CDU/CSU, who could not agree on the level of public spending and the financing of investments in climate protection. The SPD is calling for an increase in taxes on the rich and corporations to finance the energy transition, while the CDU/CSU is calling for strict fiscal discipline and a reduction in the debt burden.
Tensions between the partners escalated last week when Scholz presented a draft for the 2024 federal budget that included an increase in the deficit and an increase in the debt brake. The CDU/CSU rejected the draft and threatened to break the coalition if Scholz did not give in. Scholz, in turn, accused the CDU/CSU of jeopardizing climate goals and ignoring social justice.
The budget crisis is also having an impact on Germany’s role at COP28, which began in the UAE on Monday. Germany is considered one of the most important players in the climate negotiations, as it is both a major emitter of greenhouse gases and a pioneer in the promotion of renewable energies. Scholz should attend the summit as a representative of the German government and meet with other leaders to discuss raising climate ambition.
However, Scholz said in a press conference that he had to cancel his visit to COP28 to focus on resolving the budget crisis. He emphasized that this does not mean a departure from Germany’s commitment to climate protection, but a necessary measure to ensure political stability in the country. He added that he was in constant contact with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who would also attend the summit.
Scholz’s cancellation was criticized from various sides. The opposition parties, the Greens and the FDP, accused him of neglecting his responsibility for climate protection and undermining his credibility as a possible successor to Merkel. Environmental groups urged him to reconsider his decision and attend the summit to send a strong signal for climate action. The international community expressed concern about the possible consequences of the budget crisis for the climate negotiations and cooperation between Germany and other countries.