The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is to launch a “Clean2Breathe Nigeria” campaign as an Aviation sector-led zero to pollution mobilization tool to jumpstart National action and commitments to meet the Nationally Determined Contribution Targets of Nigeria.
This is to be done through its Fly2Green Nigeria program as the regulatory agency looks forward to a National Clean Air Policy Partnerships Framework.
The NCAA announced this in a press release as it joined the global community today to commemorate the third International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The theme for this year, “The Air We Share”, this year’s focuses onthe transboundary nature of air pollution and the need for Collective accountability and action, whichrequires collaborative efforts from businesses, communities, civil society, academia, policymakers andgovernment to advocate, accelerate and activate climate-smart solutions for Net-Zero emission footprint.
The Fly2Green Nigeria Program according to the NCAA is an initiative to drive collective net-zero accountability and eco-citizens responsibility to tackle environmental pollution and climate change through green aviation market-based measures that promote eco-advocacy, eco-citizenship, eco-volunteerism, eco- efficiency and eco innovation.
Others are: eco-finance, eco-health insurance, eco-tourism and ecosystem conservation schemes to boost the contribution of National and regional aviation sector towards the achievement of a 1.5°C future in Nigeria and Africa.
“Air pollution is both a climate impact and health impact issue that transcends and permeates national borders, posing risks to 99% of the world’s population who now breathe polluted air and causing 7 million premature deaths each year”.
Explaining further, it states that, through its incentive-based green travel program and robust voluntary carbon emissions reduction scheme, Fly2Green Nigeria is designed to map out a decarbonization strategy for the Nigeria Aviation Industry, domesticate the National Policy on Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) and implement strategic partnerships with relevant Green, Blue and Circular Economy stakeholders to launch the first Clean Air-Blue Skies Advocacy Program in Nigeria tagged “Clean2Breathe Nigeria” – a ‘Zero Air Pollution’ advocacy campaign to boost local air quality against SLCPs.
The statement adds, “Africa does not contribute more than 3% of Greenhouse Gas emissions, yet the continent is warming faster than any other region in the world and is half ready to make the transition to carbon neutral economies”.
In the drive for collective accountability and action to tackle environmental pollution and climate change, the NCAA says, the aviation sector has a huge role to play.
“With a call to action for sustainability anchored on a few climate change facts: The aviation sector is a top-ten global emitter whose emissions are expected to rise dramatically by mid-century. The industry is responsible for an estimated 4.9% of global warming and its climate impact is not restricted to its CO2 emissions alone—more than half of aviation’s climate impact comes from non-CO2 pollutants”.
“Climate change and Air pollution are inseparable environmental challenges which require integrated approaches to tackle both and ensure significant shared benefits for the people and planet. Hence, the urgency for multi-industry emissions reduction programs like ICAO’s CORSIA Mechanism and theFly2Green Nigeria Initiative of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority”.
Fly2Green for The Air We Share”
It is the cardinal imperative of the NCAA under the leadership of its Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu to activate Climate-smart solutions for Sustainable aviation through the Fly2Green Nigeria Initiative; integrating the ambitions and long-term goal aspirations of CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and ReductionScheme for International Aviation) through market-based measures designed to mainstream ICAO’s(International Civil Aviation Organization) Basket Measures of Green Aviation to check the emerging climate emergencies of Nigeria, while maintaining the “Common but Differentiated” responsibilitycommitments of the Paris climate agreement.
