The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said this while speaking during a side event at the Climate Change Conference, tagged COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ogbuku said the commission was determined to mainstream climate considerations “in our operations and our development planning and implementation,’ according to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni.
Ogbuku stated, “Our gathering at COP28 is a reminder of the urgent need for several and collective actions to address the issues of climate change.
“Sustainable development for the Niger Delta region is underscored by the high vulnerability of the region to impacts of climate change and environmental pollution.
“The high exposure of the region to sea level rise, storm surges, coastal erosion, and river flooding, compounded by increasing human-induced pressures on coastal areas made the region one of the most impacted by climate change in Africa.”
He observed that the vulnerability of the region was further aggravated by oil spillages, gas flaring and environmental degradation.
“While the Niger Delta region is a critical ecosystem, rich in natural resources, and a significant contributor to the global economy, this vast resource is intricately interwoven with compounding climate change and environmental issues.
“These resources have the leveraging capacity for the transition to a low carbon, climate-resilient development pathway,” he said.
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