There is great optimism about the outcome of the ongoing 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC). More commonly known as COP29, this year’s conference is the 29th and is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are among Nigeria’s delegation at COP29. Barrister Shola Gabriel, Director of Legal Services, and Mrs. Gloria Onyegbule, Director of Applied Meteorological Services at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), are also attending.

The Minister and the NiMet team held a side meeting with officials of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to discuss areas of mutual interest.

A significant focus of the side engagements at COP29 was the support for Nigeria's Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) roadmap, aligning with the United Nations' initiative to ensure universal early warning systems by 2027. The WMO's Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) plays a vital role in this endeavor, providing long-term financing and technical assistance to close weather and climate data gaps.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, expressed appreciation for SOFF's support and advocated for its expansion to include middle-income countries like Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive data sharing for global weather prediction accuracy.

The meeting highlighted the recent reaccreditation visit by Paul Bujeac to Nigeria's WMO Regional Center in Oshodi-Lagos. Recall that Bujeac commended Nigeria's efforts in advancing meteorological services, and Nigeria anticipates a successful reaccreditation, reinforcing its commitment to international meteorological standards.

These collaborative efforts signal Nigeria's dedication to advancing meteorological science within the aviation sector and beyond, aiming to enhance safety, efficiency, and resilience against climate change impacts.